Shea Simmons
Whether you’re a coffee or tea drinker, there’s a lot of nuance to brewing a good cup of both. For tea, though, you could be missing out on its best flavor if you’ve never considered one surprisingly important aspect.
Well+Good spoke with Kyle Stewart, co-owner of The Cultured Cup and certified tea specialist, about the mistakes people make when brewing tea. According to him, the temperature of the water is something people might be overlooking.
While tea lovers likely know that different teas require different steeping times, they might not know that some also require different temperatures.
“The reason why brewing temperature matters is because some types of tea leaves are more delicate than others,” Stewart said.
More delicate teas like white, Japanese and Chinese green, and oolong, all have brewing temperatures between 165-185 degrees Fahrenheit. However, heartier varieties, like Black and herbal teas, should be brewed above 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
If you haven’t been adjusting the temperature based on the type of tea you’re drinking, you might want to consider investing in a temperature-variable electric kettle.
Want to know more about the best methods for brewing tea? You can check out more advice from the experts over on Well+Good or check out our guide on brewing tea.
