If you’ve ever been in a hurry while craving tea, you’ve probably thought about using the microwave to heat up your water.

Even though it’s not really healthy, it’s quick and easy to do, which is exactly what you need in a situation like that.

The problem is, you don’t know how long you should microwave your water.

In this article, we’ve covered exactly how long it takes to microwave water for tea and the potential dangers of microwaving tea.

How Long to Microwave Water for Tea

Which Temperature Should You Aim For?

To get the most out of your tea flavor, it’s best to adjust the temperature based on the type of tea you’re brewing. 

Green tea usually brews best at 150°F to 180°F.

Black and herbal teas typically need boiling water at 212°F.

Oolong is somewhere in between, needing water at around 190°F.

White teas are delicate and are brewed between 160°F and 185°F

Which Timing Should You Aim For?

To get the most out of your tea, you need to time the microwave heating properly. Here’s how to do it based on the type of tea you’re brewing.

Green tea usually brews best near boiling point for around 1-2 minutes depending on your microwave’s power.

Black and herbal teas are brewed until it’s hot and close to boiling, which is around 2-3 minutes, and then leave to steep for 3-5 minutes.

Oolong needs water just below the boiling point, which is also around 2-3 minutes, and the tea is steeped for 3-4 minutes.

White teas are delicate and require hot water that isn’t close to boiling, so around 1-2 minutes in the microwave and then steeping for about 1-3 minutes.

Don't Overheat Your Tea Water

Overheating your water can lead to boiling, and boiling water can scorch the leaves and result in a bitter taste in your tea.

Being precise with your temperature can significantly improve the taste of your tea.

Why You Shouldn't Microwave Tea

As we said, microwaving tea is quick and easy, but it comes at a cost. Here’s why you should consider avoiding the microwave when making your favorite brew.

How Microwave Affects Flavor

When you microwave water for tea, it can lead to uneven heating, and might not extract the full profile of your tea leaves.

This is because a microwave heats the water from all sides, including the top, the sides, and the bottom. That can lead to the top being at a higher temperature, almost boiling, and the bottom still cold.

Conversely, when warming water on the stove, the stove heats the container from below and perfectly splits the temperature throughout the entire container.

Superheated Water

Superheated water is when a liquid reaches the boiling point inside the microwave without showing any signs or bubbles to indicate it.

This can make it easy to overheat your water when heating it in a microwave.

How To Heat Water Using A Stove Top

If you want a perfect cup of tea, you should take more time to heat the water properly using a stovetop. Here’s how to do it:

1. Put some water in a pan or a pot

2. Place the pan on the stovetop and turn the heating on
3. Wait for the water to reach a desired temperature

Voila! 

It will probably take more time than using a microwave, but you’ve got a perfectly heated cup of water that you can steep your tea in!