Black Tea: Microwave & Kettle; the difference?!
What's the difference between the various methods of heating the water? Why does it taste better with the bubbles?
Answers: I've been drinking tea instead of coffee for a while now. What I would do is put the mug of water in the microwave on the beverage setting, which is 1:45, and when It is done, I *dunk* the tea bag 45-50 times instead of steeping it for 2 minutes. I do this because I am lazy in the morning, plus I really think it tastes better. In the microwave, once the water is heated, there are a lot of bubbles and "froth" on the top once I dunk the bag. When I steep, the bubbles aren't there as much, and when I heat the water in the kettle, the bubbles aren't there at all. When I don't have the bubbles the tea tastes a lot smoother and a bit off to me, kind of more like the thickness of coffee. When I do it my way it tastes thinner and a bit more refreshing, like tea flavored kool aid.
What's the difference between the various methods of heating the water? Why does it taste better with the bubbles?
I saw a show on PBS about the proper way to make tea- they said never boil the water, it takes the oxygen out of it. Just heat the water and then steep the tea bag for 3-4 minutes, then "mash" the tea bag, which just basically means squeeze the tea out of it.
My English sister-in-law will not heat her water in the micro, she says it ruins the flavour. Go figure!!
kettle is better
Well, microwaves are said by some to kill essential nutrients in anything, thus possibly ruining flavor.
The key to good tea is whether you
1) burn the tea
2) let the hot water sit too long
I notice a difference in taste after microwaving water, but it is not significant enough to make me not do it when I feel like it.
I would suggest, however, not putting the tea itself in the micro. It good damage some of the oils and thus flavor.
More than anything, it is important with tea to let the water come to a boil and turn it off. Then at the tea and let it sit for the desired amount of time. With black tea, it's probably good after 5-10 minutes, but for a stronger tea you want to leave the bag in for about 20.
When water is boiled in a kettle, it slowly releases the air from the water, and heats it to a bubbling boil, forming steam bubbles in the liquid. The temperature of the water is more in your control. The heat slowly dissipates through the liquid from the bottom, and as the steam bubbles form, the water heats to a boil.
The microwave passes waves in and out of the water, exciting the molecules faster, and releasing the air faster. This does not always boil the water fully, or it super heats the water in excess.
The bubbles and "froth" may come from actually dunking the bag, as you are forcing the bag into the liquid and it is squeezing out the air into the liquid.
I personally don't like dunking the bag, as it does not fully hydrate the leaves to pull the full flavour, it cools the liquid faster, and it doesn't seem like a relaxing, savory beverage. I let my tea steep while I make breakfast for myself.
But each person has their own preference, and no one's method is more correct than the other, as long as they enjoy it.
Kettle is better. The microwave actually changes the chemistry of your food. It's just not good for you.
when you dunk it, you are still steeping it, just for less time, is all. the longer its in the water the stronger it will taste! That is really the only difference. I use the microwave method too sometimes. Its way faster. But then i will let the tea bag sit for about a minute to get the flavor out. Bubbles don't really make a difference.
You only put the tea in after the water has come to a boil, so bubbles don't really matter.
