How Much Does Water Temperature Really Matter?

Quite a lot, actually. You can take exactly the same tea leaves, change the temperature of the water and end up with a noticeably different cup. Hotter water extracts from the leaves more quickly. That works well for many robust black teas, where you want to draw out plenty of body and character.

More delicate teas can be a different story. Use boiling water on some green teas and you may bring out more bitterness and astringency than you intended. That’s why someone who thinks they dislike green tea might simply have been drinking it brewed too hot.

As a general starting point, green teas often prefer cooler water around 70–80°C, while black teas can usually take water much closer to boiling. Oolongs, white teas and everything in between have their own preferences too.

The interesting part is experimenting. Try brewing the same leaves twice at slightly different temperatures. You might be surprised by how much the aroma, sweetness and overall character change.

With 100+ teas on our shelves at Camden Tea Bar, there’s plenty of opportunity to put the kettle to the test. 🍵