If you’ve only recently begun your tea journey, you might be wondering why your most recent cup tasted like boiling water. Every tea user has been there: you make your first cup only to discover it lacks taste. But don’t worry, we’ll show you how to brew a delicious cup of tea down below.
HOW IS TEA FLAVORED?
Blossoms, bits of dried fruit, herbs, and spices are all put to the tea leaves for a visual or sensory impact.
Extracts are flavoring ingredients made from essential oils extracted from a plant’s leaves, fruits, flowers, roots, or other components. These “essential oils” have specific odors or flavors that we’ve learned to associate with that particular plant. Some extracts are as simple as pressing a lemon peel to extract oil, while others, such as vanilla beans soaked in alcohol, need considerably more complicated extraction methods.
With the use of chemical synthesis, nature-identical flavoring agents are created from natural ingredients. The finished product shares the same chemical structure as the “Natural” taste, however, it was created by a chemist. Nature-identical tastes are more stable than pure natural flavoring extracts, and they’re generally less costly. The great majority of flavored goods are flavored using flavors that are similar to those found in nature. Unfortunately, the FDA lacks a categorization for this, therefore nature-identical is considered “made.”
Artificial flavors are made by changing the molecular structure of a naturally occurring molecule to produce a new, stronger, or less costly flavor. In nature, these molecules do not exist.
Tea can be flavored by adding inclusions, coating it with extracts, or spraying it with fragrance. Frequently, more than one approach is employed. Most additions change the cup’s flavor or scent in some manner, but they’re not powerful enough to pack the punch we’re searching for. The majority of “flavored” teas are made with natural flavoring ingredients. These flavoring compounds are thicker than water but thinner than olive oil in most cases. The overall quantity of agent used varies depending on the taste and intensity required, but it generally ranges from 0.5 to 5% of the volume of the tea having flavored.
Refreshing Flavor Options for Basic Iced Tea
Flavor Booster with Ginger and Honey
While the tea is still hot, add 2 tablespoons of freshly grated ginger and 1/3 cup honey. If desired, strain.
Flavor Booster with Pomegranate Juice and Lime
To the heated or cooled iced tea, add 2 cups pomegranate juice, 3 limes (thinly sliced), and 1/4 cup of sugar.
Flavor Booster with Peach and Mint
To the heated or cooled tea, add 4 ripe peaches (cut into 1/2-inch chunks) and 1 small bunch of mint sprigs. If desired, sweeten with sugar.
Flavor Booster with Watermelon and Basil
To the heated or cooled tea, add 1/8 of a medium watermelon (cut into tiny triangles) and 1 small bunch of basil sprigs. If desired, sweeten with sugar.
Flavor Booster Citrus Berry
Wrap berries with thin orange or lemon peel strips, skewer them, and place them in iced teacups.
CONCLUSION
As you can see from the list above, there are several ways to improve the flavor of your tea. Make sure you steep your tea at a suitable temperature and for the appropriate amount of time.