When brewing green tea, it is crucial to pay attention to the water temperature. The proper brewing temperature helps you get the maximum flavor from your green tea.
If you use too hot water, the delicate tea leaves will be burned, ending in an unpleasantly bitter cup. If the water temperature is too low, the entire taste of the leaves will not be released.
In addition, while brewing green tea, not just the water temperature but also the type of water used, as well as the steeping time, have a significant influence on its taste, flavor, and aroma.
So, keep reading because we’ll go into depth about these factors that are essential for brewing a perfect cup of green tea that is full of taste and isn’t bitter at all.
The effects of brewing temperature on the flavor and aroma of green tea
Green tea contains catechins, caffeine, tannin, amino acids, and free sugar, all of which add to its flavor.
- Catechins provide 70–75% of bitterness and astringency.
- Caffeine has a bitter flavor.
- Tannins have a strongly astringent or pungent flavor.
- Amino acids add to the brothy flavor.
- Free sugar contributes to sweetness.
There is some data suggesting that brewing temperature and time may impact the extraction of the aforementioned constituents.
Researchers discovered that the levels of tannin, free sugar, and total nitrogen in green tea increased as water temperature and brewing duration increased.
Brewing green tea at lower temperatures ensures that its sweet and rich flavors are not overshadowed by bitter-tasting components.
As the water temperature rises, so do bitterness and astringency. Brown flavors overpower green flavor characteristics that should be present in green tea at high brewing temperatures.
Raising the brewing duration had comparable outcomes, depending in part on the brewing temperature, with the strength of the brown flavor, bitterness, and astringency increasing as the brewing time increased.
The perfect temperature for green tea brewing
Green teas taste best when brewed at temperatures between 140°F and 185°F (60°C and 85°C).
Why are we providing a temperature range rather than a specific temperature? The explanation for this is simple: different types of green tea require different brewing temperatures.
The ideal brewing temperature will also be influenced by the grade of the tea and the time of harvest. Because of their higher levels of amino acids, green teas picked earlier in the spring will benefit from lower-temperature brewing.
The different types of green tea and their brewing temperatures
| Green tea | Temp. (°F) | Steep time |
|---|---|---|
| Sencha | 150-170 | 45 sec.-1 min. |
| Bancha | 176 | 45 sec.-1 min. |
| Hojicha | 190 | 30 sec.-2 min. |
| Gyokuro | 104–122 | 2-3 min. |
| Genmaicha | 170 | 2-3 min. |
| Matcha | 176 | / |
| Dragon Well | 176-185 | 2-3 min. |
| Mao Feng | 167-176 | 1 min. |
As you can see from our table above, different types of green tea require different brewing temperatures.
It is always a good idea to ask your tea provider or check the tea label about the recommended brewing temperature so that you get the best flavor and aroma from your green tea.
How do I adjust my brewing temperature for green tea to get the best results?
The best way is to use a tea thermometer to measure the temperature of the water in the kettle. Also, you can use an electric tea kettle with temperature control, where you can adjust the desired temperature for your type of green tea.
There is another option if you don’t have a thermometer or an electric kettle with temperature control. You may boil the water and then cool it slightly before pouring it into your teapot.
Here is how to cool the water to reach the desired water temperature for green tea:
- For example, if you pour 6 ounces of boiled water into a glass cup, it will need to cool for 2-3 minutes to reach 160°F – 170°F or 5 minutes to reach 140°F – 150°F.
- Another technique is to keep an eye on the bubbles while the water heats up. Small bubbles will rise to the surface of the water at around 160 to 170°F, and strings of bubbles will emerge from the bottom of the kettle at 180 to 190°F. The water will then come to a full boil.
Brewing tips for green tea
Teaware made of glass or glazed ceramic is preferable. Some materials, such as unglazed ceramics, may leave a foul taste if not properly maintained.
Always heat up a little more water than you need. Warm up your teaware with some of this hot water. Because brewing green tea requires significantly colder water, contact with cold teaware will chill it much further.
Try to use filtered or bottled water. Soft water is ideal for making wonderful green tea. Mineral concentrations are increased in hard water. Minerals can interact with vital components of green tea, causing the flavor infusion to break down.
It is not recommended to use distilled water. Distilled or purified water is water that has been purified of all minerals and contaminants. By removing all minerals from the water, it becomes very soft. Extremely soft water with no or very low levels of minerals will produce a flat green tea.
Tea bags should be avoided. Use loose-leaf tea. When you steep loose-leaf tea, it has more room to spread and infuse the water with its many vitamins, minerals, and flavors, resulting in a stronger, faster and more consistent brew.
Use no less than 2-3 g of tea per 6 ounces of water. Using less than 2-3 grams of tea per cup of water will not provide the greatest taste.
Choose the brewing temperature for your green tea. You now have a general idea of the brewing temperature based on the information supplied above. However, always check the packaging label or contact your tea supplier about the brewing temperature.
Make the first cup according to the directions on the tea package. If the results are unsatisfactory, you can adjust the brewing temperature and steeping time to get the desired flavor.
If you’re new to green tea and want to learn how to make your green tea taste good, see these instructions on making green tea with no bitterness.
How long should green tea steep?
Different green teas typically need slightly different steeping times, but a decent rule of thumb is to steep them for no longer than 3 minutes.
Japanese green teas taste best when steeped for 30 seconds to 2 minutes. Chinese green teas require a longer steeping time, usually 2-3 minutes.
Always follow the steeping directions on your product’s package. Remember that the leaves steep from the time you pour the hot water in until the last drop is out.
Since steeping time is as important as the brewing temperature and also has a big impact on green tea’s flavor and benefits, I have a detailed article about it. You can check it out here: Green Tea Steep Time Explained in Detail.
Water temperature and steeping duration should be balanced; the lower the temperature, the longer the tea may be steeped. You should never over-brew green tea leaves since even the best quality leaves will taste poor if they are not brewed properly.
How many times can you steep green tea?
Green tea leaves can be re-steeped, generally, 2 to 3 times, depending on the tea, in the same or slightly hotter water temperature than the first steep. If you are re-steeping your green tea make sure to use a full measure of leaves (3 gr) while steeping.
Finally, we may conclude that the best brewing temperature for green tea is between 140°F and 185°F. The average brewing temperature for most green teas is 176°F or 80°C. We should also highlight that different types of green tea require different brewing temperatures.
Again, always check the water temperature and steeping time on your tea package. Start with that steeping time and if you don’t like the flavor, increase the steeping duration by 30 seconds the next time. You may also experiment with cooler or hotter water to modify the flavor but never use boiling water.
Extra Details for Green Tea
