What causes tea to get a bitter taste if you let it steep too long?!
What causes tea to get a bitter taste if you let it steep too long?
Are the teas that don't get bitter healthier or not?
Answers:
Tannin
The tea plant (Camellia sinensis) is an example of a plant said to have a naturally high tannin content. When any type of tea leaf is steeped in hot water it brews a "tart" (astringent) flavor that is characteristic of tannins. This is due to the catechins and other flavonoids. Tea "tannins" are chemically distinct from other types of plant tannins such as tannic acid[2] and tea extracts have been reported to contain no tannin[3].
dunno about healthy tea.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/tannin#tea...
.i think it might be the tannin
Tannic acid. It's also an astringent. A really helpful hint given me by an "old RN" was when I had my wisdom teeth removed, there was a lot of bleeding. You take a tea bag and stick in each side of your mouth (pushing it back to the affected area) and it will a) absorb the blood so you don't swallow it and get nauseaous and b) the tannic acid keeps infection from setting in.
Neat, huh?
It is the Tannic Acid that makes it bitter.
When you steep the tea too long, you're making a more concentrated cup of tea.
To make good tea you boil the water.cut off the heat.then put the tea in it.then let it steep ten minutes.then stirr.then let it sit 2 minutes longer.
It gets down to the bad properties of the tea leaf when you boil and boil tea,the tannic acid is not good tasting.never boil tea.steep tea.
I then put sugar and lemon in mine.of course, as I am a Southerner.
some people put a small touch of baking soda in it to counter the bitter taste but .that's not necessary if you just steep your tea.
also for the past few years I add green tea.a tea bag or two to my regular tea when I make up some. I can tell its good for me.I do believe I actually feel better.
I love tea.