Brewing Green Tea

Out of all the various types of loose leaf tea, green tea is by far the most talked about (and for good reason). Green Tea stands apart from all the other loose leaf tea types because of its unprecedented amounts of anti-oxidants. This abundance of anti-oxidants has been accredited green tea to unbelievable breakthroughs in natural health and has even been said to have a significant influence on the low numbers of reported cases of cancer found throughout Chinese and Japanese cultures.
With Great Risk Comes Great Reward

Just like everything else worth having in life, green tea takes a little time and patience. I say this because brewing green tea, compared to brewing black tea, herbal tea or rooibos tea, is a much more delicate practice. Unlike some loose-tea types that can steep for up to 7 minutes in a pot of boiling water, green tea only likes being at about 175º… only for a couple minutes.
What Makes Green Tea So Picky?

The reason green tea is much more finicky when it comes to water temperature and steeping time is due to the various of substances in the leaves that contribute to the flavor and aroma of green tea. The overall flavor and sweetness of green tea is determined by a variety of amino acids and natural sugars. Bitterness and astringency are contributed by polyphenols (“tannins”). Amino acids dissolve at 140°F while tannins dissolve at 176°F. Thus, brewing green tea takes more of a finess to insure the leaves release their amino acids and natural sugars, without allowing the bitter tasting tannins to dissolve.
Keep In Mind When Brewing Green Tea

Water Temp
As I mentioned before, water temperature is critical to brewing the perfect cup of green tea. Make sure your water does not exceed 180º F. If you don’t have a thermometer, a good way to ensure your water isn’t too hot to steep your leaves, is to add an ice cube or two after you’ve brought your water to a boil.
Steep Time
Brewing green tea takes just 1-3 minutes. If your steep exceeds 3 minutes, you’ll most likely end up with a bitter tasting tea.
Enjoy Yourself
From boiling water to watching your tea leaves release while they steep, brewing an drinking loose tea is a therapeutic process that has a countless amount of health benefits for the mind, body and soul.

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