Screen Soft Light / Timekeeping / TEA TIMER

201–210°F (96–99°C), steep 4 min (range 3–5)

04:00

Start the timer as soon as the hot water meets the tea.

Space starts or pauses, R resets, F goes fullscreen.

No. 001 · TEA TIMER

Tea timer with steep times for every type of tea

  • 01 Green, white, oolong, black, herbal
  • 02 Water temperature shown
  • 03 Ranges from a tea association

Each type of tea has its own water temperature and steeping time. Choose yours and the timer sets the countdown and shows the temperature to use in Fahrenheit and Celsius. A chime tells you when to lift out the leaves.

Kitchen and bathroom timers —
Toothbrushing timerEgg timer
§ 01

Why the water temperature matters

Hot water pulls more bitterness out of delicate leaves. The Tea Association of the USA recommends about 160 to 180°F for green tea and about 185°F for white, while black tea takes water at or just under a full boil. That is why the line under the buttons gives a temperature for every type and not only a time.

§ 02

The Association gives ranges, such as 3 to 5 minutes for black tea.

How we chose a single time from a range

The Association gives ranges, such as 3 to 5 minutes for black tea. The timer uses one number inside each range: 2 minutes for green (range 1 to 3), 3:30 for white (3 to 4), 4 for oolong (3 to 5) and 4 for black (3 to 5). Taste a cup, then use the shorter end for a lighter tea and the longer end for a stronger one.

§ 03

Herbal tea

The Tea Association figures cover true teas, so herbal comes from a brand instead. Celestial Seasonings says to pour freshly boiled water over one tea bag and steep 4 to 6 minutes, and the timer uses 5. Blends with roots, bark or large pieces of fruit may taste better with a longer steep, so check the box.

§ 04

Where these times come from

Black (3 to 5 minutes at 201 to 210°F), oolong (3 to 5 minutes at 175 to 195°F), white (3 to 4 minutes at about 185°F) and green (Chinese green 1 to 3 minutes at 170 to 180°F, Japanese green 1 to 2 minutes at 160 to 175°F) are the Tea Association of the USA's recommendations as reproduced at https://resource.bunn.com/library/eZine/tea_basics_brochure/files/basic-html/page3.html. Herbal (4 to 6 minutes, freshly boiled water): Celestial Seasonings, Brewing Methods, https://celestialseasonings.com/pages/brewing-methods. Many consumer guides give different numbers, for example longer steeps for white tea. We used the Association's figures because it is the trade body for tea in the United States. The green preset is 175°F, the overlap between its Chinese and Japanese ranges.

Procedure

Three moves to peak output

  1. 01

    Choose the tea

    Green is 2 minutes, white 3:30, oolong 4, black 4 and herbal 5. The line under the buttons shows the water temperature and the range.

  2. 02

    Heat the water

    Water at the temperature shown goes on the tea.

  3. 03

    Start when it hits the tea

    Press Start steeping as the water meets the leaves or the bag. When the chime sounds, take the tea out.

Inquiries

Questions worth asking

Q.01 How long should I steep tea?
Black tea 3 to 5 minutes, oolong 3 to 5, white 3 to 4, green 1 to 3 and herbal 4 to 6, according to the Tea Association of the USA and Celestial Seasonings. The presets use 4, 4, 3:30, 2 and 5 minutes.
Q.02 Why is my green tea bitter?
Usually the water was too hot or the tea steeped too long. Try water around 175°F (80°C) and 2 minutes, and lift the leaves out when the chime sounds.
Q.03 Does the timer heat the water?
No. It only counts the steeping time. The temperature under the buttons is what to aim for when you heat the water.
Q.04 Can I steep for longer than the preset?
The presets set the countdown. For another length, use the online timer. Longer steeping usually makes tea stronger and often more bitter.
Q.05 Will the screen stay on while it runs?
On browsers that support the Screen Wake Lock API (Chrome, Edge and recent Safari) the page asks the screen to stay on while the timer runs. On other devices, turn off auto-lock for a few minutes. The countdown reads the clock, so it still finishes on time if the tab is in the background, but the alarm sound needs the page to stay open.
Cross-reference

Try adjacent plates