How Long to Steep Black Tea
Black tea should be steeped for 3-5 minutes at 200-212°F (93-100°C). Black tea is fully oxidized, which means it's more forgiving than green tea — but steeping beyond 5 minutes will still make it unpleasantly bitter and astringent.
Black Tea Steeping Times by Type
- Earl Grey - 3-5 minutes at 212°F for citrusy bergamot flavor
- English Breakfast - 3-5 minutes at 212°F for strong, malty, robust flavor
- Assam - 3-5 minutes at 212°F for bold, malty flavor great with milk
- Darjeeling - 3-4 minutes at 200°F for a lighter, muscatel character
- Ceylon - 3-5 minutes at 212°F for bright, crisp, citrusy taste
- Keemun - 3-4 minutes at 212°F for winey, smooth, slightly fruity flavor
- Lapsang Souchong - 3-5 minutes at 212°F for bold, smoky flavor
Tips for Perfect Black Tea
- Use boiling water - Unlike green tea, black tea needs fully boiling water for proper extraction
- 1 teaspoon per cup - Use 2-3 grams of loose leaf per 8 oz cup
- Cover while steeping - Keeps the water hot for consistent extraction
- Shorter for iced tea - Steep 3 minutes for iced tea to avoid bitterness when chilled
- Longer for milk tea - Steep 4-5 minutes if you plan to add milk, as the tannins pair well with dairy
Adding Milk to Black Tea
Black tea is the most common tea enjoyed with milk. The casein proteins in milk bind with tannins, reducing bitterness and creating a smoother cup. For milk tea, steep on the longer end (4-5 minutes) to ensure the tea flavor isn't diluted. Assam, English Breakfast, and Ceylon teas are particularly good with milk.