Tea Steeping Time Calculator

Find the recommended water temperature and steeping time for different types of tea, with adjustments for loose leaf vs. bagged.

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grams

Steeping Time

4.0 min

Total Tea Needed6 g
Total Water474 mL
Tea (teaspoons)2.4 tsp
View formula & how it works →

How to Calculate Tea Steeping Time

Guidelines by Tea Type

TeaTemperatureTime Green165-180°F1.5-3 min White175-185°F2-4 min Oolong185-205°F2-4 min Black200-212°F3-5 min Herbal212°F5-7 min

Key Principles

  • Temperature matters more than time. Green tea becomes bitter in boiling water regardless of steeping time.
  • Loose leaf tea generally needs 1 teaspoon (2-3 g) per cup with room to expand.
  • Tea bags steep slightly faster because the leaf is cut smaller, increasing surface area.
  • Multiple infusions: Oolong and pu-erh can be steeped 3-5 times, adding 30 seconds each round.

    • Example Calculation

    2 cups of loose-leaf black tea at 3 g per cup.

    1. 01Steeping time = 4 x 1 = 4 minutes
    2. 02Total tea = 2 x 3 = 6 g (about 2.4 tsp)
    3. 03Total water = 2 x 237 = 474 mL
    4. 04Use boiling water (212°F) for black tea.

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