Tea Timer
Select your tea type and brew the perfect cup every time. Our tea timer includes precise steep times for green, black, white, oolong, and herbal teas so you get the best flavor without bitterness.
Brew the Perfect Cup with the Tea Timer
The Alarm Click tea timer helps you steep tea for the ideal duration. Over-steeping leads to bitter flavors, while under-steeping results in a weak brew. Choose from five popular presets or set a custom time.
For other kitchen timing needs, try the egg timer or the general purpose timer.
Steeping times and temperatures by tea type
Tea flavour depends on two variables, water temperature and steeping time, and the presets on this timer pair the two. Hotter water extracts faster, so delicate teas need cooler water and a shorter steep.
| Tea | Water | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green (sencha, longjing) | 70–80 °C | 2–3 min | Boiling water scorches the leaf and tastes grassy-bitter. |
| White (silver needle, bai mu dan) | 75–85 °C | 3–5 min | Very forgiving; can steep longer without bitterness. |
| Oolong | 85–95 °C | 3–5 min | Good leaves re-steep 3–6 times, each a little longer. |
| Black (Assam, Ceylon, English breakfast) | 95–100 °C | 3–5 min | 4 minutes is the common sweet spot with milk. |
| Turkish çay (double teapot) | 100 °C | 10–15 min | Brewed strong in the top pot and diluted in the glass. |
| Herbal (chamomile, mint, rooibos) | 100 °C | 5–7 min | No tannin, so it cannot over-steep into bitterness. |
| Matcha | 70–80 °C | Whisk, no steep | The powder is suspended, not infused. |
Why over-steeped tea tastes bitter
Tea leaves release their compounds at different rates. Aromatic oils and amino acids such as L-theanine, which give sweetness and body, come out in the first minute or two. Tannins (polyphenols) extract more slowly and keep coming, so a steep that runs long becomes astringent and dry on the tongue. Green tea is the most sensitive because its leaves are unoxidised and thin. Removing the leaves or bag at the right moment, which is exactly what this timer's chime is for, matters more than the exact temperature. If you like a stronger cup, use more leaf rather than more time.
Practical tips
- No thermometer? Water off the boil cools to about 80 °C after two minutes in an open kettle, or instantly if you add a quarter of cold water.
- Warm the pot. Pouring 95 °C water into a cold ceramic pot drops it towards 85 °C; a rinse with hot water first keeps black tea in range.
- Cold brew. Steep 1 g of leaf per 100 ml in cold water in the fridge for 6–12 hours. Long, cold extraction pulls almost no tannin, so the result is sweet even from cheap tea.
- Re-steeping. Whole-leaf oolong and green teas give several infusions; add 30 seconds each time. Tea bags rarely survive a second steep.
More kitchen timers
The same one-tap approach is available for other kitchen jobs: the egg timer for soft, jammy or hard-boiled eggs, the microwave timer for reheating, and the cooking timer when several dishes need their own countdown. For custom lengths beyond the presets, the plain online timer takes any minutes-and-seconds value.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long should I steep green tea?
Green tea is best steeped for 2-3 minutes at 175°F (80°C). Over-steeping can make it bitter.
What happens when the timer finishes?
You will hear a gentle chime and see a notification to remove your tea.
Can I customize steep times?
Yes, you can adjust the timer to any duration using the custom input.
What temperature should the water be?
Green tea: 175°F (80°C). White tea: 185°F (85°C). Oolong: 195°F (90°C). Black tea and herbal: 212°F (100°C) full boiling.
Why does over-steeped tea taste bitter?
Over-steeping releases excess tannins from tea leaves, which cause the bitter, astringent taste. Removing the tea bag or leaves at the right time prevents this.