When you think of drinking tea in the winter, a mug of piping hot tea probably comes to mind. While hot tea is great to keep you warm and cozy, there are also a multitude of reasons to put down the hot tea and try a cold brew tea even on the chilliest of days.
Hot or cold, tea is good for you, right? Well, the short answer is yes, however, temperature can affect the benefits you are receiving from tea. For one, the slower extraction process of cold brewed tea help ensure you are getting the most out of the health benefits associated with tea. It can also help with hydration and has some other health benefits. So, let’s look at the benefits of drinking cold brew tea in the winter.
More Antioxidants
Tea is not only delicious, but it has a number of health benefits. The antioxidants in tea are what draw tea drinkers to it, and temperature can affect the amount of them you ingest while sipping on your tea. The more antioxidants in the tea, the healthier it is.
When tea is brewed with hot water, the extraction process is faster. This can lead to degradation of the tea and lower the number of antioxidants that end up in the brew. During the cold brew process, the extraction is slowed down which results in maintaining the quality of the tea and keeping more antioxidants in it.
Better for Hydration
Tea brewed cold may also be better for hydration. During the winter, many people choose hot beverages over cold ones which can result in lower water intake and dehydration. Choosing cold brew tea during the winter can help you stay hydrated even if you forget to drink your ice water.
Less Caffeine
If you are trying to cut back on your caffeine intake, which many people do during the cold months, try cold brew tea. Cold tea is known to have a lower amount of caffeine than hot tea, so it’s a great way to wean yourself off of it while still drinking something delicious.
Less Sugar
Another benefit of cold brew tea is that there tends to be less sugar involved. The slow cold brew process gives the tea a sweeter flavor, so you are less likely to want to add sweetener to it. Try cold brewing one of your favorite winter teas and see what kind of results you get!
To sum it up, even on the chilliest of days it’s a good idea to pick up a cold glass of tea. Cold brewing tea is a great way to keep a high number of antioxidants in the delicious herbal beverage. The slow process also makes tea sweeter and can give a different flavor from its hot brewed relative. Try cold brewing one of your favorite winter teas to see how it tastes, today!
