Temperature guide to brewing different types of teas
For tea lovers, brewing a perfect cup of tea in itself is an experience. Every person likes to uniquely craft their tea. However, there are some standard temperature guides recommended by tea experts to get the best flavour out of tea.
Tea comes in a variety of forms. From strong black teas to soothing chamomile and lavender teas, every tea has different brewing guides to extract the most flavour and nutrients out of it.
On average, you can brew any tea between 60 degrees to 100 degrees Celsius. But to extract the uniqueness of every flavour, follow the tea brewing guide mentioned below.
1. Black Tea
Contrary to popular opinion, not every black tea requires a full boil. It can be brewed anywhere between 100 – 104 degrees celsius. Brewing temperature also varies from type of black tea.
Assam black tea contains a strong flavour but is brewed at a slightly higher temperature ranging from 90-95 degrees Celsius. On the other hand, partially oxidised teas like Darjeeling black tea can become bitter when fully boiled. Hence, these teas are brewed at lower temperatures ranging between 85 -90 degrees.
2. Green Tea
Teas that are not fully oxidised become bitter and unpleasant if brewed at a higher temperature. In addition, some of the antioxidants can only be extracted at lower temperatures. The ideal temperature to brew green tea is between 80-85 degrees celsius.
3. Herbal tea
Herbal’s teas are made with a special blend of herbs and contain zero caffeine. They can be brewed with boiling or near-boiling water. However, some teas are brewed best via infusion or steeping.
Infusion, i.e. pouring hot water over tea leaves and taking the tea out after a few minutes, makes a mild yet flavourful tea. Teas like chamomile, jasmine and rose can be brewed using the infusion method.
Steeping, on the other hand, refers to pouring hot water over tea and keeping the tea leaves in the water throughout. The best teas to steep are not fermented teas like white tea, green tea and oolong tea.
4. Matcha Tea
Matcha tea is a popular tea variety in Japan and is becoming increasingly popular all across the globe. The tea is high in antioxidants and improves your liver functioning.
To brew a perfect cup of Matcha, the ideal temperature should be 80-83 degrees Celsius.
5. Purple tea
Purple tea is another tea gaining popularity for its health benefits. Sourced from Assam and Kenya, this tea had anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Its key feature is the high concentration of Anthocyanins, which also give it a vibrant purple colour. Anthocyanins are present in blackberries, raspberries, blueberries and purple carrots and potatoes. They improve cardiovascular health and are known for their anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. The ideal temperature to brew purple tea is 80-85 degrees Celsius.
Tea brewing doesn’t come with hard and fast rules. The variety of teas and a wide range of brewing temperatures leaves plenty of room for experimentation. Depending on your preference, you can customise and brew your perfect cup of tea.
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