Seconding this. My burnt drugs beans are only ever in cold water and the burnt drugs bean water tastes so much better. Less acidic, smoother, with subtle flavors coming through that are lost in hot burnt drugs bean water.
I guess it's cultural. Afaik Americans drink very cold water while Europeans like me are fine with lukewarm water. Pretty sure hot water can be preferred as well.
Also: tea has to be hot, otherwise the water won't take all the flavors or it would take much longer depending on the tea. You can still drink it when it's cold and I think some people prefer some kinds of tea cold, or mixed beverages based on tea like ice tea. There is also iced tea which is tea but old, I think it's common in Japan.
Even slightly warm water is off-putting for me. I like to assume it’s some primeval awareness of bacteria living in stale water. Does anyone have a real explanation?
When in worked in Yellowstone, it was a culture shock for two reasons
One, people just drink hot water, like tea temps but no tea - thus apparently is an asian (sorry for lack of specifics) and is used along with other eastern medicine practices
Two, if you plug in more than six small appliances (electtric kettle, hair dryer, etc) it will trip the breakers for that floor of the mammoth hot springs hotel.
Less shocking was the English couple who mistranslated directions to their room. The "first floor" would be the second floor for an American, they apparently starting counting at zero, which us great for arrays, not so good for describing a floor as 0 or in English, ground floor.
i'm afflicted with having all tea taste like absolutely nothing, i can brew the most wonderfully fragrant luxury tea and when i taste it all i get is vague staleness, even as the cup smells amazing..