There’s no doubt that green tea is one of the best beverages you can have after water. Green tea has a number of health benefits that you can count on. Its antioxidants help in fighting multiple types of diseases like skin problems, diabetes, kidney disease, obesity, cardiovascular disease, etc.
Green tea may lower heart disease risk and also contains less amount of caffeine than coffee and it also contains zero (0) calories if you consume it without any sweetener or sugar.
But do you know how green tea is prepared in the correct way?
If you are not aware of the correct procedure for making green tea, you might be missing a lot of health benefits and end up making a bitter green tea which might not a good experience.
Green tea comes in a variety of forms like tea bags, powder, green tea leaves, etc. But make sure to use only the best green tea brands.
In this post, I will share my experience and knowledge on how to make a perfect cup of green tea at home.
How Green Tea is prepared with leaves
Things you need –
1. Green tea leaves approx. 2 grams (1 teaspoon) for 1 cup of green tea.
2. A Tea strainer.
3. A cup.
4. Electric kettle or steel pot.
5. 1 cup of water.
Method to prepare green tea with leaves
Step 1
Take a teaspoon (2 grams) of green tea leaves if you are making a single cup of tea. 1 teaspoon for 1 cup of green tea.
Step 2
Put 1 teaspoon of green tea in a strainer and put it aside.
Step 3
Boil water in an electric kettle or a steel pot and when water starts boiling turn off the device or gas and kept it aside to cool for a bit.
Step 4
Now place the strainer with green tea over the cup and pour hot water through it. Stop when the base of the strainer is steeped in hot water and leave it for 1-2 minutes.
Step 5
Remove the strainer and take a sip through a spoon to check the consistency and flavor of the tea. If it is not strong enough to meet your requirement again steep the strainer into the cup and leave it for more minute (approx 30 sec to 1 minute).
Step 6
If you want to make it a little sweeter you can add 1 teaspoon of honey into it but no sugar. This is completely your choice how much sweeter you want to make it. Just don’t add too much of honey into it cause it might dull the flavor of green tea.
I personally do not add any type of sweetener into my tea cause I am very serious about my fitness. But it’s my choice if you like your tea a bit sweeter just make it don’t think too much.
How to Prepare Green Tea with Tea Bags
Things you need –
1. A Green tea bag of a good brand.
2. A cup of hot water
3. 1 clay or steel cup
4. A lid to cover the cup (optional)
5. Steel pot
Method to prepare green tea with tea bags
1. Boil the water in a steel pot or electric kettle and kept it aside to cool for 1-2 mins.
2. Put the green tea bag into the steel or clay cup and slowly pour hot water onto the teabag which releases its aroma.
3. Leave green tea bags into the cup for up to 2-3 minutes, for a stronger taste brew it a little longer but don’t overdo it, or else the taste of green tea will become bitter.
4. After 2-3 minutes remove the green tea bags and enjoy your tea.
How to Prepare Green Tea with Powder
Photo by Matcha and CO on Unsplash
Making green tea with loose leaf is generally a healthier option than tea bags. Teabags can absorb catechins which is a very important nutrient in green tea. That’s why loose-leaf is more beneficial than tea bags.
Things you need –
1. Green tea leaf or powder – 1 tablespoon (2 grams) per 1 cup (240 ml) of water.
2. Hot water
Method to prepare green tea with powder
1. Take a cup of water approx. 240 ml in a pot and heat it.
2. After it starts boiling kept it aside for about 2 min to cool down. If you add boiling water over green tea leaf or powder it will turn bitter in taste.
3. Add green tea leaves or powder to the water and leave it for approx. 2-3 min. You can also take a sip of it in between to check its flavor.
4. After 2-3 min the color of it will turn to brown, then slowly pour it through a strainer in a cup.
5. Enjoy your tea.
These are some of the methods to prepare Green Tea. But do you know how to brew green tea perfectly? read below to find out.
Green Tea Brewing Tips
Green Tea Quantity
Measuring green tea before the preparation is very important and is a general rule to add 2 grams of green tea leaves per 30 ml (6 ounces) of water.
Another way to measure it is by teaspoon adding 1 teaspoon of green tea leaves to your tea at first to check if it is appropriate for you or not.
If you are using larger leaves you may add 1 – 2 tablespoons.
Water Source or Quality
Use fresh water to make green tea it may be filtered, tap, or spring water it needs to be fresh (which is not boiled before) and taste good.
Filter the water before using it because the quality of water is not optimal as before. Also, it is advisable to avoid distilled water or purified water.
Water Temperature
Heat water to the optimal temperature which is not too low or too high. Low water temperature is unable to extract the full variety of flavors of green tea.
Whereas, too much hot water may make your tea bitter.
The ideal temperature for water ranges between 160°F to 180°F or approx 80-85°C.
Sometimes you have to experiment yourself to find the optimal water temperature to make a perfect cup of green tea.
Infusers or strainers
Infusers or strainers help to release the flavors of green tea into a cup and separate the tea leaves from the tea.
If you are using full-leaf loose tea then it is ideal to use an infuser or tea ball to separate the loose tea leaves from your tea.
You can also add tea leaves to your pot or cup and strain them out by using a strainer while serving.
Brewing Container
Choose a small brewing cup or vessel with a capacity of holding 200-300 ml of liquid.
Soaking Time
It is ideal to soak green tea leaves for a good 2-3 minutes and not much longer than that. If you soak green tea for 4-5 minutes it will turn bitter in taste.
Answers For Readers’ Questions
Why green tea should not be boiled?
Green tea contains beneficial EGCG and antioxidants (catechins) and boiling it will result in losing some of these beneficial content. Also, if you add green tea directly into boiling water it will release more tannin’s which makes green tea taste bitter.
Can green tea expire?
Every green tea brand adds the expiry date on the product which is mostly best before 12 months from packaging. But does it mean it will get wasted after 12 months the answer is no green tea does not expire even after the expiry date is over.
The natural oil in green tea will get evaporated over time which results in a weaker aroma and flavor. But you can increase its shelf life by storing it correctly in an airtight container which blocks light fully.
Green tea and acidity?
If you are suffering from acid reflux then you must avoid it because it contains polyphenols or tannin’s that raises the level of acid in the stomach. Also, avoid consuming it on an empty stomach.
Consume green tea in between meals or after a meal.
Can green tea cause gas?
Green tea contains a beneficial antioxidant called tannin’s which has many health benefits. But if you consume it more than the daily recommendations level which is 3-4 times a day then you might face acid re-flux or gas.
How much green tea per cup?
If you are using loose leaves then it is best to use 2 grams of green tea leaves per 30 ml (6 ounces) of water. In the case of green tea powder or matcha green tea, it is best to add 1-2 teaspoons of powder with 2 tablespoons of hot water and mix it with a spoon until no clumps will left.
