The Art of Tea Brewing: A Temperature Guide

Everyone loves a good cuppa – in fact, the U.K. ranks third in the world as a tea loving nation. However, do you really know how to brew tea the right way? If you want to help your cup of black, green, or white tea reach its full flavour potential then we’ve got you covered. Read our tea temperature guide to learn how to brew tea perfectly. 

Why does tea temperature matter for Tea?

Learning how to make tea that tastes great and is full of flavour means understanding the importance of the temperature of the water you use to make tea. Overly hot or cool water can negatively affect the brewing process and taste. Brewing the perfect cup of tea requires the temperature to be ‘just right’.  

Brewing Tea at The Perfect Temperature

From how hot the water is to how long you brew your tea for, making the perfect cup of tea is no mean feat. Understanding the best temperature for tea depends on the type of tea you’re planning to brew. The optimum green tea temperature is different to the ideal black tea temperature and the perfect white tea temperature. So, once you’ve cleaned and descaled your kettle and got your tea of choice at the ready, follow our simple guide to choosing the right water temperature for your tea.  

Green tea 

When brewing green tea, it’s better to err on the side of caution and stick to lower temperatures. Using water that’s too hot can lead to bitter, grassy tasting tea. The best green tea water temperature is between 65°C and 80°C – well below the temperature of boiling.  

Black tea 

The ideal black tea brewing temperature depends on which black tea you’re brewing. For more delicate types, aim to keep the water temperature for tea between 80°C and 90°C. For all other black teas, you can use slightly hotter water, between 90°C and 100°C. 

Oolong tea 

Oolong tea is between green and black tea in regard to its brewing temperature. To brew the perfect cup of oolong tea, heat your water from 70°C to 100°C.   

Herbal tea 

There are many different herbal teas to choose from, including chamomile, ginger and mint. The ideal boiling temperature for herbal tea can vary between types, but 100°C is a good rule of thumb.  

White tea 

Using higher temperatures here will scald the tea. When it comes to understanding how to brew tea in this case, we recommend you stick to using water that’s 70°C. 

Avoiding Common Tea Brewing Mistakes

Using water that's too hot

Using too hot water destroys tannins, which are the proteins that produce the colour and flavour we all look for in the perfect cup of tea. Overly hot water can also cause thermal shock to tea leaves, resulting in a harsh and bitter brew.

Using water that's too cold 

If you brew tea with too cold water, the tannins don't develop properly. While too hot water can destroy the tannins, under-heated water may prevent them from dissolving properly, resulting in tasteless tea.  

Steeping tea for too long 

Over-steeping your tea in the water for too long can result in a bitter-tasting brew. The optimal steeping time varies between tea types, but it's usually between three and five minutes.