Matters

Consider this your morning briefing: Starbucks’ hot tea isn’t coming to your door — and here’s why. While the chain’s iced tea and other hot drinks are delivery-ready, its brewed tea line remains off-limits. The reason? A delicate balance of timing and chemistry that delivery services can’t replicate. Starbucks’ hot tea, from Royal English Breakfast to Chamomile Mint Blossom, is made with tea bags that require precise steeping — two to four minutes — to unlock their flavor. Oversteep, and you’re left with a bitter, astringent mess. Tannins, the compounds responsible for tea’s depth, release too quickly when left to…