Cream Down (Tea Cream)

Cream down is the phenomenon where black tea becomes cloudy when cooled. This occurs as the temperature drops, causing tannins and caffeine to bind together and form fine particles. While the flavor does not suddenly deteriorate, the loss of clarity affects the visual appeal.

To prevent this, choose tea leaves with lower tannin content and brew them stronger before rapidly chilling with ice. The slower the cooling process, the more likely cloudiness will occur. For more details, we have a feature article that introduces tea leaves that are less prone to clouding.