will eventually reach a homogenous temperature distribution due to diffusion.
Both would occur at the same time, infact much of the diffusion would be at the surface of the liquid because of the hotter atoms traveling up and it being an easier point of escape than going through the container.
in the context of brewing tea we would only have a few minutes of brew time in which the stratification would have an impact on the extraction.
Would stratification even matter in either case?
You still have to dunk the tea bag in, or pour the liquid, whichever way you do it. The only way I see this effecting tea extraction is if you microwave it with the tea bag included; and even then I’ve never noticed the difference.
Both would occur at the same time, infact much of the diffusion would be at the surface of the liquid because of the hotter atoms traveling up and it being an easier point of escape than going through the container.
Would stratification even matter in either case?
You still have to dunk the tea bag in, or pour the liquid, whichever way you do it. The only way I see this effecting tea extraction is if you microwave it with the tea bag included; and even then I’ve never noticed the difference.