How Boiling Water Is Actually Ruining Your Tea

A cup of tea can make even the rainiest, gloomiest day feel cozy and warm. Pouring hot water over a tea bag sounds easy enough, but could you actually be making your cup of tea wrong?

Maybe. Most people start with either a tea bag or loose leaf tea in a mug, pour in boiling water from a kettle, and let it steep for a few minutes. But if you do this, you might end up with a less-than-desirable flavor of tea. According to experts, you shouldn't use water that has just been boiled, even though you might have been taught to make tea this way. Pouring boiling water right over your tea can actually ruin the flavor of it. 

Instead, you should be using water that's a little cooler than boiling temperature, either by catching the kettle before it boils or waiting a bit after it comes to temperature.

Believe it or not, tea leaves can burn. They're delicate, and when you pour boiling water directly onto them, the leaves will scald. This means that they aren't able to release their full flavor, resulting in a cup of tea that doesn't taste as good. It also means you don't get the full benefits of the beverage. 

While it's tempting to want a mug of tea that's nice and hot, waiting a bit after the water boils will still ensure a hot cup of tea with even better flavor.

In addition, make sure you boil fresh water for tea. It can be tempting to just re-boil whatever's left in the kettle from a previous use, especially if you're trying not to waste water. But boiling water releases all of the oxygen from it, which is needed to help the flavors emerge. To make tea with the best taste, you should make sure you're starting with fresh, oxygenated water from a filter or tap that hasn't yet been boiled. (And only boil as much as you need, so as not to waste it.)

For the perfect cup of tea, you just need to follow a few simple rules. Instead of using water that's right at the boiling point, wait two to three minutes after it comes to a boil to pour it over your tea. Alternatively, you could try to catch the kettle just before the water boils and use it before it reaches boiling point, preventing the leaves from scalding.

There are other tips to keep in mind for the perfect cup of tea every time. Brew time can vary, but anywhere from two to four minutes is typically enough time to let the tea leaves infuse properly. After the tea has steeped appropriately, remove the bag and add milk, if desired. Let the tea sit for about six minutes to come to peak temperature, around 140 degrees Fahrenheit or 60 degrees Celsius. 

You could also try warming your mug or teapot before brewing, stirring the tea as it steeps, adding sweeteners such as sugar or honey, and experimenting with different types of tea, such as green, black, white, or herbal.