Leanne Pratt - Correctly Brewing Green Tea for Maximum Health Benefits

Research proves that drinking Green Tea regularly will protect you from a huge number of diseases, but you have to actually drink it regularly, which means it helps if you enjoy it!

You may think that Green Tea is bitter tasting and unpleasant but it shouldn’t be if it’s brewed correctly.   Properly brewed Green Tea should be sweet, grassy and refreshing.


What makes Green Tea different from other kinds of Tea?
Firstly what makes Green tea different?   All types of tea; black, green and oolong, come from the same plant - Camellia sinensis. Once the tea leaves are harvested, the type of processing they go through determines the variety of tea they will become. The biggest factor in producing various types of teas is the length of time they are oxidised.

For Green tea manufacture, the freshly picked leaf and bud is steamed or pan heated before drying or firing.  This is done to prevent the veins in the leaf breaking and thus stopping any oxidisation of the leaf, and what keeps it green.   It is then dried and that is it.

It is a much shorter and simpler process than what it takes to create a Black Tea, which goes through another step where warm air is blown over the leaves for several hours, turning them the dark colour we know. 

So basically Green Tea is considered un-oxidised, unlike Black Tea which is fully oxidised.  It is this lack of processing that retains the higher levels of antioxidants.


Temperature of Water and Brewing Time
In order to get the best taste and enjoyment from your green tea it is worth while making sure you get the water temperature right and take a note of how long the tea has been brewing for.

You may have experienced bitter and possibly unpleasant green tea in the past.  I suspect your tea was probably brewed for too long, using water that was too hot.


Water Temperature
The correct water temperature is essential for the delicate nature of green teas.  Water that is too hot can scorch the leaves and this is what makes it bitter.

The ideal temperature for brewing green tea is about 80 degrees Celcius, not boiling. In Asia the pot of tea will be taken off the heat when a column of steam rises up from the water, indicating the right temperature.  

You could of course use a thermometer to test the water, but I find the easiest thing to do is to pour a bit of water in the bottom of your jug or cup and then pour hot over this.  This will be roughly the right temperature.


Brewing Time
The longer you leave your green tea in the water, the stronger and more bitter the taste will be.  You may have experienced this yourself, when you have had a pot of green tea and the second cup you pour is quite different to the first cup.

The ideal brewing time for Green Tea is 1-3 minutes.  Any longer than this and the bitter compounds start to be released.  

In Asia many green teas are only ever infused for 1 minute, but consecutive brewings using the same leaves may be longer.

Some teas, like Japanese Bancha or Genmaicha, are naturally lighter and sweeter so they may handle a slightly longer brewing time.  These are good teas to start off with if you are green tea beginner.


You can re-use Green Tea Leaves
Green Tea is unique in that it can be reused several times.  In fact in Asia they think the best flavours are released on the second and third infusion.  

And you get much better value for money.  Just pour water over the leaves 2-3 times, you don’t need to boil the jug again as the lower temperatures suit the 2nd and third infusions.


Water
Make sure you water is freshly boiled, pour out previously boiled water and re-fill with fresh water. 

Ideally use filtered, fluoride free water to get the best taste.   Don’t use distilled water as this will also result in a flat taste.


Loose Leaf Teas are best.
In Asia the tea leaves are dropped straight into the teapot which allows the tea leaves to unfurl without restriction.  You can’t really get the same authenticity or depth of flavour if you use a teabag.  With loose leaf tea you tend to get the best from the plant, and it will usually be fresher than a teabag.  

However, it is possible to get some good quality Green Tea teabags.  What you might want to do is test your teabag by trying the second or third infusion.  If you get little taste or aroma from the second or third brew, then buy a better quality brand, or ideally switch to loose leaf.  It is quite a different experience.

Another good indicator of freshness and quality is the aroma that comes of dried tea leaves.  Is it Sweet? Grassy? Pleasant?  If you get little aroma at all, then it’s probably not that fresh, and it will affect the taste of the tea.


Storing Green Tea
Most good quality loose leaf Green Teas keep for many months, even a year or two if it is stored correctly. The enemy of tea is light, moisture, heat and odours from other food.  The best way to keep tea is in a tin or ceramic jar that has a good seal, or a foil bag that you can re-seal.   Glass is not ideal unless you drink the tea regularly as it can let in the light.

Store your tea at room temperature or colder, in a cooler cupboard in summer time.

I don’t recommend the fridge, your tea can easily become tainted with other flavours and it can pick up moisture.

Teabags do not keep as fresh as loose leaf tea.  This is due to the leaves being cut so finely, which means it is easier for the oxygen to affect the leaves.  


Summary for the best cup of Green Tea:

• Never pour boiling water straight onto green tea leaves.  
• Water should be about 80°.  
• The easiest way to achieve the right temperature is to put a little cold water in the bottom of your pot or mug and then add hot water. This brings the temperature down.
• Brew for 1-3 minutes. Don't infuse for too much longer than this, or your tea will become bitter. 
• You can re-use your leaves up to 3 times.
• 1 teaspoon per person, and if using a pot, this is about 1 tsp per 200mls.
• Use good quality filtered water if possible.
• Loose leaf tea will taste better, generally, than tea bags.
• Drink at least 3 cups of green tea a day to get maximum health benefits.

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