Can You Mix 2 Tea Bags? (Solved & Explained!)

You are staring at your drawer full of tea bags, and inspiration strikes, but you hesitate to wonder if you should truly mix two tea bags. 

Mixing two tea bags is a good way to make stronger tea. It can make the taste more vibrant. Incorrect mixing, however, will result in bitter or bland tea. Knowing what types mix well is important when combining two teas. 

You can mix two tea bags into the same cup of tea, but you might want to hesitate before mixing just any tea bags. In the rest of this article, I will break down the top tips for how and how not to mix teas. Let’s get brewing!

Can you mix two tea bags?

Mixing tea bags is an art. It is also a pretty common thing to do too. To mix tea bags, you must know which teas work well together in a logical and flavorful sense. To know which teas blend well, you must first understand the popular types.

There are five different types of popular teas. These are: 

• Black tea 
• Green tea
• White tea
• Oolong tea
• Herbal tea

You would not want to mix black tea, which is caffeinated, with chamomile herbal tea. That would defeat the purpose of chamomile! You want to mix teas that compliment each other, not contrast. The best way to learn which teas combine well is to experiment. 

If you mix two of the same types of tea, such as two herbal peach ginger teas, the result will be a stronger flavor in that tea bag. 

Will mixing two tea bags affect my health?

Tea is a drink known for its many health benefits. Similar to how each tea has its unique flavor profile, each has its amazing benefits. For example, green tea is known for helping mental focus. 

Mixing tea bags will not likely cause adverse health reactions. However, it is important to consider how much caffeine is in each type of tea. 

If you mix two black teas or black tea with oolong or matcha, the result will be full to the brim with caffeine. The tea will likely have as much if not more caffeine as a cup of coffee.

Excess amounts of caffeine cause health issues, so keep that in mind while choosing teas to pair. 

Common mistakes when mixing two tea bags

When you add two tea bags to a cup of tea, you create a stronger flavor profile. If the flavors and types complement each other, it creates an explosion of flavors and the sweet taste of success. 

If the flavors contrast, the result can be disastrous. The consequences can also be catastrophic if your brewing parameters are not complementary. 

Adjusting water temperature

One key thing to remember is the different brewing times and temperatures. To get the optimum taste out of a tea bag, follow the instructions on the back. Some tea bags will require hotter brewing temperatures or longer steeping times. 

Green teas and white teas are known for being sensitive to high temperatures. If you use too hot water, you risk ruining the leaves and will thus have less of the full flavor profile. If you are used to green tea tasting too bitter, it is likely because you have scorched the tea leaves by using hot water. 

Likewise, black and oolong teas require higher water temperatures to produce full flavor profiles. If you steep these teas in water that is not hot enough, you will lose some of the bold notes. 

Adjusting the steeping time correctly.

Like water temperature, steeping time can make or break the flavor profile of your tea. More delicate teas, green or white, need shorter steeping times. At the same time, oxidized teas such as black or oolong require longer steeping to bring out their flavors. 

Picking the wrong teas to mix

Teas with strong flavors will outweigh the flavor profiles of any lighter tea. 

You can separate tea into two categories: strong and delicate. Delicate teas have lighter tones and flavors, such as green, white, and herbal tea. Whereas strong teas, such as black or oolong, have bolder notes.

Mixing a strong tea with a delicate tea will cause the flavor to be lopsided. You will taste more of the one and less, if not none, of the other. 

How to mix two tea bags

There are a variety of ways to mix two tea bags. Some may combine the two tea bags simultaneously before adding the water. I recommend waiting to mix the tea bags after you have steeped them individually. 

Mixing after steeping

One common way to mix two tea bags is to steep the two teas separately. By following the instructions for each tea, you allow both the teas to develop their natural flavor profiles properly before mixing them. 

You can also get a hint of what the two flavors will taste together. Since you will have access to both separately brewed teas, you can taste a sip of each to decide if you like the idea of combining them still. 

Mixing similar teas

It is always a safe bet to mix similar teas. When you combine a delicate tea, such as green tea, with another delicate one, such as white, you will have a natural soft flavor profile. 

While mixing very different teas would give you a unique taste, it can also ruin the flavor profile if you are not careful. That is why, for example, many people will choose to simply mix two herbal teas, such as chamomile and a mint tea bag. 

You can mix contrasting teas, but it will require a lot of trial and error. 

Final thoughts

Tea is a beverage of endless possibilities. You can easily mix two tea bags. Combining two similar tea bags, such as two delicate teas or two strong teas, will result in a well-blended taste of success. Remember to keep in mind the types of tea you are combining and each tea’s brewing parameters. Follow these guidelines and let your tea imagination soar.