Basic Preparation
Making great tea takes more than just adding hot water to some leaves or a cup with a bag or sachet in it! To make great tea you need water at the right temperature for the type of tea! White, Green, Black and Herbal teas all require different temperature water!
Green Tea Tips
Green teas should be provided water at 190°F (88°C) and you shouldn’t steep your teas longer than 3 to 3.5 minutes. Steeping the tea too long could make the tea more bitter to the taste. Using water which is too hot could provide more of a burned flavor as well as damage the leaves providing a less desirable flavor.
Black Tea Tips
Black teas should be provided water around 212°F (100°C). Steeping black teas longer provides for a stronger tea. Unlike Green teas, not all black teas become more bitter from a longer steep and almost everyone has their own preferences. Regardless, general practice indicates Black teas should be steeped around 5 minutes for optimal flavor!
Oolong Teas
Oolong teas should be provided water just below boiling, around 200°F (93°C). As with Black teas, Oolongs do not all become more bitter with a longer steep, and some tea drinkers do enjoy a stronger cuppa. Convention provides a guide of 3 to 5 minutes for an Oolong based on your personal tastes.
Rooibos Teas
Rooibos (Roo-ee-boss) teas are naturally sweet at the end. It is recommended to steep these teas in water at 200°F (93°C) for 5 minutes. Not doing so may leave you with a less flavorful tea.