As much as I enjoy matcha green tea, loose leaf green tea leaves make a great and healthful beverage as well — as long as you prepare it properly. Unfortunately, unlike many other types of tea, brewing green tea isn’t as straightforward as tossing the tea/teabag into a mug, topping it with boiling water, and sweetening it to taste. Instead, here are some suggestions for making the most of your green tea. If you don’t know how to make green tea properly, you’ll wind up with a bitter, grassy brew. When done correctly, however, it’s earthy but flavorful and delicious. In this post, I’ll show you how to brew green tea the right way, as well as answer some often asked questions and provide some helpful tips.
How to brew green tea
How to brew green tea
Heat the water:
Fill a tea kettle halfway with water and heat it from 160°F to 180°F. Alternatively, bring the water to a boil and then set it aside to cool until it reaches the desired temperature. If you don’t have a thermometer, heat the water until it’s just about to boil. Green teas and spring teas from Japan are traditionally brewed at lower temperatures (160°F to 170°F).
2. Warm the teapot or cup ahead of time (if desired):
Fill the saucepan or cup with a tiny amount of boiling water. Pour away the water after the pot or cup is warm.
3. Measure the green tea:
Take 2 grams of tea leaves and weigh them on a scale. Alternatively, 1 teaspoon of tea leaves can be used.
4. Place the tea leaves in the teapot or cup:
Place the tea leaves directly or in an infuser in the teapot or cup.
5. Pouring the water in this way:
Over the tea leaves, pour the water.
6. Cover the teapot or cup with a cloth:
Cover the teapot with the lid, or cover the cup with a lid or a small saucer if using a cup.
7. Brew tea as follow:
The tea should steep for 1 to 3 minutes, depending on the kind. In general, little leaves infuse faster than huge leaves. Set a one-minute timer. After 1 minute, taste the tea every 30 seconds till it’s to your preference.
8. Stop the infusion:
Remove the leaves as soon as the tea is ready by taking out the infuser or straining the tea.
When making green tea, it’s crucial to have the teapot and cups hot. Because you’ll be brewing with considerably colder water, contact with cold teaware will make it much colder.
2. Green tea should only be served in a specific teapot.
Green tea is the most delicate of all the tea varieties. The flavor of black tea or herbal tea is likely to be influenced by using teapots with black tea or herbal tea residue.
3. Use glass or glazed ceramics teacup.
For delicate tea leaves, glass or glazed ceramics are the ideal choices. If not properly maintained, some materials, such as cast iron or unglazed ceramics, can leave a foul taste.
4. Use only fresh spring water.
Green tea has a delicate flavor. When you use hard tap water, it becomes murky and mineral-laden. If you use distilled water, on the other hand, the result will be flat and unattractive.
5. Filters made of paper should be avoided.
If you make green tea with a paper tea bag, your cup will taste like paper. Some teas, such as rooibos or strong black teas, can manage the “paper note,” but not green tea.
6. Strainers made of outdated plastic and metal should be avoided.
Avoid using old plastic and metal strainers for the same reason. They may also have an unpleasant odor.
7. Select the ideal temperature.
Make the first cup according to the tea package’s instructions. If the results aren’t to your liking, alter the temperature and steeping time according to the temperature recommendations above.
Is it possible to brew green tea for too long?
Green tea is the most delicate of all the tea varieties. Green tea leaves should never be over-brewed since even the best leaves will taste awful if they are over-brewed. If you don’t properly brew them. Almost invariably, they will become bitter, astringent, and unpleasant to drink. Over brewing, on the other hand, offers some advantages. The more catechins, caffeine, and L-theanine you extract from your tea, the better. As a result, you’ll have a healthy, but bitter, cup.
You can correct it if you accidentally brewed tea for too long. You can make an iced tea out of it, add lemon, sweeten it with honey, or make a milk tea out of it.
FAQ
1. How long should green tea be steeped?
Green tea ‘sweet spot,’ before it turns too bitter, is usually three minutes. However, I recommend tasting the tea after 1 minute, then every 30 seconds after that until you’re satisfied with the flavor.
2. What is the flavor of green tea?
Because there are so many different types of green tea and the taste varies so much, this can be extremely variable. It has a slightly earthy, grassy flavor in general. It might be salty, sweet, or even nutty.
3. How much tea do you pour into each cup?
I’ve found that 1 teaspoon of leaves per cup works nicely as a general rule. However, varies depending on the size and form of the leaves. Large leaves, for example, may require more — up to two teaspoons. 2g leaves to 6oz water works well for an ‘exact’ amount.
4. What’s the difference between green tea and matcha?
While both matcha and green tea are made from the same plant (Camellia sinensis), they are produced and processed in distinct ways. You can’t just grind some green tea leaves into powder and expect them to taste like matcha. Matcha is more nutritious and has more health benefits than regular green tea, despite the fact that it contains intact ground leaves. Matcha has a fuller, deeper flavor than green tea.
