Why does tea become bitter if brewed too hot or too long?

Why does tea become bitter if brewed too hot or too long? - Person Pouring Coffee on White Ceramic Cup

To try to narrow the scope and help deduce an answer to this question, I'm wondering:

Why does tea become bitter if brewed too hot or too long?



Best Answer

Tea contains a lot of flavinoid compounds notably tannins. Tannins are astringent and have a very strong bitter flavor.

The tannins are released much more slowly compared to the other flavor compounds. So when brewed for too long or too hot, much more tannins are released into the brew along and hence the resulting tea is much more bitter.




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Quick Answer about "Why does tea become bitter if brewed too hot or too long?"

Tannins are astringent and have a very strong bitter flavor. The tannins are released much more slowly compared to the other flavor compounds. So when brewed for too long or too hot, much more tannins are released into the brew along and hence the resulting tea is much more bitter.

Why does hot tea get bitter?

Tannin are present in tea and contribute to the bitter taste. But tannin is an important part of the taste component and gives tea its, well - tea flavor. But tea, like any delicious food or drink is a careful balance of flavor ingredients. Too much tannin and it's out of balance.

Why does tea get bitter if steeped too long?

You're steeping it for too long Any longer and your tea will become bitter as it releases tannins. And, yes, tannins are the same compounds you find in wine.

Why does my tea taste so bitter?

There are two ways for tea to become unpleasantly bitter: steeping at too high a temperature, or steeping for too long. (It's also possible that if your water is heavily chlorinated or otherwise impure that it could be making your tea taste bad, but that's far less likely than improper brewing.)

What happens if you brew tea too hot?

Too Hot, Water temperatures that are too hot dissolve tannins and destroy the other desirable compounds in tea. Thermal shock from overly hot water can also burn sensitive tea leaves. The result will be a bitter, astringent, and unbalanced brew.



How you've been making tea WRONG your entire life - BBC




More answers regarding why does tea become bitter if brewed too hot or too long?

Answer 2

This depends on the type of tea. Yerba Mate and other green teas tend to get stronger in flavour but Rooibos or Earl Grey will start getting bitter after 5-10 minutes.

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