Green tea is delicate and should be brewed between 160°F and 180°F (70°C–82°C). Water that's too hot will scald the leaves, releasing excessive tannins and resulting in a bitter taste. For high-quality Japanese green teas like Gyokuro, even lower temperatures around 140°F–160°F (60°C–70°C) are recommended.

Black tea typically requires 3 to 5 minutes of steeping with water at 200°F–212°F (93°C–100°C). A shorter steep of 2–3 minutes yields a lighter, more delicate flavor, while 4–5 minutes produces a robust, full-bodied cup. Over-steeping beyond 5 minutes can make black tea unpleasantly bitter and astringent.

Yes! Many teas are excellent for multiple infusions. Oolong tea and Pu-erh are famous for evolving flavor across 5–10+ steeps. White tea and green tea can typically be steeped 2–3 times. For each subsequent steep, increase the steeping time by 30–60 seconds. Black tea and herbal teas generally offer fewer quality re-steeps (1–2 times).

Steeping refers to soaking tea leaves in hot water to extract flavor — the standard method for most teas. Brewing can refer to the entire tea-making process, including boiling (as with chai or some herbal teas). In practice, the terms are often used interchangeably, but "steeping" specifically emphasizes the controlled soaking time that's critical for delicate teas.

Bitterness in green tea usually comes from water that's too hot (above 180°F/82°C) or steeping for too long. The bitter compounds (catechins and tannins) extract rapidly at high temperatures. Try lowering your water temperature and limiting steep time to 1–2 minutes. Also, using too many tea leaves relative to water volume can cause bitterness.

The general guideline is 2–3 grams of loose leaf tea per 8 oz (240 ml) cup — roughly 1 teaspoon for most rolled or broken-leaf teas. For larger whole-leaf teas like some oolongs and white teas, use about 1 tablespoon. Adjust to your personal taste: more tea for stronger flavor, less for a lighter cup. A kitchen scale provides the most consistent results.

Oolong tea generally contains moderate caffeine levels — typically between green tea and black tea. An 8 oz cup of oolong has about 30–50 mg of caffeine, compared to 20–45 mg for green tea and 40–70 mg for black tea. However, caffeine content varies significantly based on the specific variety, growing conditions, and brewing method.

Pu-erh is a fermented tea from Yunnan, China, unique for its aging process. Unlike other teas that are best consumed fresh, Pu-erh develops deeper, earthier flavors over years or even decades. It's traditionally brewed with near-boiling water (200°F–212°F / 93°C–100°C) and can be steeped multiple times — often 5–10 infusions from the same leaves, with each steep revealing new flavor dimensions.