Brewing Master Guide

Think of water temperature as the key that unlocks specific flavor compounds inside the leaf. Delicate amino acids (which taste sweet and savory) dissolve at lower temperatures, while heavier tannins and caffeine extract at boiling point.

The Loose Leaf Brewing Master Guide

Tea Type	Water Temperature	Western Steep Time	Gongfu Steep Time (Asian Method)
Green Tea	160°F – 175°C (71°C – 80°C)	1 to 2 Minutes	15 to 30 Seconds
Oolong Tea	185°F – 205°F (85°C – 96°C)	3 to 5 Minutes	20 to 40 Seconds
Black Tea	205°F – 212°F (96°C – 100°C)	3 to 5 Minutes	10 to 20 Seconds

Breaking Down Each Tea Type

1. Green Tea: Gentle and Cool

Green tea leaves are unoxidized and highly delicate. If you use roaring, boiling water on green tea, you destroy its fresh, grassy sweetness and end up with a bitter, astringent cup.

• Pro-Tip: If you do not have a temperature-controlled kettle, let your boiling water sit with the lid off for about 5 minutes to cool down to roughly 170°F before pouring it over the leaves.

2. Oolong Tea: The Medium Heat Range

Because oolong teas vary wildly in their processing—ranging from light and floral (like a green Tieguanyin) to dark and roasted (like a Da Hong Pao)—they require a flexible middle-ground temperature.

• Light Oolongs: Stick closer to 185°F to preserve the bright, floral top notes.
• Dark/Roasted Oolongs: Push up closer to 200°F to extract the rich, honeyed, and toasted undertones.

3. Black Tea: Full Rolling Boil

Black tea leaves are completely oxidized and possess a robust cellular structure. They require maximum heat energy to properly break down and release their deeply comforting, malty, and bold characteristics.

• The Exception: High-elevation spring black teas (like a delicate First Flush Darjeeling) prefer a slightly cooler pool of around 190°F so you do not overwhelm their subtle fruit notes.

The Golden Leaf Ratio: For standard Western style brewing (a typical mug), use 1 teaspoon (about 2 grams) of loose leaf tea for every 8 ounces of water.

If you are using the traditional Asian Gongfu style, you will drastically pack the vessel with tea (filling it roughly one-third to one-half full), flash-steep for mere seconds, and repeat the process multiple times to watch the flavor evolve!