Can Tea be Brewed in Cold Water?
Making a cup of tea can be a simple process, yet there is a lot of controversy surrounding the temperature of water you should use. Cold brewing tea has been gaining in popularity. But is it safe and tasty? Here we break down the cold brewing experience and everything you need to know.
Benefits of Cold Brewing Tea
Cold brewing your tea can provide some benefits over traditional hot brewing methods. Some of the benefits are:
- Time savings – Cold brewing tea only requires minutes compared to the 5-10 minutes needed for hot brewed tea.
- Smooth flavor – Cold brewed tea has a very smooth flavor, which can be attributed to its lower tannin content.
- Milder caffeine content – Cold brewed tea has less caffeine than hot-brewed tea, as caffeine is more soluble in hot water.
Is Cold Brewing Tea Safe?
Yes, cold-brewed tea is safe, though you must take the same precautions that you would with hot-brewed tea. For instance, you should use purified or distilled water to cushion against any toxins or bacteria found in plain tap water. When it comes to cold-brewing, green and oolong tea can provide you with a safe experience since they do not typically contain any bacteria.
How to Make Cold Brewing Tea
Making cold-brewed tea is actually quite simple. The basic steps you need to take are:
- Mix one tea bag for every 8 ounces of cold water. – This ratio of 1 tea bag for 8 ounces of cold water is not set in stone and may vary depending on what type of tea you are making. Do some experimentation to find the ratio that works best for you.
- Put the mixture in the refrigerator – Keep the mixture in the refrigerator overnight or up to 24 hours and you will have ready-to-drink cold-brewed tea.
- Strain out the tea bags before serving – Once ready, simply strain out the tea bags and enjoy your cold-brewed tea.
Cold brewing tea can be a great way to get a smooth flavor for your tea. It also saves time and offers a milder caffeine content than hot-brewed tea. All you need to do is follow the three simple steps above and you will have a cup of perfectly brewed tea.
