If you enjoy drinking tea, you probably have a preferred way of brewing it. Most tea drinkers opt for the traditional method of hot brewing. However, tea can also be brewed cold.
Drinking cold-infused tea is highly recommended as it provides a unique experience. But how do you make tea with cold infusions? Well, the process is as easy as putting your favorite tea in a container of cold water and refrigerating it.
The only thing that should be considered is how long tea should be steeped. For instance, black tea needs to be steeped for eight to twelve hours, whereas green and white tea for six to eight hours.
When done right, cold-infused tea will provide various benefits. Read on to find out what they are.
1. Less Bitterness
When tea is brewed in hot water, its component called tannins infuses the beverage, giving it a bitter taste that overpowers its flavor.
Fortunately, this isn’t the case when it comes to cold-infused tea. The cold temperature gives the tea a milder and less bitter taste, making it sweeter. This flavor results from the tea leaves reduced ability to extract tannins in cold water.
The natural sweetness of cold-infused tea also reduces the need to add sugar. Therefore, this beverage can be very beneficial for your health, especially if you have a condition that requires you to maintain your blood glucose levels.
2. Reduced Caffeine
Compared to coffee, most teas on the market today contain less caffeine. It’s mainly due to the different types of plant leaves used to make them. However, the leaves caffeine content also changes when brewed, making them stronger or weaker.
In hot water, caffeine is extracted more quickly and in greater quantities. On the other hand, cold brewing will only yield about half as much caffeine as hot brewing, depending on the size and shape of the tea leaves.
Since caffeine is easily absorbed into the bloodstream, its effects are felt more quickly. So, if you want to avoid consuming too much of it, drinking cold-infused tea is preferable. You may still be able to experience caffeine’s positive effects, such as mental alertness and improved concentration, even when you take it in a smaller amount.
Aside from having less caffeine, cold-infused tea also contains higher amounts of vitamin C, which can be attributed to the lower temperature needed to brew it.
3. Higher Level Of Antioxidants
Another advantage of cold-infused tea is that it contains more antioxidants than hot-brewed tea. These antioxidants degrade and oxidize in hot water due to heat, which lowers their concentration.
In contrast, when tea is steeped in cold water, its antioxidants are extracted more gradually. This process preserves their concentration and integrity. And since cold-infused tea is steeped longer, more antioxidants are released, resulting in higher concentrations.
Antioxidants shield the skin from damage caused by UV rays and other environmental stressors. They also assist in reviving the skin’s youthfulness by minimizing wrinkles.
In addition, the antioxidants present in cold-infused tea help reduce inflammation. This inflammation is typically associated with many health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, and certain types of cancer. Furthermore, antioxidants support immune function and protect the body against infections and other diseases.
4. Longer Shelf Life
The shelf life of brewed tea depends on how it’s stored. Although tea has no expiration date, its quality will degrade over time. It’s therefore advisable to consume it within eight hours of storing it at room temperature.
If it remains uncovered for over eight hours, the cold-brewed tea won’t be safe for consumption. However, if you refrigerate your tea and place it in an air-tight container, you can prolong its shelf life for nearly five days.
Your tea can also last six months in the freezer if stored in an air-tight container. Therefore, if you want to drink tea daily but don’t have time to brew it yourself, cold-infused tea is your best choice.
5. Increased Hydration
Nothing compares to drinking cold-infused tea in the sweltering summer heat. It will be a great substitute for water if you prefer to avoid drinking it. With cold-infused tea, you won’t have to worry about getting dehydrated or neglecting to get proper hydration, which is essential for maintaining healthy organ function and well-being.
6. Versatility
One of the advantages of cold-infused tea is that you’re not restricted to a single kind of tea. Varieties like green, white, and black teas can be used to make cold-infused beverages. As a result, you’ll be able to enjoy different flavors and benefits based on your preferences.
Bottom Line
Cold-infused tea is a convenient, healthy, and refreshing beverage that can be made at home. You can benefit more from its components than those in hot brewed tea. But to achieve better results, remember to give your tea enough time to brew.
