How Long Should Tea Bag Steep? (Solved & Explained!)

Have you ever visited someone or been at a restaurant and ordered tea? When the tea arrived did you wonder how long to leave the tea bag in?

The general rule for steeping tea is 2-3 minutes. However, personal preference plays a big part in how long to steep your tea.

In the following sections we will look at the recommended steeping times for different types of tea. We will also look at what happens when you leave the tea in longer.

What Is The Ideal Time To Steep A Tea Bag?

The ideal steeping time depends on the type of tea and the method of brewing. The fastest method of brewing tea is making hot tea. The slowest method of making tea is cold brewing. 

Tea Type	Hot Tea	Iced Tea (Cold Brew)	Sun Tea
Black Tea	3-5 minutes	6-12 hours	3-5 hours
Oolong Tea	2-3 minutes	6-10 hours	2-4 hours
Green Tea	1-2 minutes	4-8 hours	3-5 hours
White Tea	2-3 minutes	4-8 hours	3-5 hours
Herbal Tea	5+ minutes	6-12 hours	4-6 hours
Rooibos Tea (Red Bush Tea)	5+ minutes	6-12 hours	2-5 hours
Mate (Yerba Mate)	3-5 minutes	1-20 hours	4-6 Hours
Pu-erh Tea	4-5 minutes	6-12 hours	3-4 hours
Chai Tea	1-5+ minutes	6-10 hours	2-3 hours
Purple Tea	2-3 minutes	4-8 hours	3-5 hours
Yellow Tea	2-3 minutes	4-8 hours	3-5 hours

It is important to note that Chai Tea can be made with Green Tea, Black Tea, White Tea, Rooibos Tea, or Herbal Tea. This affects how long the tea should be steeped. Check your chai tea before you start steeping it.  

What Happens If You Do Not Take The Tea Bag Out Immediately?

If you leave tea in water beyond the recommended steeping time there are a few things that might happen.

• The tea might taste bitter
• The tea will have a stronger flavor
• Some of the flavors in the tea will be stronger than others
• The flavor of the tea may not be as balanced
• Your mouth may feel dry or puckery after taking a sip

If you like strong or bitter tea, leaving your tea bag in may not matter to you. However, if you prefer a milder tea, it is important to remove the tea bag from the cup.

What Are The Different Tea Brewing Methods?

The two most common ways to brew tea are with hot water and with cold water. 

Add Tea to hot Water

The most common brewing method is using hot water and tea. This is also the oldest method of making tea. This method is the quickest. Your tea will be done in under five minutes.

Cold Brew Tea

Cold Brewed Tea is a common method used to make iced tea. When cold brewing tea, you put the tea in cold or room temperature water and then put it in the fridge. This method takes the longest. It can take anywhere from 1-12 hours. If you like your tea extra strong, you can leave the tea bags in the container.

Sun Brewed Tea

Sun Tea is a brewing method made popular in sunny places. All you need is a glass container, tea, water, a sunny day, and a few hours. Put the tea and water in the glass container.

The container must have a lid and be airtight. Make sure the container is one that raccoons and squirrels cannot get into.

Put the container outside in the sun. Make sure it stays in the sun for at least an hour and up to six hours. Once it is done being brewed, put it in the fridge. You can remove the tea or leave it in.

Boil or Simmer Tea

Boiling or simmering tea leaves in water is a method that in most places is frowned upon. However, it is common practice in India and parts of Latin America. Chai and Yerba Mate are both teas that are traditionally cooked in the water while the water is heating up.

How Long Should Tea Be Steeped After The First Cup?

If you have decided to reuse a tea bag, steeping the tea a little longer will help the flavor be stronger. However, this only helps so much. The more times you steep the tea the less flavor there will be.

Help! My Tea Is Too Strong!

If you forget to take your tea bag out and your tea gets too strong, it is not the end of the world. There are a few things you can do to save your cup of tea.

Add milk to your cup of tea

Milk is creamy and can offset the bitter flavor. If you don’t like milk in your tea, you can use a milk substitute or try one of the other methods below.

Add sugar or sweetener to your cup of tea

If you like sweet tea, you can try to balance the bitterness with sweetness. Add the sweetener a little at a time. Take a sip after each addition until it is just right.

Add milk and sugar to your cup of tea

You can also try adding milk (or a milk substitute) and sugar. Just like before, add a little bit at a time until it is just right.

Add more water to your cup of tea

The last option is to add more water to your tea. You can use this method for hot tea, cold tea, and sun tea. 

How Hot Should Water Be When Steeping Tea?

It is important to note that when steeping tea the temperature of the water is key. If the water is too hot, the tea will become bitter. It might even taste burned. If the water is too cold, the tea will take longer to steep.

Tea Type	Recommended Water Temperature ℉ ; ℃
Black Tea	212℉	100℃
Oolong Tea	195℉	90℃
Green Tea	175-180℉	79-82℃
White Tea	175-180℉	79-82℃
Herbal Tea	212℉	100℃
Rooibos Tea (Red Bush Tea)	212℉	100℃
Mate (Yerba Mate)	150-160℉	65-71℃
Pu-erh Tea	212℉	100℃
Chai Tea	212℉	100℃
Purple Tea	175-180℉	79-82℃
Yellow Tea	165-175℉	73-79℃

Conclusion

Whether you like hot tea or cold tea, black tea or green tea you now have all you need to make the perfect cup. Don’t be afraid to steep your tea longer if you like it strong. Test your tea every 30 seconds until it is just right. Take a deep sigh, inhale that delicious tea aroma, and enjoy.