How long should I brew my tea?
Quick Answer
It depends on the tea: roughly 2 minutes for green tea, 3–5 minutes for black tea, and 5+ minutes for herbal and fruit teas.
A Little More
Delicate teas like green tea brew quickly and turn bitter if left too long, while robust black teas and hardy herbal blends can happily sit for longer without losing their balance. If you're ever unsure, start on the shorter end and taste as you go, you can always leave it longer, but you can't undo an over-brewed cup.
Teaspoon Tip
Set a timer rather than guessing, it's the single easiest way to stop tea going bitter.
Fancy Trying It?
- Green Tea
- English Breakfast
- Fruit Tea
You Might Also Like
- Why has my tea gone bitter?
- What temperature should my water be?





