Cold brew tea may sound unusual for some, but this drink is gaining its popularity worldwide.
Introduction
Have you heard about cold brew tea before? Cold brew tea has emerged as an increasingly popular alternative to hot brew tea, gradually changing the way people often think about tea. However, you may wonder what exactly cold brew tea is, how it differs from traditional brewing methods, and why people cold brew it instead of hot brewing. Let’s deep dive into cold brew tea in this article.
What is cold brew tea?
When it comes to brewing tea, most people might think of using hot water to let the tea leaves release their essence and flavor. Recently, a new brewing method that has gained popularity, especially among young people, is cold brewing. Cold brew tea is the tea that is steeped in cold or room temperature for an extended period, typically overnight. By brewing the tea leaves slowly, the process uses time rather than temperature to release the flavors.
The cold brewing method originates from Japan, where people prefer gentle tea flavors. The slow extraction of tea leaves offers a smoother flavor and pleasant taste. Without the presence of heat, bitter tannins are less likely to be extracted. Moreover, cold brew tea is favored by hands-off processes and versatility. It can be enjoyed plain during the day or mixed with other ingredients for more complex flavors.
Cold brew tea vs Hot tea: What is different?
Cold brew tea has become a popular alternative to traditional hot brewing methods. So, what are the differences between these two techniques? The fundamental difference between them is the water temperature and brewing time. Hot tea involves steeping tea leaves in hot water, usually at a temperature between 80ºC and 100ºC, for a few minutes. Meanwhile, cold brewing uses cold water to steep tea leaves for 3 to 12 hours.
Different steeping time and temperatures result in different flavors and tastes of the tea liquor. Hot water allows the tea leaves to release astringent tastes and bitter tannins. Meanwhile, tea steeped in cold water releases gradually, leading to a plain, smooth, and pleasant flavor profile as well as less acidity and caffeine content. Cold brewing is also believed to preserve more vitamins and minerals in tea leaves than the traditional method.
Does cold brew tea have caffeine?
When brewing tea, water temperature and steeping time are crucial factors affecting the caffeine content. Caffeine is more soluble in hot water, so hot brewing extracts much caffeine in just a few minutes. Despite using cold water, cold brew tea is steeped for a longer period, for hours. Therefore, it still contains caffeine, usually at a lower concentration.
The caffeine amount in cold brew tea is often half or much less than half of that in the hot brew version. This may be good news for tea lovers who are sensitive to caffeine. However, the specific ratio will depend on what kinds of tea are used and how long it is brewed. The caffeine content in cold brew tea still has calming effects, which can help you stay alert and energized without the jitters.
Why do people cold brew tea?
With the same type of tea, more and more people prefer the cold brewing method. What are the reasons for this trend?
Cold brew tea contains less caffeine
Cold brew tea is an ideal alternative for individuals sensitive to caffeine. The use of cold water reduces the extraction of caffeine in tea leaves into the liquor. Therefore, it will have milder stimulating effects than hot tea. If you are a fan of tea drinks but are worried about caffeine’s side effects, cold brew tea is a great option for you.
Cold brew tea is less acidic
In addition to lower caffeine content, cold brew tea also has a lower acidity level. This is because cold water extracts more slowly and selectively, creating a simpler mixture. Therefore, it will be a perfect choice for those with weak stomachs.
Cold brew tea preserves natural components in tea leaves
Without the effects of too high temperature, brewing in cold water helps preserve most natural vitamins and antioxidants, such as vitamin C, L-theanine, and catechins, in tea leaves. Vitamin C is a vital element for overall health, but it is often destroyed by hot water. Besides, lower-temperature water lessens the extraction of bitter and astringent flavors, which may bring a more pleasant and sweeter infusion.
Cold brew tea is ideal for hot weather
Cold brew tea is naturally cool and refreshing, making it an ideal drink for sunny days. Just put the tea leaves into water and keep them in the fridge overnight, you will have a cooling beverage the next morning. You can enjoy it during the day to stay hydrated.
Check what is happening on global tea market:
Conclusion
Unlike traditional hot brewing methods, cold brewing uses time instead of heat to extract the tea leaves. With cold water, the resulting tea liquor has a smoother, sweeter, and more pleasant flavor profile. Cold brew tea also contains lower caffeine and acidity, which is suitable for everyone, including those with weak stomachs and sensitivity to caffeine.
About Future Generation Co., Ltd
We are FGC, the leading tea and beverage exporter in Vietnam and one of the biggest tea suppliers in the world. Our tea products are diverse in types, grades, and production methods. We provide customers with Loose tea (such as Black tea, Green tea, and Oolong tea), Herbal tea (such as Rose tea, Chamomile tea, and Lotus tea), and Specialty tea (such as Matcha), RTD Tea, and Tea Bags. Our mission is to become Vietnam’s leading healthy beverage company.
We ensure stable tea sources for domestic markets and exports with vast high-grown tea farms and available herb gardens. Our tea gardens and factories also meet international standards such as FSSC, ISO, HACCP, KOSHER, HALAL, etc. In addition, we constantly innovate our machinery system, strengthen production capacity, and increase productivity. We also provide private label and customized packaging services for small and medium enterprises.
If you are a tea distributor, tea importer, teashop manager, or even tea lover, we are committed to being your prestigious tea source supplier in Vietnam!
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