The History of Tea Steeping

The art and science of steeping tea have been perfected over the span of thousands of years. According to Chinese legend, the first cup of tea was steeped nearly 5,000 years ago, when Emperor Shen Nung was resting in his palace gardens near a Camellia sinensis tree. As he boiled some water for drinking, the wind blew several leaves from the tree into his pot. Curious, the Emperor decided to taste the infusion and was delighted by what he discovered.

Much has changed since this legendary Emperor steeped the first cup of tea. When it comes to preparing the perfect cup, the right methodology and timing are essential. By following these five key steps, you can steep the perfect cup of tea every time.

1. Use Fresh, Filtered Water

Steeping the perfect cup of tea begins with water — the element that brings tea to its full potential. Fresh water yields a better cup, so avoid reusing water that has been previously boiled. Likewise, the minerals in unfiltered tap water can negatively affect the taste. For best results, fill your kettle with filtered, spring or bottled water. 

2. Heat Water to the Correct Temperature

Standard tea steeping instructions often begin with “boil water,” but there is actually some nuance to these guidelines. If you are preparing black tea, oolong tea, rooibos tea or other herbal teas, you can go ahead and heat your tea to a full rolling boil, up to 212 degrees Fahrenheit. 

But these high temperatures can scorch delicate green tea or white tea leaves, resulting in an unpleasant bitter taste. When preparing these teas, bring your water to just short of boiling — around 165 to 185 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Furthermore, while the microwave will do in a pinch, it is not recommended for best tea steeping results. We always recommend heating your water in a proper tea kettle. This is because the boiling process is responsible for oxygenating the water, which helps to draw out the flavors of the tea. Microwaves heat the water too quickly and unevenly, and do not properly oxygenate the water. This can result in flat, dull or bitter-tasting tea. 

3. Measure the Right Quantity of Tea

In general, we recommend using one tea bag or one teaspoon of full-leaf loose tea or herbs per six-ounce cup. However, if you desire a stronger flavor, you may add more tea leaves or an extra tea bag to your cup. This is the preferred method for increasing the strength of your tea rather than lengthening the steeping time (or squeezing the tea bag), which can make the tea taste bitter.

4. Pour the Water Over the Tea Leaves

If you are using a teapot, preheat it by pouring some of the heated water into the empty teapot and swirling it around, allowing it to warm the pot. Then, discard the water. This step helps to protect your teapot from cracking due to the sudden change in temperature. 

Add your tea bag(s) or tea leaves to your cup or preheated teapot, then pour the heated water over the tea leaves. This is the preferred order for preparing tea, rather than adding tea leaves or tea bags to a cup or pot that already has hot water in it. If you are using a tea infuser, ensure that it is fully submerged beneath the water while steeping.

5. Steep for the Appropriate Amount of Time

Depending on the type of tea you are preparing, the ideal steeping time will vary. This chart offers general guidelines for steeping the perfect cup of tea:

Both under-steeping and over-steeping may negatively affect the taste of your tea. Not steeping for long enough will yield a weak, watery cup that lacks depth of flavor, while steeping for too long may cause your infusion to become bitter and overly acidic. For best results, stay within the recommended range on the tea package.

That said, do feel free to experiment with all of the above factors to suit your own unique tastes. With time, you may develop your own processes for steeping the perfect cup of tea.