You have questions. We have answers! Hot or cold, this ultimate guide has all the instructions for brewing a cuppa. From temperature to steeping time and everything in between. Your perfect cup of tea is waiting for you just around the corner!
The Ultimate Tea Brewing Guide
You know we’re all about “Steepin’ it Real” here at Snarky Tea, and we thought it was about time that we published a Brew Guide. The real deal – everything you want to know about steeping times, temps, and … wait for it … how much tea to use! So here it is, all you need to know about brewing the most f*cking delicious cuppa!
A couple of quick announcements to start us off today:
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Check out our brew techniques guide to get a breakdown of even more ways to brew and when we’re partial to each method!
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Always use filtered cool water when brewing cold brew tea in your refrigerator.
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These steeping times are a guide, not hard and fast rules (do you think we follow all the rules around here? No way!). So, play around with the steeping times to find your perfect blend of smoothness and flavor! You do you!
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Here we talk about hot and cold brewing, but we're releasing a Hot Flashing guide soon for faster cold brews! Stay tuned.
Tea Volume Conversions
For all our loose-leaf teas (except matcha) we suggest 3 grams of loose-leaf tea per 8 ounces of water. And we get the question ALL THE TIME about how many teaspoons this is. So, let’s break it down!
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One Cuppa: 3 grams of loose-leaf tea is generally 1 VERY heaping teaspoon (more like 1 ½ teaspoons), or 1 Perfect Scoop! For teas that are especially chunky – usually herbal teas – you might need to increase it to 2 teaspoons per 8 ounces of water. Serious Pro Tip though – if you don’t want to worry about the math AT ALL, get the Perfect Scoop! 1 Perfect Scoop per 8 ounces of water, and you’re good to go! Easy Peasy!
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32-ounce Cold Brew Jar: That means that for a 32-ounce cold brew batch, you’ll want to include 4 times the one-cup amount. So that’s 12 grams, 4 Perfect Scoops, or 6 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea.
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64-ounce giant Cold Brew Jar: So, for your biga** batch of cold brew it’s 24 grams, 8 Perfect Scoops, or 12 teaspoons of loose-leaf tea.
Brewing Black Tea
Black tea is the most popular tea in the world and the most caffeinated. It’s made from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant, which are fully oxidized to give them a dark color and a strong flavor. Black tea is what you’re looking for to wake you up in the morning or boosting energy in the afternoon.
Cold Brew Black Tea
Cold brew black tea is best steeped for between 8 and 12 hours. Our favorite black teas to cold brew are Peachy Keen and Basic Black!
Hot Brew Black Tea
Hot brewed black tea should be HOT (almost boiling) at 212 degrees, and steeped for 3-5 minutes. We love Fierce B*tch and Wake the F**k Up when we need a hot little kick in the a** in the morning!
Brewing Pu’erh Tea
Pu'erh is a type of fermented tea from China. It’s made from the same plant as black tea but the leaves are aged and fermented to give them a dark color and a rich, earthy flavor. It’s great for nourishing your tum and giving you the smooth energy you need!
Cold Brew Pu’erh Tea
Cold brew Pu’erh tea between 8 and 12 hours in the refrigerator depending on your taste. Basic B*tch, our pumpkin spice blend, is delicious cold or hot – so start autumn early with a cold brew pitcher!
Hot Brew Pu’erh Tea
Heat up your water to almost boiling (212 degrees) and steep for 4-5 minutes for a hot cuppa. If you’re looking for a gut reset, try our Nettle Cleanse pu’erh tea – whether hot or cold (if you need to cleanse for a few days), it’ll be just what your tummy ordered.
Brewing Green Tea
Green tea is also super popular and one of the healthiest teas. The leaves are processed to preserve the natural green color and fresh flavor. It’s great for relaxing and calming your mind and body. Think zen.
Cold Brew Green Tea
Steep green tea for slightly less time than black tea in the refrigerator – try between 4 and 8 hours. One of our favorite green teas to cold brew is Peace & Love Motherf**cker. It’s sweet and zesty and a form of meditation all its own.
Hot Brew Green Tea
Hot green tea is a quickie – it should be brewed at a slightly lower temperature (175 degrees) and for less time (1-3 minutes). Feeling under the weather? Try a warm soothing cup of Get Your Sh*t Together to settle your stomach and your mind. Or if you’re ready to party, then Hot Damn is the green tea you need to spice up your routine!
Oolong Tea
Oolong falls between black and green tea in terms of oxidation and flavor. It has an incredible flavor ranging from light and floral to dark and roasted, depending on how long it’s oxidized. Oolong tea is also awesome at balancing your mood and stimulating your senses – so if you need a little pick-me-up, grab you some oolong, hon!
Cold Brew Oolong Tea
And we’re back to longer steep times. Try cold brewing oolong tea for 8 to 12 hours in your refrigerator. We have a few oolongs we love, especially the tropical delicacy: Tahitian Vanilla Rose.
Hot Brew Oolong Tea
Hot brew oolong tea at 195 degrees for 2 to 4 minutes and enjoy your ideal sip. If you’re looking for a blend to help you blend in, this isn’t it. Nutty B*tch is the oolong tea we love because she’s uniquely herself – just like you!
White Tea
White is the most delicate and least processed type of tea. It’s actually f*cking made from the dainty buds and young leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant. It has a light, floral flavor that is perfect for refreshing and cleansing your palate.
Cold Brew White Tea
Here’s another quick one if you’re short on time. Cold brew white tea in your refrigerator for 4 to 8 hours. We especially love white tea when it’s cold brewed to bring out the naturally refreshing flavor. Check out Fiji Fusion for a moment in paradise.
Hot Brew White Tea
White tea is also a comforting hot drink. Just heat water to 185 degrees and steep for 2-4 minutes for a warm soothing cuppa.
Herbal Tea
Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of herbal tea!
Cold Brew Herbal Tea
We love cold brew herbal tea – try steeping it for 4 to 8 hours in your refrigerator. Our top selling cold brew herbal teas include Blueberry Apple Pie and Raspberry Lemonade.
Hot Brew Herbal Tea
Brew herbal tea with super-hot water (212 degrees – almost boiling), and steep for 5-10 minutes to extract all the goodness of the tea. Nothing beats a warm cup of Apple Cider when the weather turns cold. Or if you’re looking to push through the brain fog – check out Turmeric Golden Latte for a warm soothing cup of goodness.
Rooibos Tea
Rooibos is a type of herbal tea from South Africa. It’s red-ish color and sweet, nutty flavor make it treat for all 5 senses. It’s soothing, it’s caffeine-free, it’s delish!
Cold Brew Rooibos Tea
Cold brew rooibos tea brews like herbal tea – 4 to 8 hours in the refrigerator. For a fruity beverage, try Tropical Punch. We also love the smoothness of Toasted Coconut hot or cold!
Hot Brew Rooibos Tea
Make sure your water is f*cking hot (212 degrees – almost boiling) to brew rooibos blends, and steep for 5-10 minutes. Need a hug? Try Honey Lemon TLC – it’ll warm you from the inside, out. Check out our Apple Cider rooibos tea for something spicy, yet crisp. It’s perfect for all, but honestly, it’s a hit all year round. And if you’re having trouble sleeping, grab a cup of Calm the F**k Down, and you’ll relax your way to dreamland.
Matcha Tea
Preparing matcha tea goes back centuries! Practice makes … Mindful!
Hot Brew Matcha Tea
Add 1 ½ to 2 teaspoons (or 1 Perfect Scoop) of matcha powder to 4 ounces of water heated to 176 degrees. Whisk for 1-2 minutes, and add to your preferred milk or pour over ice (or both!). We love our matcha with milk. We love our matcha with boba. We love matcha.
Whew! Thanks for sticking with us on this one! We’re all about going the extra mile for our fellow Snarkys, so we hope this ultimate guide is your “guiding light” to brewing the best f*cking tea out there. Let us know where you find your sweet spot with steeping times in the Snark Squad!
Written By
Katie Reierson
Snarky Scribe
Meet Katie, a witty wordsmith who loves pairing writing with a cuppa. She serves herself a sarcastic cup of Shut the F**k Up while cooking up breakfast for her 3 kiddos (for the illusion of a moment of calm). But her favorite cold brewed treat is the sweet, creamy mix of Smooth Vanilla Matcha and Blueberry Apple Pie. Connect with Katie for a Cuppa!