Green tea: Is it optimal to brew hot or cold?

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Green tea consumption has become second in popularity after coffee. Like coffee, green tea can be served hot or cold. So, is hot or cold brewing the best way to brew tea?

/Ha An – Dan Tri Newspaper/

People consume green tea because of its rich polyphenols and antioxidant content. Traditionally, green tea is brewed with hot water, but recent evidence suggests it is better to brew and drink it at cooler temperatures.

Green tea: Is it optimal to brew hot or cold?

Studies show that steeping green tea in cold water can help extract the maximum amount of antioxidants [Photo: eMediHealth]

Benefits of cold brewed green tea

According to eMediHealth, studies have found that using water with a temperature lower than 90 degrees Celsius is more effective in extracting polyphenols from green tea. The lower the temperature, the better.

Green tea brewed and drunk at cold temperatures has higher concentrations of bioactives, especially gallic acid and epigallocatechin.

The benefits of drinking tea with high levels of these bioactive include:

– Reduce inflammation.

– Improves bone strength by preventing resorption of bone cells.

– Limit the growth of bacteria in the mouth.

In addition, drinking cold green tea is also beneficial for reducing the risk of esophageal cancer because studies show that drinking tea at temperatures higher than 60 degrees Celsius increases the risk of esophageal cancer by 90%.

Brewing green tea at a cooler temperature also helps eliminate the bitter taste of green tea.

How to make cold green tea

To brew an effective cup of cold green tea, follow this process:

– Take a cup of water at room temperature, add a green tea bag or 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves.

– Let soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour.

– Take out the tea bag and let it drip; be careful not to squeeze it.

– Add honey if desired and enjoy.

Should you stop drinking hot green tea?

The available evidence shows that drinking green tea at cooler temperatures is better, but you can still drink hot green tea occasionally. Brew the tea in boiling water at about 90 degrees Celsius or lower to extract its biologically active compounds.

Drinking hot or warm green tea may have some health benefits. Drinking warm green tea helps improve colds and clears the nose when you have the flu. Studies have found hot drinks can improve runny noses, coughs, sneezes, sore throats, chills, and fatigue.

Animal studies also show that warm water can improve the biodiversity of gut microorganisms. Drinking warm green tea may have similar health benefits.

How to make hot green tea

Prepare a cup of hot green tea according to the following procedure:

– Heat the water in the kettle, but don’t let it boil.

– Pour warm water into a cup and add a green tea bag or 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves.

– Leave it in the cup for 3-5 minutes.

– Take out the tea bag and let it drip, taking care not to squeeze the bag.

– You can add honey or not.

Should I drink hot or cold green tea to lose weight?

The temperature of the beverage you drink does not increase the calories burned. However, hot green tea can improve intestinal motility and microbial diversity, which may be essential to a weight loss diet.

Doctor-Herbalist Phung Tuan Giang, Chairman of the Institute for Research and Development of Vietnamese Traditional Medicine, said that green tea originates from the tea tree (Camellia sinensis) with unfermented leaves, helping them keep its high antioxidant content.

According to studies, green tea is considered one of the top health drinks. Regularly drinking this tea can reduce the risk of heart disease or Alzheimer’s disease, helping us maintain better bone mineral density.

Besides, it helps you avoid eye diseases that affect vision in old age, prevents stroke, fights cancer, fights metabolic disorders, and prolongs life.

Antioxidants and other beneficial compounds in green tea include flavonoids and catechins such as EGCG, quercetin, linoleic acid, theobromine, and theophylline.

“Green tea is considered one of the safest and healthiest beverages. However, there are still some things to keep in mind when drinking green tea. There are few side effects, although many are rare,” Dr. Giang said.