Tea · Tea guide
Beginner's Guide to Tea
Water temperature, leaf ratio and steep time for green, black, oolong and white tea — in one simple chart.
- Ratio
- 1:50 (2 g per 100 ml)
- Grind size
- Whole leaf
- Water temperature
- 75–100°C depending on tea
- Brew time
- 2–5 minutes
Introduction
Great tea is about matching water temperature and steep time to the leaf. Delicate greens want cooler water; robust blacks want it near boiling.
Start Western-style with this guide, then graduate to gongfu brewing for multiple concentrated infusions.
Brewing steps
- 1
Heat water to the right temperature
Green 75–80°C · White 80–85°C · Oolong 88–95°C · Black 95–100°C.
- 2
Warm the pot
Rinse the teapot with hot water and discard.
- 3
Add leaves
Add 5 g loose-leaf tea per 250 ml of water.
- 4
Steepat 0:00
Green 2 min · White 3 min · Oolong 3 min · Black 3–4 min. Taste before extending.
- 5
Decant fully
Pour all the tea out so the leaves stop steeping. Most quality teas can be re-steeped 2–3 times.
Troubleshooting
- Bitter or astringent
- Lower the temperature or shorten the steep.
- Flat and watery
- Use more leaf rather than steeping longer.
Recommended gear
Kōen
Side-Handle Kyusu
Tokoname-style clay teapot with a fine built-in strainer.
$584.8(177)out of 5 starsRetailer links soon- Editor's pick
Lumen
Precision Gooseneck Kettle
Variable temperature to the degree, with hold mode and a counterbalanced handle.
$1494.8(980)out of 5 starsRetailer links soon Atlas Instruments
Brew Scale with Timer
0.1 g resolution, auto-timer and a heat-proof silicone pad.
$594.7(1,422)out of 5 starsRetailer links soon
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