Quite possibly the most important thing to keep in mind when trying to brew the perfect cup of tea is water temperature. The appropriate temperature varies widely between different varieties, ranging from merely warm to boiling. This article will run down the appropriate water temperature for different Chinese tea varieties, and will give you tips for determining when your water has hit its sweet spot, hopefully taking some of the guess work out of brewing tea.

Pu-Erh: Boiling.

Black Tea: Boiling.

Oolong: 190-200 degrees F, 87-96 degrees C. Flavored teas with an Oolong base (such as certain varieties of Jasmine tea) should also be brewed at this temperature.

Green Tea: Green tea brewing temperatures vary widely depending on the variety and quality of the tea. As a general rule, higher quality teas are brewed at a lower temperature, whereas lower quality and hardier varieties must be brewed at a higher temperature. Here is a brief list of popular varieties and their ideal brewing temperatures:

• Longjing: 167 F, 75 C
• Gunpowder Green: 158-176 F, 70-80 C
• Bi Luo Chun (Pi Luo Chun): 175 F, 80 C
• Mao Jian: one of the most delicate teas around, water should be warm, about 140 F, 60 C
• Mao Feng: 175 F, 80 C
• Hyson: 175 F, 80 C. Young Hysons (Chun Mee, Feng Mee, etc.) are generally of higher quality and should be brewed around 160-170 F.
• Hou Kui (Monkey Tea): 175 F, 80 C.
• Lu-an (Melon Seed Tea): 170-180 F
• Jasmine tea with Green tea base: depends on base, shoot for 160-180 F.

Herbal Tea: Most herbal teas should be brewed with boiling water.

White Tea: Boiling.

How to Determine Water Temperature:

If you don’t want to futz around with a thermometer, there are a few general rules of thumb for determining the temperature of heated water and bringing boiling water down to the right temperature.

When water that is being heated is between 190-205 F (90-95 C), it will form what are known as “fish eyes.” There will be rapidly forming air bubbles of about 8 mm in diameter. You obviously can’t pull out a ruler and measure them, so you can just watch the water carefully: watch for the bubbles forming in the water to increase in size, but to retain their circular shape and not be “rolling.” You will also notice a low, frequent “sizzling” sound.

When heated water is between 167-185 F (75-85 C), it will form what are known as “crab eyes.” These are very small (about 3 mm) bubbles which will form rapidly and quickly rise to the top. The water should not be roiling, and the bubbles should be quite uniform and spherical. This stage will also be accompanied by a high pitched hissing sound.

It may take some experimentation to find the ideal temperature for your tea. Generally speaking, if you find the brew to be excessively bitter, the water you are using is too hot. Replace the tea and try again with cooler water.

If you have boiling water, or just feel that the water is too hot, there are a few ways to cool it down. For fine control over water temperature, take two pots or cups, add water to one, and then rapidly pour the water from one cup to the other until it reaches its ideal temperature. You can also add small amounts of cool water to the heated water, or just let it sit until it cools down a bit.

One Response to “Chinese Tea Water Temperature”

1. The 4 Most Common Tea Brewing Mistakes | Chinese Tea Info
   December 12th, 2011 @ 9:13 pm

   [...] out our article on water temperature to see what temperature is right for your [...]

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