Metal telluride nanowires are attractive materials for many applications, yet most synthesis recipes require hazardous reducing agents such as hydrazine or sodium borohydride. We describe a two-step synthesis of various metal tellurides with nanowire morphology using a nonhazardous reducing agent, ascorbic acid. In the first step, Te grows one-dimensionally to form ultrathin nanowires; in the second step, these nanowires are converted to metal telluride nanowires by adding metal precursors. Analysis of the reaction products versus time provides insights into the growth and conversion mechanisms as well as the reaction rates.