Hot Tea V/S Iced Tea | Online Tea Store – Well Way Tea

With just a cup of tea, you can turn your stressful and dull day into a relaxing one. It's one of the most loved and consumed beverages in the world. Some people can't live without a warm cup of tea every morning while some like it cold. Regardless of how you drink it, you can't overlook the many benefits of tea. However, there are certain differences between Hot and Iced Tea. Here's everything you need to know.

Aromas and Flavors

When it comes to hot and iced tea, one of the significant differences in the aroma and flavor. Interestingly, this doesn’t have to do much with the type of tea you use but more with whether the tea is hot or cold. Research shows that cold food and beverages are less flavorful than their warmer counterparts, which applies to everything, including tea. The colder the tea is, the harder it'll be for your taste buds to discern the subtleties of the flavor. On the other hand, if the tea is warmer but still not very hot, the flavor will be at its peak.

In short, when it comes to aromas and flavor, science shows that hot tea is superior. So, if you want to enjoy the full taste of your cup of tea, brew it hot.

Which Has More Benefits, Hot Or Iced Tea?

Trying to find out the health benefits of tea comes down to where you get your tea from. However, when it comes to hot and cold tea, there's no significant difference in regards to their health benefits. Some research says that cold teas bind antioxidants and caffeine, reducing their effectiveness, but it's unclear how ineffective they become. On the other hand, some researchers say that iced tea is healthier as you have to shake it before serving, delivering more chemicals into the water. This might be true, but it's almost impossible to verify. If you're drinking tea for its health benefits, it doesn't matter whether you have it hot or cold.

However, the key is that you steep it for the right amount of time before drinking. Generally, iced tea is brewed hot, so steeping your tea bag for about two minutes will produce the best effects regardless of the temperature. For loose leaf blends, you'll have to steep anywhere between 2-15 minutes.

Homemade Vs. Pre-Brewed Teas

For iced tea, homemade is preferable. Pre-packaged teas in liquid form are inferior to homemade ones. Pre-brewed liquid teas are served cold, which might lead you to believe that they are the same as any iced tea, but this isn't the case. You must bear in mind that pre-packaged liquid teas are manufactured for mass consumption, and for this, companies have to make compromises. As such, many of the healthy aspects will be taken out of the tea. You'll still be able to taste the flavor, but they might not be as healthy for you to drink as they'll probably come with a lot of artificial sweeteners and sugar.

Can I Turn Hot Tea To Iced Tea?

Bottled iced tea is readily available, but if you want to make use of the wide variety of tea that you already own, such as oolong, Darjeeling, jasmine, and chai, you can do so. The flavor options will be limitless, and you might notice that the flavor is more robust when the tea is chilled.

If you want to transform your hot tea into cold, you’ll have to brew the tea as usual and then place it into your refrigerator. Use two tablespoons or loose-leaf or one teabag of any black, white, green, or herbal tea variety per cup of filtered water. After 2-5 minutes of brewing, take out the tea bags and let the tea to come down to room temperature before placing it in your refrigerator.

For a faster method, you can make a condensed tea by brewing 2-3 teabags for every cup of filtered water. After that, pour the hot tea directly over the ice. Generally, iced teas will last for about 2-3 days in your refrigerator.

Conclusion

Tea is a fantastic way of rejuvenating your mind, body, and soul. They not only taste great but come with various benefits. Whether it's hot or cold, you can enjoy it according to your preference and receive its full benefits.