Green tea is a wonderful beverage with potential health benefits. But if you're not familiar with a few basic techniques, you can wind up with a tea that's grassy, bitter, or just too strong. Here's how to get a perfect cup of green tea:
Steps
1. Determine how many cups of green tea you want to make. The original guideline for brewing is one teaspoon (5 ml) of green tea leaves (or pearls) per one cup of water. This will yield one cup of brewed tea.
2. Measure out the desired amount of green tea leaves (or pearls) and place them in your tea strainer or sieve.
3. Fill a non-reactive pot or pan (glass or stainless steel) with water and heat it to about 180 °F (80 °C). You can use a candy thermometer to watch the temperature, but if you don't have one, then keep an eye on the water so that it doesn't boil.
4. Place the filled tea strainer or sieve into an empty mug.
5. Pour the heated water into the mug, over the tea leaves.
6. Steep the tea leaves for 2 - 2 1/2 minutes but not any longer, or else your tea will become bitter.
7. Let your tea cool a few moments and enjoy your perfect cup of green tea.
Tips
* Filtered water is especially recommended, especially if your tap water has a distinct taste or smell.
* You can shorten your preparation time by heating your water in your microwave.
* A glass coffee press (if you're making more than one cup) or a glass mug (if you're making one cup at a time) will allow the tea to cool quickly, minimizing bitterness.
* If you drink a lot of green tea, consider installing a hot-water dispenser on your kitchen sink. The temperature is perfect for green tea.
* To re-use your tea leaves (or pearls) just plunge the tea strainer into a cup of ice water immediately after the steeping process. Depending on the type of tea you're using, you should be able to get at least one additional use of your leaves or pearls.
Warnings
* The biggest mistake you can make with green tea is to steep it in water that's too hot. Green, white or silver teas are different from black teas in that they need water that's only about 180° to 185° (80 °C to 85 °C).
* The second biggest mistake is to steep for too long. Green tea shouldn't be steeped for more than 2 to 2 1/2 minutes. White or silver teas should be steeped for even shorter periods--a minute and a half is usually perfect.
Chinese Green Tea
This article details the art of making a cup or pot of green tea using leaves, not bags, by following traditional Chinese methods. Buy some tea, a teapot and some cups. You really don't need to bother with anything else.
Things You'll Need
* Teapot
* cups
* kettle
* water just under boiling(190°F)
* tea
Steps
Method 1
1. Put a hand full of tea leaves in the pot.
2. Add warm water. Leave for a minute - Boiling water releases a chemical that make the tea sour.
3. Add some sugar to it (optional, real Chinese tea rarely has sugar added and for only some types)
4. Wait a few minutes, then serve. You will get a few cups of tea.
Method 2
1. Add a lot of tea into the pot.
2. Add not-quite-boiling water. Leave for a minute and then pour out to wash the leaves.
3. Add more water.
4. Wait about 30 seconds to a minute and then pour to serve.
Tips
* You will get the same ratio of tea to water whichever method you choose.
* Try to buy good quality tea. It will last longer and have a more pleasant taste. Teas all have different unique tastes. instead of buying just one (because the name sounds good), buy a few (but in smaller quantities).
* Using more tea is a sign of respect to a guest. The more tea you put into the pot, the higher the level of respect.
* Having the spout of the teapot facing anyone is a show of bad manners and disrespect.
* Boiled water is too hot for tender green tea leaves. Pouring boiled water upon the leaves will cause the immediate release of tannins, resulting in a bitter brew.
Warnings
* Watch out for old, out-of-date tea. Check the tea. Smell it. Look at it and check for dried-out leaves. Taste a piece (but dont taste it if is has been wet and in a container for a long time, or smells completely different from its original scent; if it smells a sickly sweet [rotted]).
* It helps to know how a specific tea will smell before you buy it. If you happen to buy a tea frequently, then you can check at the store if it has gone bad before buying it.
* If you are buying loose leaf tea, make sure you examine what you are putting in the pot. Rarely small objects, such as twigs, foil(depending on the wrapping), or insects can make their way into tea accidentally.
