White Tea Steeping TimerFree white tea steeping timer. White tea needs only 1–3 minutes at 160–185°F. Learn the right temperature and time for Bai Hao Yinzhen and Bai Mudan.Frequently asked questionsHow long should I steep white tea?Silver Needle (Bai Hao Yinzhen): 1–2 minutes at 160–165°F. Bai Mudan (White Peony): 2–3 minutes at 170–175°F. Shou Mei and Gong Mei (aged white): 3–5 minutes at 185°F. Avoid over-steeping and high temperatures — white tea's delicate flavor disappears and turns astringent quickly.Can white tea be steeped at higher temperatures if I shorten the time?Higher temperature is more damaging to white tea than longer time. The delicate compounds in white tea (especially silver needle buds) are heat-sensitive. Even at a shorter time, boiling water damages these compounds. Use the lower temperature (160–185°F) even if it means waiting longer after boiling.What does white tea taste like?Properly steeped white tea tastes: very light, slightly sweet, floral (often described as hay, peach, or melon), with almost no bitterness or astringency. It's the most delicate of all tea types. If you taste bitterness or nothing at all, the water was too hot or the tea is low quality.Does white tea have less caffeine than green or black tea?Per gram, silver needle (made from young buds) actually contains more caffeine than sencha green tea, because buds have higher caffeine concentration than mature leaves. However, white tea is often steeped at lower leaf quantities and lower temperatures, resulting in 10–30mg caffeine per cup — similar to or slightly less than green tea.Can white tea be cold brewed?Yes — white tea makes an exceptional cold brew. Add 2–3 heaped teaspoons per 8oz to cold water and refrigerate for 6–12 hours. Cold brew white tea is sweet, light, and refreshing with a complexity that hot brewing doesn't capture. Silver Needle is exceptional cold brewed.