How to Brew Green Tea
If your green tea tastes bitter, the tea probably isn’t the problem. Water that’s too hot is the most common cause, and it’s easy to fix.
The short version
- Cool the water. Aim for 170°F to 180°F. If you don’t have a thermometer, boil the water and let it rest for a few minutes.
- Measure your tea. Use one tea bag, or about one teaspoon of loose leaf, for an 8 oz cup. Follow the package if it says otherwise.
- Steep briefly. Start with 2 to 3 minutes, then taste.
- Take the tea out. Leaves left in the water keep steeping and turn the cup bitter.
These are starting points, so adjust them to suit your tea and your taste.
Guides by question
- Making a batch: use our tea bag calculator for a pitcher or a gallon.
- Loose leaf: learn how to make green tea without tea bags.
- Freshness: find out how long green tea lasts, dry and brewed.
- Looks: see what the color of your green tea tells you.
Once you’ve got the basics, try one of our green tea blends, or explore the types of green tea.
Start here
How Many Green Tea Bags for a Gallon?Start with about 16 regular green tea bags per gallon: 11 for light, 22 for strong. See what Twinings, Luzianne and Lipton say.
How to Make Green Tea Without Tea BagsMake green tea with loose leaf and a strainer, a teapot, a jar of cold water or matcha. Get the amounts, water temperature and steep times.
How Long Does Green Tea Last?Dry green tea fades over months, while brewed tea has a clock of hours and days. Learn the limits, the warning signs and how to store it.
What Color Is Green Tea?Green tea leaves are green, but the cup can look pale green, yellow or brown. Learn what causes each shade and what the color does and doesn't tell you.Other topics
Blends & add-insFruit, herbs, honey and milk: what pairs well, how to make it, and what it really does.MatchaHow matcha differs from steeped tea, how to make it at home, and how to buy it with care.CaffeineHow much caffeine is in your cup, how decaf works, and how the brands compare.Health questionsWhat the evidence actually supports, and where the claims run ahead of it.Types & originsSencha, gyokuro, jasmine and teas from across Asia, and how green tea compares with others.Brands & bottled teasWhat is really in the green teas you find in stores and cafés.Recipes & other usesFood, baths, plants and other things people do with green tea.