What Is over Steeping Tea?

Over-steeping is steeping leaves in hot or boiling water for much longer than the recommended time. To get the best cup of tea, proper steeping is more than important.

What happens when you steep tea too long?

Steeping your tea longer than the recommended time will only make it bitter tasting. Tea leaves start to release tannins when left in hot water too long and this results in a bitter-tasting tea. Tannins are not harmful to consume and only change the taste of the tea. Although, they can make your mouth dry.

What does it mean to over steep tea?

"Steep" essentially means soak

In the most basic sense, to steep something means to soak it, which is what we do when we prepare tea. We take dry tea leaves, add them to hot water, let them soak, pour out the tea and then drink it. So, when someone says to steep your tea, all you are doing is preparing a cup of tea.