A Complete Guide to Tea Brewing Temperatures
Brewing temperature depends on the type of tea. Whether you brew a small-leaf green tea or a large-leaf Puerh tea, the recommended water temperature typically ranges from 175°F to 212°F. This guide outlines the most common water temperatures for brewing tea and shares our personal experience and recommendations for different tea types.
Water Temperature Guidelines for Making Tea
| Brewing Temperature | Temperature Range | Suitable Teas | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| Low-Temperature Brewing | 175–185°F (80–85°C) | Delicate green teas and yellow teas | Longjing, Biluochun, Sencha, Huoshan Huangya, Junshan Yinzhen |
| Medium-Temperature Brewing | 185–195°F (85–90°C) | Lightly oxidized and roasted oolong teas, semi-open-leaf oolong teas, open-leaf green teas, and heavily withered white teas with buds | Pekoe Bird Dragon, Guapian, Baihao Yinzhen, White Peony |
| High-Temperature Brewing | 195–212°F (90–100°C) | Highly oxidized oolong teas, post-fermented Puerh tea, fully fermented dark tea, and black teas | Baozhong, Dongding, Tieguanyin, Wuyi Rock Tea, Puerh tea |
Low-Temperature Brewing: 175–185°F (80–85°C)
Low-temperature brewing works well for delicate green teas, including Longjing, Biluochun, and Sencha. It also suits yellow teas such as Huoshan Huangya and Junshan Yinzhen. Based on our experience, 183°F, or 84°C, provides the ideal temperature for these teas.
Medium-Temperature Brewing: 185–195°F (85–90°C)
Medium-temperature brewing suits lightly oxidized and roasted oolong teas, as well as semi-open-leaf varieties such as Pekoe Bird Dragon. This temperature range also works for open-leaf green teas such as Guapian and heavily withered white teas with buds, including Baihao Yinzhen and White Peony.
High-Temperature Brewing: 195–212°F (90–100°C)
High-temperature brewing works well for highly oxidized oolong teas such as Baozhong, Dongding, Tieguanyin, and Wuyi Rock Tea. It also suits post-fermented Puerh tea and fully fermented dark tea.
Problematic Temperatures for Specific Teas
Green Tea
Impact of High Temperatures: Excessively hot water diminishes the freshness of green tea soup.
Light Oolongs
Effect of High Temperatures: Water that reaches an excessively high temperature may cause light oolong tea to lose its delicate and feminine nuances.
Heavy Oolongs
Consequence of Low Temperatures: Water that remains too cool can prevent heavy oolongs such as Tieguanyin from developing a robust aroma, which affects their intended masculine style.
The Release Rate and Speed of Soluble Substances for Tea
Higher water temperatures accelerate the release of soluble substances, while lower temperatures slow the process. This relationship influences tea soup concentration and affects the appropriate ratio of tea to water.
Higher temperatures require less time to achieve the desired concentration, while lower temperatures require a longer brewing period.
Bitterness and Astringency Control
Bitterness: Higher water temperatures intensify bitterness. Lowering the temperature can reduce bitterness in teas that taste excessively bitter.
Astringency: Lower water temperatures weaken astringency. Adjust both the water temperature and steeping time to manage this characteristic. Shorter steeping times can reduce astringency. To achieve the desired concentration, increase the amount of tea or extend the brewing time. If you want to brew more tea, increasing the amount of leaves remains crucial.
A Taiwanese Perspective on Tea Temperatures
Taiwan ranks among the largest producers of oolong tea. During our eight-year stay on the island, locals repeatedly told us to bring water for brewing oolong, black, and Puerh teas to a full boil.
Anyone who has visited Taiwan knows that Taiwanese people enjoy extremely hot liquids. Restaurants often serve soup at scalding temperatures. Locals say that brewing tea at a full boil removes impurities and preserves freshness.
Alex
