Tea Timer with Steeping Temperatures
Choose a tea and the timer sets its steep time and shows the water temperature to aim for. Pour, press start, and lift the leaves out when the alarm sounds.
Most bitterness comes from water that is too hot or leaves left in too long, not from the tea itself. Getting both numbers right is the cheapest upgrade a cup can get.
Space start/pause · R reset · F fullscreen · M mute
Why temperature matters
Green and white: cooler water
Unoxidised leaves scorch in boiling water and turn grassy and harsh. For 80–85 °C, let a just-boiled kettle stand with the lid open for a few minutes.
Oolong: in between
Partly oxidised oolongs sit between green and black. Ninety degrees and three minutes suits most, and rolled oolongs give several good infusions.
Black tea: near boiling
Fully oxidised leaves need hotter water to release their flavour. Four minutes at 95 °C makes a full-bodied cup that stands up to milk.
Herbal and rooibos: full boil
Herbal infusions and rooibos contain no tea leaves and turn bitter far less readily, so they take boiling water and a long steep of six or seven minutes.
Steeping guide
| Tea | Steep time | Water |
|---|---|---|
| Green | 2:30 min | 80 °C / 176 °F |
| White | 4:00 min | 85 °C / 185 °F |
| Oolong | 3:00 min | 90 °C / 194 °F |
| Black | 4:00 min | 95 °C / 203 °F |
| Herbal | 6:00 min | 100 °C / 212 °F |
| Rooibos | 7:00 min | 100 °C / 212 °F |
Tips
- Selecting a tea resets the timer to its time; the label under the digits keeps the temperature in view while it steeps.
- For a stronger cup, add more leaf rather than more time; extra minutes mostly add bitterness. The + key is there if you insist.
- Without a variable-temperature kettle, let boiled water stand uncovered before pouring; the cooler the target, the longer the wait.
Questions
Why does my green tea taste bitter?
Usually the water was too hot or the leaves sat too long. Boiling water pulls out catechins quickly, and they are the main source of green tea’s bitterness and astringency. Try 80 °C for two and a half minutes, then adjust by 30 seconds.
Do tea bags need the same times as loose leaf?
Bags usually hold small, broken leaf that infuses faster, so they reach full strength sooner. Start about a minute shorter than the loose-leaf time and taste.
Can I steep the same leaves twice?
Oolong and many green and white teas give a second and third good cup; add 30 seconds to a minute each time. Black tea leaves and most tea bags are largely spent after one steep.