Aug
24
Not Too Steep
By Laura Yeh
We’ve all done it — poured hot water over our bag or leaves of Sencha or Gunpowder, then walked away to take care of a small chore, grab the newspaper or make a quick phone call. Twenty minutes later we walk back into the kitchen and see it — remember it — the cup of tea we were so looking forward to enjoying.
Maybe it hadn’t been that long really. So we take a sip, make the too bitter face and pour it down the drain. What a waste!
Though it varies among different types of green tea, the steeping time should never exceed 3 minutes and temperature should never be more than 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Never use boiling water! I’ll typically bring water to a boil, and then let it sit and cool before I begin steeping my tea. But temperature and time do vary primarily based on the quality of tea. The best teas can be steeped at around 140 degrees Fahrenheit for only about 30 seconds and the leaves can be used multiple times. On the lower end you’ll want to steep at a higher temperature for 2-3 minutes before taking your first sip. But with whatever tea you’re enjoying, steeping it too long will release those tannins that make it bitter and almost unbearable to drink.
