Cinder Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The beverage--lol I bought a box of Bigelow tea and noticed in the directions it says not to squeeze the teabag. (I often check the directions because they all seem to have different recommended steeping times, even among the various black teas.) I thought maybe it was this particular variety--oolong--that had these special instructions. But my other variety of Bigelow tea also says no squeezing. So I checked the 4 or 5 other brands of tea in the cupboard and none of these others say anything about how to handle the teabag. So I'm wondering ... why no squeezing? What does it do to the tea? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Squeezing releases the tannic acid, which gives it a bitter taste. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I was going to say, that'll make it bitter! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 (edited) Sorry, a quick Internet search tells me it is the tannins, which is apparently different from tannic acid. If I knew any chemistry, I'm sure I'd know the difference. Lol. Edited November 15, 2016 by Kinsa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scarlett Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 The things I learn on this board. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miss Peregrine Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I always squeeze my tea bags. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Farrar Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose mind went right in the gutter on this thread... 23 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I actually have a little teabag squeezer I bought from a specialty tea company, so this is probably not universal. I've not noticed it appreciably affecting the taste of mine but I tend to drink more white and green tea than blacks, polo gals, or herbal decoctions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mellifera33 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I squeeze, but I like the tannin mouthfeel. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose mind went right in the gutter on this thread... Nope, I typed and deleted my gutter post a couple of times... 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Code Lyoko Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Well, my box of tea specifically states that I SHOULD squeeze, but only after the tea bag has steeped properly. The purpose of the squeezing is specifically to release more antioxidants. But then this is a specialized green tea, not black tea, so it contains a lower amount of tannins. Black tea contains more tannins and therefore can turn bitter if it steeps too long or you squeeze the tea bag. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 I always squeeze my tea bags. Me too, which is why I wondered. Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one whose mind went right in the gutter on this thread... The opportunity was too good to pass up. ;) 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elizabeth 2 Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Is it bad that the gutter was the reason why I clicked on this? 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Is it bad that the gutter was the reason why I clicked on this?Oh goodness I hope not! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 My mind is still in the gutter 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Nope, I typed and deleted my gutter post a couple of times... I really wanna know what you typed..... 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I really wanna know what you typed.....Any squeezing of tea bags is bound to lead to bitterness... 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 Any squeezing of tea bags is bound to lead to bitterness... or premature percolation 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heartlikealion Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I can't tell which posts are meant to be dirty or not, but they are making me :laugh: 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 For black tea, you'll get a bitter taste. For herbal it wouldn't matter. I don't know about green. I'm not sure most people taste the bitterness enough to bother avoiding it. I notice, but my taste buds tend to amplify bitterness a little too much, so I never squeeze my tea bags. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Granny_Weatherwax Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I googled "should you squeeze a tea bag" and these are the first two hits... 1- why get your fingers wet if you don't have to; and 2- squeeze the tea bag and see what happens to the quality of your tea. I cannot stop laughing. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Arctic Bunny Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 or premature percolationI spit out my tea! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted November 15, 2016 Author Share Posted November 15, 2016 Thanks for the laughs! Oh, and the actual info too. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
katilac Posted November 15, 2016 Share Posted November 15, 2016 I actually have a little teabag squeezer I bought from a specialty tea company, I'm just going to leave this here . . . 8 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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