tea.
Make it Hot
The first step of making hop tea is to choose your hops. Pick a hop that has low alpha acids and high beta acids, if possible. Pay attention to the aroma descriptors for the different varieties of hops. For instance, Cascade hops are often described as flowery, with citrus and grapefruit. Brewer’s Gold is often described as having black currant aromas, and so does Willamette, though Willamette hops are milder. Meanwhile, Fuggles and Hallertau are milder, with a more earthy aroma that is pleasant.
Making hop tea is easy. For your first time making tea, choose a low alpha acid hop that you enjoy and add a small amount (about a quarter ounce for 8 ounces of tea should be ample) to a tea ball, strainer, or French Press. For teamaking purposes, I highly recommend using whole cone hops, though you can make tea with pellets, as well. Pellets can cause a problem when using a French Press, as the hop materials can pass through the screen. For that reason, I recommend a tea bag for hop pellets.
Heat 8 ounces of water to boiling and add to the French Press or cup with the tea ball. Allow the tea to steep for a few minutes, and then remove by straining or pressing. Sweeten the tea to taste using honey or the sweetener of your choice.
Basket of Hops
Add ons
In addition to hops, you may find you want to add some other flavors to your tea. Feel free to add complementary flavors to the tea. Experiment with citrus peels, chamomile, lemongrass, lemon balm, or other herbs as you like. Ginger can be a nice addition, as well.
Hop tea isn’t for everyone. Some homebrewers are not a fan of how bitter hops taste without the malt, but with a little trial and error, you might just find your new favorite tea.