Should You Squeeze Tea Bags? – The Debate Is Over

One of the most common questions that we hear at Finest English Tea is: “Should you squeeze your tea bags before you drink?” And while there are many pools of thought in regards to this question, most tea aficionados would agree that you shouldn’t squeeze your tea bags after it has steeped.

Contrary to popular belief, The logic behind the reasoning of not squeezing your tea bags is actually much more scientific than it simply being a matter of preference.

Why You Shouldn’t Squeeze Tea Bags

Tea leaves contains a chemical known as polyphenols, a micronutrient found in a many fruits, vegetables and plants. Because of the high levels of tannic acid in tea, the levels of polyphenols associated with tea are very high. And while the benefits of the micronutrients in polyphenols include it being an anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic, there is one major negative associated with these elevated levels of tannins:

Bitterness.

The liquid that remains trapped inside the tea bag has even higher instances of tannic acid than what is able to steep out of the bag on it’s own. By squeezing the tea bag, you inadvertently release these tannic acids into your tea and in turn create a far more bitter, sour and acidic cup of tea.

In addition to this, when you squeeze your tea bag, you run the risk of it splitting the bag and letting some of the loose leaves into your tea. Overall this makes for a more cloudy tea and of course a much less enjoyable cup of tea.

So the next time you think about squeezing your tea bag, remember the ill effects associated with doing so and leave it be. You will in turn have a much more balanced tea and overall a more enjoyable experience drinking it.