Luke warm tea has more flavor?

[shardy53]

Does anyone else here like luke warm tea the best? I think that it has more taste than when it is hotter, and I notice more slight nuances in the flavor. This seems to be especially true with Darjeelings, and Keemums. I don't notice as big a difference in assams.

Steve

[silvermage2000]

I guess I't could be possible I usually don't drink my tea when I'ts still really hot.

[Salsero]

Tastes and textures change as the tea temperature changes. Depends on which tea I am drinking, but some things taste better warmer and some cooler. Often it is just a pleasant variation, with both temps offering good things.

I don't drink liquids very hot, so most of my tea consumption happens around the mid point or even on the cool side.

Chip, this sounds like a TeaDay poll a'brewin'.

[woozl]

I understand the pro. tasters taste hot and once again when cold.

[murrius]

Black tea I like better when it is more warm than hot. Green tea a like best more hot than warm.

[trallis]

for me it varies from tea to tea. some i really love hot and some i find have more intricate flavor when they are warm.

[joelbct]

I take my tea hot/warm and keep tasting as it cools... i think its like wine, hot or cold numbs the taste buds, so most expensive red wines are taken at room temp. but yah, tea is nice hot as well, so there ya have it...

[JCFantasy23]

I prefer hot and dislike lukewarm for the most part, but yes, for both iced AND hot tea I have noticed sometimes you can taste the flavor a bit more when lukewarm.

[auggy]

Yep, I agree - especially with my oolongs, I find that their flavor is more complex when I allow it to cool just a little. On the flip side, though, I've had some Chinese greens that I don't enjoy as much when they cool because a strong brine tastes becomes evident. But then, that is still the tea being more flavorful at a cooler temp.

[snafu]

I'm not sure "lukewarm" is the best for me, but I prefer many teas at slightly below brewing temp.

[MarshalN]

It depends on the kind of tea, but generally speaking, if you are drinking it hot, it will give you the most intense flavors in SOME departments, whereas if you drink it cooler, it tends to emphasize the mouthfeel/sensation rather than the flavours. For example, a puerh will give you the strongest smell/taste when it's hotter, but if you drink it cool/lukewarm, the sweetness of the tea is usually more obvious. I think the temperature interferes with your mouth's ability to feel these things, so when it cools down you can sense them a little more.