The Art of Tea Timing: Why Seconds Matter

Brewing tea is an ancient art form that balances three critical variables: temperature, leaf-to-water ratio, and time. While many people focus on buying high-quality leaves or getting the water temperature just right, the duration of the steep is often overlooked—yet it can make the difference between a delightful cup and a bitter disappointment.

The Chemistry of Steeping

When tea leaves meet hot water, a complex chemical extraction begins. Different compounds extract at different rates:

1. Aromatic Volatiles: These release almost instantly, providing the tea's fragrance.
2. Amino Acids (Theanine): These dissolve quickly, contributing sweetness and umami.
3. Polyphenols (Tannins): These take longer to extract and provide structure, but also bitterness and astringency.

If you steep too short, you get a weak, watery tea that lacks body. If you steep too long, the tannins take over, drowning out the delicate sweet and floral notes with harsh bitterness.

Timing by Tea Type

Different teas have different chemical compositions and physical structures, requiring different steeping times.

Green Tea (e.g., Sencha, Dragon Well)

• Time: 45-90 seconds
• Why: Green tea leaves are delicate and unoxidized. They release their flavors rapidly. A long steep will quickly draw out excessive bitterness.

Black Tea (e.g., Earl Grey, Assam)

• Time: 3-5 minutes
• Why: Fully oxidized leaves are more robust. They need more time for the water to penetrate and extract the deep, rich flavors we associate with black tea.

Oolong Tea

• Time: Variable (Gong Fu style: 20-40s; Western style: 3-4 min)
• Why: Oolongs are complex. Short, repeated steeps (Gong Fu style) allow you to experience the "opening" of the leaves, revealing different flavor layers with each infusion.

The "Steep" Advantage

This is where Steep comes in. We've pre-calculated the optimal time intervals for hundreds of tea varieties. Whether you're brewing a delicate Gyokuro or a robust Pu-erh, Steep ensures you hit that sweet spot every single time.

Pro Tip: Don't trust the color! Tea color can be misleading. A dark tea isn't necessarily done, and a light tea isn't necessarily weak. Trust the timer.

Conclusion

Next time you brew, pay attention to the clock. Those few extra seconds might be stealing the sweetness from your cup. Or better yet, let Steep handle the timing for you, so you can focus on the most important part: enjoying your tea.

Download Steep on the App Store →