As chilly autumn mornings remind us of the winter days ahead, it’s a great time to get outside and enjoy the good weather while it lasts. Whether you’re walking through the park or hiking the backcountry during peak foliage, nothing is more invigorating and refreshing than a hot cup of tea.
After all, hydration is important, right? It takes up nearly the same weight to carry tea as it does water, so why not bring some hot tea on your next outing?
What You’ll Need:
Ditch the bagged tea from the grocery store; get real loose leaf tea. That said, you’ll need an infuser to brew your loose leaf tea. Our Highwave Vacuum Travel Mug has a built-in infuser, so all you need is some hot water and loose leaf tea. Otherwise you can brew tea as you normally would and transfer your tea to a thermos or insulated Kleen Kanteen style bottle.
If you’re packing away your tea, keep it sealed tight to prevent leaking, and try to keep it further inside your pack to further insulate.
What Teas Perform Best in Vacuum Bottles
Tea is so flavorful because of the antioxidants found in the leaves. The problem is that tea begins to oxidize when introduced to hot water. The longer the water is left hot, the quicker the oxidation.
Basically, some teas can get bitter or otherwise have an unpleasant taste over time, as they are left hot inside a thermos. Some teas perform better than others over time.
The best performing teas are herbal teas and rooibos. Next up are scented black teas and unscented black teas. Black teas with chai spices are especially enjoyable in cold weather. Pu-erh teas also hold up well in a thermos. Certain amber oolongs also perform well.
Green teas and jade oolong teas are hit or miss. The type of antioxidants in green and jade oolong teas are susceptible to heat over long periods, so you may find your favorite green tea is not so nice after hours in the thermos. The only way to be sure is to test your tea.
White teas are poor performers in a thermos. Do to the delicate nature of their preparation, white teas oxidize very quickly, and can even become black in color over a period of hours in a thermos.
Why Does My Tea Get Cold Too Soon?
As you drink from your vacuum bottle, you have less tea inside, resulting in greater heat-loss. It’s better to drink all your tea in a short interval instead of spacing it out over hours. If you have only a little tea left in your thermos, it will cool very quickly
Also, if you keep the lid off, you lose heat a lot faster than when you have the lid on.
If it’s very cold out, consider packing your thermos away around anything that might insulate it further.
Notes on Cleaning
If you brew a flavored tea in your vacuum bottle, be sure to soak it in a baking soda solution afterwards to absorb any flavors. Also, scrub the interior with a bottle brush to minimize staining.