Are all Teas Instant?
Tea has been around for several centuries, and over the years, there have been several tea preparation methods. The earliest methods involved soaking fresh tea leaves in hot water and letting it brew for several minutes.
Nowadays, modern and quicker tea preparation methods such as instant tea have become common. However, there are other ways to prepare tea. Below are the different tea preparation methods.
Different Types of Tea Preparation Methods
Instant Tea
Instant tea has become a preference for many people who do not want to spend time brewing tea. To prepare instant tea, all you need to do is to add water to the instant tea and it’s ready immediately. It generates less waste, you can make iced tea in seconds and you don't need to worry about micro-plastics that can be found in some tea bags. Instant tea will fully dissolve in your cup.
Instant tea offers a convenience that is hard to deny by most people. To make instant tea, fresh tea leaves, fermented leaves, or tea waste are gathered and the moisture is extracted. Nowadays, spray drying technology is used to prepare the instant tea.
Through modern technology, it is now possible to preserve the flavor and aroma of the tea leaves. The most common instant tea varieties are made from green, black, or oolong teas. Instant tea can also serve as an alternative for making iced tea.
Teabags
Teabags are a popular replacement for loose leaf tea brewing. They are popular because they are convenient to use and they make brewing faster. Teabags are small porous bags that contain dried tea leaves or herbs.
To brew tea with a teabag, all you need to do is dip the tea bag into a cup of hot water. Tea Bags come with a string that allows you to dip the bag into the water safely and to also remove it safely. Most tea bags are made of filter paper, food-grade plastics, or silk. Modern tea bags come in a small and rectangular shapes.
There are also circular teabags with no strings. Using tea bags offers certain benefits. One is convenience. It’s quite easy to drop a tea bag into a mug and just move on with your day. No extra preparation is required.
After brewing the tea, you can remove the teabag through the string attached with no need of removing loose leaves. However, there are certain drawbacks which we’ll discuss in the next section.
Powdered Tea
Powdered tea has been around for a long time. Basically, it includes tea powder that is made from whole leaf tea that has been ground into fine particles, or tea dust. However, unlike instant tea, powdered tea has not been extracted and will need to be brewed.
Loose Leaf Tea Brewing
Loose leaf tea brewing is one of the oldest methods of preparing tea and herbal drinks. Unlike instant tea, powdered tea, or teabags, the leaf is not crushed and comes in a whole form that allows it to retain the aroma, flavor, and health benefits it offers.
Loose leaf tea usually retains a thick and rich flavor when prepared as the leaves have not been processed. To prepare loose leaf tea, you’d need to measure the quantity by yourself, unlike when using instant tea or tea bags. You can scoop the leaves directly into a mug with hot water, or use a reusable tea infuser or a mesh strainer.
Loose leaf tea usually provides higher quality tea than most other types since they contain whole leaves. Also, they are eco-friendly. However, there are certain downsides to using loose tea leaves.
First, they may cost more than tea bags or instant tea. Also, loose tea leaves may take longer to prepare than instant tea or tea bags. If you are in a rush, then using loose tea leaves may not be the best option.
Instant Tea vs. Tea Bag
Instant tea and tea bags both have their pros and cons. In this section, we’ll discuss how each one pits against the other.
- Convenience — instant tea trumps tea bags. To prepare instant tea, you just need to pour the prepared tea into a cup and you’re good to go. It is easier and faster than using tea bags.
- Waste — instant tea leaves less waste than tea bags. No teabag or tea leaves are left as waste when you prepare instant tea since it is water-soluble.
- Easy to make — instant tea is a good choice for amateur tea makers. It’s easy to make every time you need to take tea, with very little room for error.
Both tea bags and instant tea products contain antioxidant properties derived from the tea.
Another drawback associated with instant tea is the additives. Some instant tea products may come with additives such as sweeteners, artificial flavors, or preservatives, which may be unhealthy.
Waka Tea products, however, are high-quality 100% tea leaves with no fillers or harmful artificial ingredients.
Instant tea and teabags both have their advantages and disadvantages. It all depends on your choice.
Conclusion
Over the years, there have been various methods of preparing tea. From loose leaf brewing, to teabags, powdered tea and so on. The different tea preparation methods all have their pros and cons.
If you are new to tea brewing, then using instant tea may be the best option for you. Instant tea and powdered tea also offer more convenience and are faster to prepare.
