The Art Of Tea: Mastering The Perfect Pour With A Simple Touch Test

There are many ways to tell how hot a teapot is without using a thermometer. Firstly, the type of tea being brewed can be indicative of the temperature of the water inside the teapot. Lighter styles like green and white tea are brewed at a lower temperature, whereas darker teas like black tea are infused with hotter water. Secondly, the bubbles produced by the water can indicate temperature; traditional wisdom compares the bubbles produced at low temperatures to crab eyes, whereas a full boil is indicated by dragon eyes. Thirdly, the noise of the boiling water can give clues as to its temperature; as bubbles begin to break the surface, the water will quieten before reaching a full boil. Finally, a simple method is to let the water cool after it has come to a boil, either by pouring it into a cool vessel or adding a bit of cold water.

Listen to the sound of the boil

Listening to the sound of the boil is a great way to gauge the temperature of your tea without a thermometer. As the water begins to heat up, you will hear it start to agitate and the noise will increase. This is a sign that small bubbles are starting to form.

Once the bubbles begin to break the surface, at around 190°F, the water will quieten down before reaching a full boil. For the lightest tea styles, like green tea, it is best to use water that is just beginning to make noise, whereas black teas can be brewed at a full rolling boil.

Oolong teas should be brewed just before the water goes quiet. If you are brewing your tea without a kettle, listen out for the moment when the water reaches a full rolling boil.

This method is a great way to achieve moderate temperatures for your tea. You can also let the water cool after boiling by pouring it into a cool vessel, which will help the water lose heat more quickly.

Observe the bubbles

Observing the bubbles is a commonly cited trick for telling the temperature of water for steeping tea. This method works best when the water is boiled visibly in an open pot with a wide mouth. The size of the bubbles can indicate the temperature of the water, and by extension, the suitability of the water temperature for a particular type of tea.

Traditional wisdom compares the bubbles produced at low temperatures for green and white teas to smaller "crab eyes". Oolong teas require medium-sized bubbles, described as "fish eyes". Finally, the large bubbles of a full boil, known as "dragon eyes", are suitable for darker teas such as black tea.

The size of the bubbles is related to the temperature of the water. As the water heats up, the bubbles will increase in size. Therefore, by observing the progression of bubble size, you can estimate the temperature of the water.

It is worth noting that the amount of tea foam or bubbles can vary depending on the tea-making process and the infusion method. For example, Wu-Yi oolong tea involves a process called "the rolling", which releases more tea saponin onto the surface of the leaves, resulting in more and thicker tea foam. Additionally, broken tea leaves have a larger surface area in contact with the water, leading to the creation of more tea foam at a faster pace.

Tea type

The type of tea you are brewing is one of the most important considerations when determining the ideal water temperature. Lighter styles like green and white teas are best brewed at a relatively low temperature, while darker categories like black tea can be infused with hotter water. This is because darker teas require more heat to open up and release flavour.

For example, unfermented teas like green tea can be bruised by overly hot water, which extracts too many tannic acids, resulting in a bitter taste. High-fired teapots with a finer, thinner clay are excellent for use with any tea and are a must for green, white, and oolong teas.

Additionally, the type of tea you are brewing can influence the type of teapot you should use. For instance, glass teapots are great for brewing flowering teas, as you can watch the petals and leaves unfold and infuse the water with colour. Clay teapots are best for black tea, as they are thicker and more porous, allowing them to hold heat for longer periods.

However, clay teapots should only be used for brewing one type of tea, as they absorb the colour and flavour of the tea infusion, making each brew deeper and more nuanced. Glass and porcelain teapots, on the other hand, are "flavour neutral" and can be used for multiple tea types, as their impermeable surfaces do not absorb tea oils and can be rinsed clean after each use.

Warming the teapot

There are several methods for warming a teapot, with the most common being to fill the teapot with hot tap water before discarding the water once the pot is warm. Another method is to hold the teapot over a steaming kettle, ensuring it does not get too close.

If you are using a fragile, antique, or expensive teapot, it is recommended to gradually warm the pot to prevent thermal shock. This can be done by filling the pot halfway with warm water, then topping it up with boiling water.

Some teapots, such as those made of bone china, are more prone to cracking under thermal shock, so it is important to take extra care when warming these types of teapots.

Tea steeping times

The ideal steeping time for tea depends on the type of tea and how strong you like your tea. Here is a guide to tea steeping times:

Black Tea

Steep black tea for 4 to 6 minutes. Black tea is the most robust of the tea varieties and can be brewed with truly boiling water.

Oolong Tea

Steep oolong tea for around 5 to 8 minutes. The best temperature for oolong tea is around 190 °F.

Green Tea

Steep green tea for 2 to 4 minutes. The water temperature should be around 150 to 160 °F. Green tea is the most delicate tea, so be careful not to over-steep as it can become bitter.

White Tea

Steep white tea for at least 4 to 6 minutes. The water temperature can be a bit warmer than for green tea, at 180 °F. White tea is also delicate and can become bitter if over-steeped.

Rooibos Tea

Prepare rooibos tea with fully boiling water, just like black tea.

Herbal Tea

Most herbal teas can be brewed with boiling water and steeped for about 5 minutes. However, there is no accurate way to give guidelines for herbal teas due to the wide variety of herbs used. You may need to experiment to get the perfect cup. Dried herbal tea can be steeped for up to 15 minutes or according to the manufacturer’s instructions. Fresh herbal tea should be steeped for 5 to 15 minutes for tender herbs and 15 to 30 minutes for chopped or grated roots.

Frequently asked questions