Typically this is an arbitrary question in mid-July when temperatures are pushing triple digits. Iced, of course! Hot tea consumption, however, doesn’t have to have anything to do with the temperature outside. There are those who can’t do without their morning cuppa. With the heat of summer, however, the request for hot tea can be a crowd silencing, conversation stopping kind of request.
Why is that? Logically it makes sense to combat the heat by consuming something cool.
A different school of thought, however, finds logic in drinking hot beverages in summer and consuming cold treats in winter to adjust body temperatures with the climate. Ice cream vendors on blustery city streets of Siberia in winter are one example along with hot chai served even in summer months on hot, crowded trains traveling across India.
But in America¦
Popular legend gives credit to Richard Blechynden at the Worlds Fair in St. Louis, 1904, with the invention of hot tea poured over ice. His sales increased, and America was hooked on this refreshing, cool beverage. We still like our iced tea.
Just tipping my cup for the last drop of a hot 2nd Flush Darjeeling, I’ve been running around between serving customers, baking scones and washing dishes. I’m ready to pour some Summer Companion tea over a tall glass of ice. I guess I fall somewhere in between when the question comes to hot or iced tea.
How can I make your next cup of tea?
Your Barista,
Katie
TheHoustonHill
8 Aug 2009I definately have a preference for iced tea in the hot weather, and yet I cannot go without a hot cup in the morning.
I am just beginning my journey to really learn about tea and enjoy it many ways.
My husband and I are avid tea lovers but definite novices. We recently wrote two songs about tea and its health benefits for a scholarship competition and we learned so much. Tea is awesome and there is so much more to it “ whichever type you prefer “ than I ever realized. If you are interested, here are our two songs and music videos about tea:
From YouTube:
The Teacup Tango: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HOmoshHoQU0
The Scale of Tea: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4VFblIDgNI
We’d love to hear what you think.
Dineshika
20 Dec 2015It’s all about entropy and thdamoeynrmics. The temperature of the hot water will decrease and heat up the cold water. Don’t know how quantitative you need to get but it also depends on the amount of water in each glass and the thermal conductivity of the glass. Some equilibrium temperature will be reached if you ignore the effects of ambient temperature