Tea Blog

Far be it from me to set the rules for preparing tea—a beverage consumed by billions of people around the world each day. Still, I find myself somewhat unsettled by the growing trend of shaving seconds—or even minutes—off preparation time. While that mindset may align with coffee culture, tea has long been associated with a slower, more deliberate experience.

I’ve explored this topic before, most recently in this discussion of fast tea brewing methods and convenience gadgets. That article questioned the usefulness of devices designed to produce tea in roughly one minute. While such speed may benefit high-volume service environments, it raises questions about how it affects flavor quality and the overall tea-drinking experience.

Rather than revisiting one-minute brewing, consider an even faster concept: 25-second tea. According to a study conducted by professional food and drink taster Martin Isark, the optimal steeping time for tea bags may be as little as 25 seconds. The findings were widely discussed in the United Kingdom, where tea remains deeply embedded in everyday culture.

During the study, Isark evaluated approximately 400 cups of tea over two days, using tea bags from several well-known British brands. Manufacturer guidelines for steeping times varied significantly, ranging from 40 seconds to five minutes.

Despite suggesting a shorter steep time, Isark also expressed reservations about tea bags themselves, noting that they are often made from finely broken leaf particles that lack the complexity found in higher-quality loose leaf teas. While he favors premium teas such as first-flush Darjeeling, he did identify one standout among the tea bags he tested: Yorkshire Tea tea bags known for strong flavor and consistent quality.

See more of William I. Lengeman’s articles in this archive of tea-related writing by the author.

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