Hops’ Use in Tea
Hops have been used in tea at least as long as they have been used in beer. Hop tea is often used as a sort of bedtime tea due to its natural sedative properties.
If you intend to drink hop tea, it is important to note that modern hops can be very bitter. For that reason, you may want to consider sweetening the tea with honey, agave nectar or another sweetener, especially when using a hop with a high alpha acid content.
For best results, use a hop with low alpha acids but that has a good flavor and aroma profile that you like. Homebrewers typically have a good idea of what hops they like best as an aroma addition in their beer, and I recommend sticking with those. Dual-use hops can be pretty high in alpha acids, so tread lightly if the alpha acid content is above 5%.
Due to a resurgence in the popularity of hop tea that has coincided with the homebrewing movement, there has even been a new hop variety released with tea in mind. The ‘Teamaker” hop was released in 2008 by the ARS Forage, Seed, and Cereal Research Unit in Corvallis Oregon.
The teamaker hop has very low alpha acid levels and very high beta acid levels. This results in a more pleasant bitterness profile. In addition, the Teamaker hop also has a high concentration of spicy, floral aroma oils which make for a much better cup of tea.