Tea Type Reference
Water temperature, leaf-to-water ratio, first steep time, re-steep adjustment, and a rough caffeine estimate for all seven brewing categories, on one page — the card to keep next to the kettle.
Temperature, ratio, steep time, and caffeine by type
| Tea type | Water temp | Leaf per 240ml | First steep | Re-steep (1st → 2nd) | Caffeine (rough est.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| White tea | 75–80°C (167–176°F) | 2.2g (9g/L) | 4–5 min | 15s → 25s (+10s) | 18mg |
| Green tea | 70–80°C (158–176°F) | 1.9g (8g/L) | 2–3 min | 10s → 15s (+5s) | 24mg |
| Yellow tea | 75–80°C (167–176°F) | 1.9g (8g/L) | 2–3 min | 10s → 15s (+5s) | 22mg |
| Oolong | 85–95°C (185–203°F) | 2.4g (10g/L) | 3–5 min | 20s → 30s (+10s) | 46mg |
| Black tea | 95–100°C (203–212°F) | 2.2g (9g/L) | 3–5 min | 15s → 23s (+8s) | 52mg |
| Pu-erh | 90–100°C (194–212°F) | 2.6g (11g/L) | 3–5 min | 10s → 18s (+8s) | 78mg |
| Herbal tisane | 100–100°C (212–212°F) | 2.9g (12g/L) | 5–7 min | 60s → 90s (+30s) | 0mg |
Water temperature and first-steep time are Western-style, sea-level figures from the same calculator used on the Steep Time & Temperature Calculator. Leaf amount is the Western-style dose for a 240ml cup. Re-steep seconds are the gongfu-style first and second infusion times for this tea type. The caffeine estimate uses this type’s own recommended leaf dose and the midpoint of its recommended steep window — see the caffeine calculator for your own exact volume, dose, and steep time.
How each column is derived
This table isn’t a separately maintained reference — every figure comes from calling this site’s own calculator functions directly. Water temperature and the first-steep window come from the same function behind the Steep Time & Temperature Calculator, which also caps the top of the range at your local boiling point if you brew at altitude (not reflected in this sea-level table). The leaf amount comes from the same function behind the Tea-to-Water Ratio Calculator, using the Western-style ratio for a 240ml cup. The re-steep seconds come from the same function behind the Gongfu Brew Timer, showing the first two infusions of a gongfu schedule for this tea type. And the caffeine estimate comes from the same function behind the Tea Caffeine Calculator, fed this type’s own recommended dose and steep-time midpoint rather than a generic default — so the caffeine column reflects how the table itself says to brew each tea, not an arbitrary separate assumption.
Because every number is computed rather than hand-typed, a change to any of the four underlying calculators — a rounding tweak, an updated base rate, a new clamp — flows straight through to this table automatically, and an automated test confirms the two never drift apart.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where do the numbers in this table actually come from?
Every column is computed from the same functions this site's calculators use — getSteepGuide() for temperature and first-steep time, teaRatio() for the leaf amount, brewSchedule() for the re-steep seconds, and estimateCaffeine() for the caffeine figure — rather than a separate, hand-typed table. If a calculator's underlying numbers ever change, this page changes with it automatically.
Why is pu-erh's caffeine estimate so much higher than green tea's?
It isn't primarily about fermentation versus oxidation — pu-erh's higher estimate mostly reflects a combination of cultivar, leaf maturity, and cutting grade that happens to correlate with pu-erh production, not a direct effect of the fermentation process itself. See the caffeine arithmetic guide for a fuller explanation, including how much these figures vary by real-world tea.
Why does herbal tisane show 0mg caffeine?
True herbal tisanes — chamomile, peppermint, hibiscus, rooibos, and similar — aren't made from Camellia sinensis (the tea plant) at all, so they're naturally caffeine-free regardless of dose or steep time. That said, caffeine-free doesn't mean risk-free for everyone: some herbs can interact with medications or aren't recommended during pregnancy, so check with a pharmacist or doctor about a specific herb rather than assuming every herbal blend is automatically fine.
Why does the re-steep increment differ so much by tea type?
Each tea type's leaf gives up its readily available flavor and caffeine at a different rate, so the schedule that keeps successive infusions roughly consistent in strength has to lengthen by a different amount each round. Herbal tisane's dried, non-leaf material needs the longest steeps and the biggest jump between infusions; green and yellow tea's more delicate leaf needs only a small nudge each round.
Are these figures exact for my specific tea?
No — every column is a starting estimate, not a lab measurement or a guarantee for any specific box or bag. Leaf grade, cultivar, growing conditions, and your own kettle and taste all shift the real numbers. Use this table as a kettle-side starting point, then adjust from there.
Brewing reference only, not medical or health advice. Every figure here is a starting estimate — leaf grade, cultivar, water, altitude, and personal taste all shift the real numbers for your own cup.
Use it with
- Steep Time & Temperature Calculator— get a range capped for your actual elevation, not just the sea-level figures shown here.
- Tea-to-Water Ratio Calculator— work out the exact leaf amount for your own cup or vessel size, Western or gongfu style.
- Tea Caffeine Calculator— estimate your own cup from its actual volume, leaf dose, and steep time.
- How to Steep Tea Properly: Temperature and Time by Tea Type — the full explanation behind the temperature and steep-time columns.
- Gongfu Ratios and Infusion Schedules — a complete worked session behind the ratio and re-steep columns.
- Caffeine in Tea Is Arithmetic, Not Magic — how the caffeine column is actually calculated, and why a quick rinse doesn’t decaffeinate a cup.