Can You Cold Brew Any Tea?
Tea has been a popular beverage for centuries, however cold brewing tea has become a recent trend. It’s a great way to enjoy tea without the tannins and bitterness of traditional hot tea. So, can you cold brew any tea?
The Cold Brew Process
In order to cold brew tea, you need to steep it for a long time in cold or room temperature water. This process requires the tea leaves to be stored in cold or room temperature water for a minimum of 4 hours, although 12 – 24 hours is preferred. Cold brewing tea produces a sweeter and more mellow tea than traditional methods.
Which Teas Work Best for Cold Brewing?
The best teas to cold brew are black, green, oolong, white, and herbal teas.
- Black tea is fully oxidized and has a stronger flavor than other teas, making it perfect for cold brewing.
- Green tea is made from leaves that have been lightly oxidized and will retain a lot of their flavor when cold brewed.
- Oolong tea is semi-oxidized and has a unique flavor. It’s great for cold brewing and can produce a light and delicate cup of tea.
- White tea is made from minimally oxidized tea leaves and is perfect for cold brewing to produce a blossoming flavor.
- Herbal tea is an infusion of herbs, spices, and fruit and is a great option for cold brewing.
Things To Keep In Mind When Cold Brewing
When cold brewing tea, it’s important to remember that it’s a slow process and requires a longer steeping time than traditional methods. Aim for at least 4-12 hours when cold brewing your tea. Also, remember to use about double the amount of tea of what you would normally use for a hot cup.
Conclusion
Cold brewing tea is becoming an increasingly more popular way to enjoy tea. We now know that you can cold brew most types of teas, black, green, oolong, white, and herbal for sweet, mellow and delicate results. The main things to keep in mind when cold brewing tea is that it’s a slow process and you should use at least double the amount of tea compared to traditional hot tea.
