3 Best Ways To Drink Tea (And The Right Temperature For Each Kind)
Did you know that tea has been consumed in almost every culture in the world? Even in sub-tropical regions of the world like the Middle East, tea has been part of daily life for centuries. So, it’s no wonder that it’s become one of the most popular beverages in the world.
But, what exactly is tea? Well, it’s the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant that is steamed or boiled to make a refreshing drink. There are numerous types of tea, some of which have a stronger flavor and aroma than others. Depending on the type of tea you prefer, you may have a different temperature for drinking tea. This article explores the different types of tea, the right temperature for each and tips for drinking it to its optimal flavor.
We’ll look at the types of tea and the right temperature for drinking them below.
Green Tea: The Leaves of the Camellia Sinensis Plant are used to Make Green Tea, which is Low in Caffeine and High in Antioxidants. Green tea is often sipped chilled, as it is less bitter when chilled as opposed to room temperature. The ideal temperature for green tea is between 32 and 35 degrees C.
Oolong Tea: The Leaves of the Camellia Sinensis Plant are steamed for a certain amount of time and then cooled to room temperature to make Oolong Tea. Oolong tea is usually a bit stronger in flavor and aroma than green tea. The ideal temperature for oolong tea is between 17 and 27 degrees C.
Black Tea: The Leaves of the Camellia Sinensis Plant are withered before being either fried or steamed to make Black Tea. Black tea is highly popular in many Asian cultures, and can vary in strength depending on the country of origin. The ideal temperature for black tea is between 10 and 30 degrees C.
There are many brewing methods for tea, but we’ll discuss three methods commonly used for brewed tea - infusion, brewing and brewing with milk.
A. Infusion: This is the steeping of tea leaves in hot/cold water to make a beverage. The length of time the tea leaves are steeped in water depends on the type of tea you are brewing. Generally, green tea is brewed for 2 minutes and oolong tea is brewed for 3 minutes.
B. Brewing: This involves steeping tea leaves in water for longer durations than infusion.
C. Brewing with Milk: If you are into milk tea, you can brew tea with milk. Simply add milk as a flavoring and your tea is ready. While milk can give your tea a unique taste, it also lowers the antioxidant content of the tea.
The Right Temperature for Different Types of Tea
Now that you know how to brew tea, we’ll explore the right temperature for different types of tea.
Green Tea - Green tea is the most antioxidant-rich tea. As such, it tastes best when sipped chilled. To get the most out of this tea, drink it at room temperature for about 10 minutes and then refrigerate for 30 minutes to extract all the benefits.
Oolong Tea - Oolong tea is stronger in flavor and aroma than green tea. As such, when you’re drinking oolong tea, there are times when you may want to sip it hot as opposed to green tea, which can be a bit strong for your palate.
Black Tea - Black tea tastes best when brewed for 3 minutes, and then sipped hot. Black tea is also known to aid digestion and is a good source of antioxidants.
While it is important to know the right temperature for your tea, you also need to drink enough to receive all the benefits of drinking tea. Here are some tips to help you do just that.
- Make tea a daily habit: Rather than having a cup of coffee every morning, try having a cup of tea. The health benefits of tea are numerous and can be substantial.
- Drink water before/after: Ensure that you drink water before/after drinking your tea for better hydration and intake of antioxidants.
- Experiment: Try experimenting with different types of tea to discover what you like best.
- Experiment with milk: You can also try brewing tea with milk to get a unique flavor.
- Experiment with different brewing methods: You can also mix and match different brewing methods to get the most out of each tea.
Tea is a refreshing beverage that can provide significant health benefits when it is brewed correctly. There are numerous types of tea that you can try, and you can control the temperature to suit your taste.
For the best taste and benefits, you can brew each type of tea at the right temperature and drink it when it is still piping hot. If you follow these tips, you can enjoy the benefits of tea to their fullest.