Hops Tea
What You May Not Know About Hops Tea
Hops tea is slowly making a name for itself in the health world and among tea enthusiasts. Yes, that’s right—hops tea. For most of us, the word “hops” is often associated with the beer brewing process, as it has been used for flavoring and stabilizing beer for about a thousand years. But that exclusive reputation is slowly starting to dwindle away as awareness of hops-based teas are starting to climb. We are going to cover the basics of this tea and why it seems to be gaining so much popularity lately.
What exactly is a ‘hop’?
A hop is a perennial herbaceous plant. This plant is native to North America and Europe, although it is now cultivated all over the world. The plant itself goes by the botanical name humulus lupulus, but is often referred to as ‘hop’. The portion actually used for drinks, food, and herbal remedies is the female flower clusters that hang from the plant. These are what we refer to when we say ‘hops’.
The real flavor and aroma of hops comes from the essential oils produced within the lupulin glands. These glands are located in the numerous pod-like areas within the flower. In traditional preparation techniques—mainly with beer—hops are boiled to increase the bitterness of the brew. The longer the hops are left to boil, the more bitter the resulting brew.
How is hops tea brewed at home?
Hops tea can be purchased either in tea bag form, dry loose leaf form, or it can be used fresh from one’s homegrown or freshly-purchase hop plant. The way one chooses to brew their hops tea is largely dependent upon how much time they are willing to put into the process. Another contributing factor is whether they merely wish to enjoy the flavor and aroma of this tea (which is much milder than beer, but enjoyable nonetheless) or if they want to reap the health benefits that this plant has to offer. One thing to bear in mind when brewing this tea is that the hotter the water used for brewing, the stronger the taste will be. Water at 60 degrees F will produce a very light and herbal tea. Water at 130 degrees F will produce a slightly stronger aroma and flavor, but still a rather light tea. Water at 160 degrees F produces strong flavors, a bit of natural sweetness, and a great aroma.
Tea Bag Method
Hops tea bags can be purchased very cheaply from a number of online tea sites, but one may also be lucky enough to find this tea stored in a local health food supply store. Tea bags will provide a decent flavor of tea, however the health benefits will not be nearly as strong with this style of brewing as they would be with the loose leaf or fresh hops methods. To brew, simply add a tea bag to a cup and pour hot water over it. Allow the tea to steep for at least three minutes, although five to seven is better. Squeeze the excess water from the tea bag and dispose of it. The tea can be sweetened with honey or any other choice of sweeteners. One may then drink the tea hot or allow it to cool to room temperature and chill with ice for a cool, refreshing drink.
Loose Leaf Method
Loose hops can easily be purchased online as well, but are less likely to be found at small local health stores. One might inquire whether their local shop would be willing to special-order the item. Brewing via the loose leaf method can be used for single cups of tea, however it is recommended that an entire pot be brewed to get the most out of the leaves. The general ratio is about one to two teaspoons of leaves per cup of tea. Hot water should be poured over the leaves and they should be allowed to steep for at least three to five minutes. After the leaves have steeped, the tea should be poured through a fine-toothed strainer to remove the leaves from the liquid. The tea can then be sweetened and drank either hot or cold.
Fresh Hops Method
When brewing tea from fresh hops, the same method is used as with the loose leaf method, although straining generally does not require as fine a strainer. One may have to try this method a few times before finding a steeping time that suits their tastes. Fresh hops can produce quite a strong tea; therefore one searching for a lighter tasting tea should not over-steep the hops.
What health benefits does hops tea have to offer?
Hops have been used as alternative remedies for many conditions. Some use it as a sleep aid, as it has been said that this herb can actually combat the symptoms of insomnia. It has also been used as a very mild sedative to calm the nerves and symptoms of anxiety. Some people have had success with easing the pains of arthritis, constipation and general gastrointestinal upset, discomfort due to urinary tract infections, and has even been said to help breastfeeding women increase their milk supply. Although there are few scientific results to back these claims, there must be some basis to them because the popularity of this tea is fast rising!