Brewing Master

Question:

Well, I’ve got some mixed feelings after reading this.  I just returned from a week of camping… I made some refrigerator-brewed tea before I left, and it was packed in ice.  Every day or two, (notice I said "or two"), I discarded any leftover tea and started a new batch. Never noticed any ropy-ness or odor.  It was pretty good.  I only used filtered water. I might re-think this next time.  anyway, started with Trader Joes Special Ice Tea Blend. Other’s included STASH Black Currant & Peach Iced Teas, and some Peppermint… Have a good one! Steve

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Here’s a link to an artilcle about the dangers of sun tea http://tinyurl.com/3nwff And a warning from www.healers.org "A WARNING ABOUT SUN TEA: Solar power is great for many uses. But tea is susceptible to bacteria that cannot be killed unless the tea is heated beyond what the sun alone can do. The Centers for Disease Control and the National Tea Association therefore recommend brewing tea at 195 degree for three to five minutes. Also never keep any tea at room temperature beyond eight hours. In place of sun tea, a safer bet is to "brew" the tea overnight in the refrigerator instead." << I like to drink green tea iced tea.  I have been making it using hot water and as a sun tea.  I’m wondering if either method is more beneficial health wise?  More or less caffeine, polyphenols etc. I realise that the health benefits may be less than advertised but I like the stuff regardless.  I figure if I’m going to drink it I might as well get the greatest possible benefit from whichever brewing method is best. I do notice that the hot brewing method produces a stronger slightly bitter brew. Anyone? Sid…  <BR<BR Brenda 135/106

Response:

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I like to drink green tea iced tea.  I have been making it using hot water and as a sun tea.  I’m wondering if either method is more beneficial health wise?  More or less caffeine, polyphenols etc. I realise that the health benefits may be less than advertised but I like the stuff regardless.  I figure if I’m going to drink it I might as well get the greatest possible benefit from whichever brewing method is best. I do notice that the hot brewing method produces a stronger slightly bitter brew. Anyone? Sid… I could be wrong but it doesn’t seem there is a health benefit to sun tea over regularly brewed tea.  I haven’t been able to find reliable proof anyway. Sun tea is pushed as environmentally better because it uses solar power rather than burning fossil fuels. BJ I was wondering if it takes heat to extract the most caffeine, polyphenols or whatever else is good about green tea or do you in fact get more from a cold brew? Sid…

Don’t really know, I would think the extraction process would be pretty much the same regardless of the heat, within reason.  I have found no authoritive source for such information The best I have found is a study by Colorado State University  about the increased chance of bacterial contamination when brewing sun tea. http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/safefood/NEWSLTR/v3n2s06.html BJ

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I was wondering if it takes heat to extract the most caffeine, polyphenols or whatever else is good about green tea or do you in fact get more from a cold brew? Sid… Don’t really know, I would think the extraction process would be pretty much the same regardless of the heat, within reason.  I have found no authoritive source for such information The best I have found is a study by Colorado State University  about the increased chance of bacterial contamination when brewing sun tea. http://www.colostate.edu/Orgs/safefood/NEWSLTR/v3n2s06.html BJ

Thanks, Maybe I’ll follow their suggestion and brew it overnight in the refridgerator and see how it tastes. Sid…

Response:

Steeping works, it doesn’t require heat: steep2    ( P )  Pronunciation Key  (stp) v. steeped, steep