Do You Know How to Make the Perfect Cup of Green Tea?

Sure, green tea is great for you and has undeniable benefits for your body and mind. But are you sure you’re making it the right way? If your green tea ends up tasting grassy or bitter, then hold up... you’re making it wrong and you might be losing out on vital nutrients too. 

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So today, we’ll explore three easy green tea recipes. A note of gratitude at first, to the Emperor of China, Shen Nong. He is said to have discovered the joys of green tea (around 2737 B.C) when a few leaves of a tea tree fell into his hot water, thus changing its color and taste and creating a surprisingly refreshing effect. Soon after, Chinese monks carried the secrets of this drink wherever they traveled, and green tea grew in popularity. It’s because of their actions thousands of years ago, that we can enjoy this beautiful source of antioxidants on a daily basis.

Do you know why everyone recommends green tea to you? The catechins present in green tea are antioxidants. They make this tea a healthier option than chai tea. The most powerful catechin in green tea is EGCG. It blocks unlimited cell proliferation, cancer signaling pathways, fat accumulation and microbial infections. It protects the DNA from damage, decreases fatigue and makes the immune system stronger. These antioxidants also fight neurodegenerative/cardiovascular/kidney diseases, diabetes, obesity, skin disorders and cancer.

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Clearly, green tea or camellia sinensis is a hugely benefiting beverage and it can be easily prepared at home. All you need, after all, is a cup of hot water. Green tea is usually made with three brewing methods. Before we discuss those, you need to keep in mind the following two tips to make a perfect cup of green tea:

• You can’t use boiling water. Ever. Boiling hot water reduces all the healthy properties of the tea and also makes it bitter. A temperature of  85 degrees C or 170 degrees F is not just optimal but also required to make good green tea. If the water starts to boil, wait for 30-45 seconds for it to cool down a bit before you pour it onto the green tea.

• Steep the green tea for only 2-3 minutes. Beyond this, the tea turns grassy and bitter in taste.

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These are the three brewing methods for green tea:

1. Preparing Green Tea With Leaves

Ingredients:

• Green tea leaves – 1 teaspoon for 1 cup of green tea. You can use green tea pearls.
• A clean tea strainer
• A glass teapot/stainless steel pan
• A cup of water

METHOD:

1. One teaspoon of green tea leaves will make one cup. So take the appropriate amount according to the number of cups to be made.
2. Keep the tea leaves inside a sieve/strainer.
3. Heat water in the pot at 80-85°C. 
4. Place the strainer/sieve over the cup.
5. Pour hot water into the cup. Let the green tea steep for 2-3 minutes. Initially, to make sure that the tea is just the right flavour for you, have a spoonful every 30-45 seconds.
6. Keep the sieve aside. At this stage, you can add a spoon of honey or some cinnamon to make your green tea sweet. But make sure you let the tea cool down a bit first before you add honey to it. Otherwise, the benefits of honey might be lost.
7. Relax with your fresh cup of green tea.

2. Preparing Green Tea With Tea Bags

Ingredients: 

• Stainless steel pot
• Cup of hot water
• A green tea bag of good quality
• A clay cup/stainless steel cup
• A lid to cover the cup

METHOD:

1. Place the green tea bag into the cup. 
2. Heat the water at 80-85 degrees celsius and pour into the cup. 
3. Cover the cup for 3 minutes. 
4. Remove the lid and the tea bag, and stir the tea. 
5. Have a sip. The tea is ready!

3. Preparing Green Tea With Powder

Ingredients:

• 1.5 teaspoons of green tea powder, i.e, Matcha Green Tea.
• A cup of water
• Stainless steel/glass teapot
• 1 teaspoon of honey
• A strainer

METHOD:

1. Heat the water at 80-85 degrees celsius. If it boils, it’s important to let it cool for 30-45 seconds.
2. Add green tea powder to the hot water.
3. Total steeping time is around 2-3 minutes, but have a sip after 1.5 minutes to check for the apt strength and flavor for you.
4. The color changes to brown after 3 minutes.
5. Use the strainer to pour the tea into the cup.
6. Add honey.
7. Have a delicious cup of green tea.

And this was it. Three quick methods to make your simple and healthy green tea at home. A cup of water, the right heating temperature, your choice of green tea, and within 2-3 minutes, you have a nourishing drink in your hands. 

Until Next Time, 

Cheers!

Mayuri Ghosh

Editor-in-Chief | Vahdam India

Write to me at mayuri@vahdamteas.com