A Complete Guide on How to Steep Your Favorite Kind of Tea

Steep time is important when brewing a balanced and flavorful tea. It is not just the time that you have to wait for a cup of tea, it is also the time that the leaves and the water have been in contact with each other.

Brewing time can vary from one tea to another. In some cases, you might want to steep it for up to five minutes while in some other cases, you might have to brew it for just three minutes.

The tea leaves need to be left in the water for sufficient time to extract all the goodness and get rid of the bitterness. Steeping the tea for too long, it can actually make the tea taste harsh, bitter, and flat. Tea that is over steeped has been known to get a wet cardboard like taste. Steeping tea for too short, it can too weak, and a bad tasting tea to say the least.

There are cases where tea leaves require several infusions to get the best flavor. The first and second infusions are the best in terms of flavor and hence should be enjoyed. The last two or three infusions are known to be quite bitter in taste.

How Long to Steep Loose Leaf Tea

Steeping time can vary from tea to type of tea. The following are some general rules that can help you decide how long to steep loose leaf tea.

Black Tea

The steeping time for black tea can be anywhere between 30 seconds up to a few minutes in a cup or a teapot. Black tea leaves are known to be more robust compared to green and white tea. So, they will not suffer as much if you oversteep them.

It is recommended that you steep black tea leaves in water that is at 170 degrees or a bit below 80 degrees. The water should be fresh and not made a day in advance.

Green Tea

The steeping time for green tea can vary based on the type and the brand of the tea leaves. If you are brewing a cup of green tea for the first time and you are not quite sure about the perfect steeping time, you can follow the recommended steeping times given below.

Green tea leaves are known to be fragile, and the flavor in them will go out in just a few seconds of steeping. You may have to play around a bit with your steeping time in order to get the right flavor.

It is recommended that you steep green tea leaves in water that is at 160 degrees or a bit below 80 degrees. The water should be fresh and not made a day in advance.

White Tea

The steeping time for white tea can be anywhere between 30 seconds to one minute in a cup or a teapot. White tea leaves are known to be the most delicate and fragile of the three teas and hence require the least amount of steeping time.

It is recommended that you steep white tea leaves in water that is at 160 degrees or a bit below 80 degrees. The water should be fresh and not made a day in advance.

Herbal Tea

The steeping time for herbal teas can vary depending on the herbs used. Herbal teas can be brewed in between 3-5 minutes. Steep it for three minutes to get the best taste.

Rooibos

The steeping time for rooibos can vary from one tea to another. Most rooibos teas are relatively strong and it is important that you don’t over steep them. It ies best that you steep rooibos teas in water that is at 160 degrees or a bit below 80 degrees.

Somehow, roobios tea is known to benefit from a bit of oversteeping. The best time to begin steeping is just when a full boil starts.

Conclusion

The steeping time for loose leaf tea can vary and it is dependent on a number of different factors such as the type of tea, the way it is brewed, the water temperature, and many other things. If you are new to steeping loose leaf tea, it is best that you start with the recommended steeping times for the best results.

Just Organic Tea offers a wide variety of loose leaf teas and herbal teas that can be steeped at home, for a refreshing tea at any time. Let us help you craft a perfect cup of tea. Check out our list of products today!