Originating in China, green tea is one of the most popular beverages in the world. Owing to its simple and straightforward recipe and plenty of health benefits, green tea has caught the imagination of millions.
Today, sipping on a cup of well-brewed green tea after a hearty dinner or breakfast has become customary in many households. But does drinking green tea leave a bitter aftertaste whenever you make it? If yes, then it’s probably because you are not preparing the hot beverage properly. Here’s a complete guide on how to make your own green tea.
Preparing Green Tea with Leaves
Green tea leaves are harvested from the Camellia sinensis plant which is grown all over the world. They are fragrant, tasteful, and appear in a bunch of colors from green to yellow to light brown. When brewed correctly, green tea should ideally taste sweet or mild.
Things You Need
- Green tea leaves (1 teaspoon for 1 cup of green tea)
- Water (1 cup of water per serving)
- A clean and dry tea strainer
- A stainless steel pot
- Teacups
Directions
- In the stainless steel pot, heat the water until it’s close to boiling. The perfect temperature for green tea is 80 degrees C to 85 degrees C. Make sure the water temperature doesn’t exceed. In case it does, turn off the heat and cool the water for 30 – 40 seconds.
- Now, take the cup and place the strainer filled with green tea leaves on top of it.
- Pour the hot water through the strainer until the bottom part of the strainer is immersed in tea.
- Let the strainer sit over the cup for 2 – 3 minutes.
- Check the flavor of the tea. If it needs to be a bit stronger, steep again for 30 seconds more.
- Mix in a teaspoon of honey or lemon for taste.
- Serve and enjoy!
Preparing Green Tea with Tea Bags
Green tea bags are super convenient, especially for people who are always on the go. They are easy to carry around as well as quick to prepare. All you need is some hot water and your favorite flavor of green tea bag! Here’s how you can make a rejuvenating cup of green tea with tea bags:
Things You Will Need
- Green tea bag (1 green tea bag per serving)
- Hot water (1 cup of hot water per serving)
- Stainless steel pot
- Teacup with a lid
- Spoon
Directions
- Heat the water in the stainless steel pot, but ensure it doesn’t come to a boiling point.
- Put the green tea bag into the teacup.
- Now, pour the hot water into the cup and cover it with a lid. Allow it to steep for 2 -3 minutes.
- Remove the lid and teabag.
- Stir with the spoon and take a refreshing sip!
Preparing Green Tea with Powder
Using green tea powder is another alternative for preparing green tea. It’s readily available in the market, so you won’t have a hard time finding it and preparing a nice cuppa green tea from it.
Things You Will Need
- Green tea powder (1 or ½ teaspoon per serving)
- Stainless steel pot
- Water (1 cup per serving)
- Honey or lemon
Directions
- Take a cup of water (or any number of it you need) in the stainless steel pot and heat it.
- Turn off the heat as soon as the hot water reaches the boiling point. Allow it to cool for 3 – 4 seconds.
- Mix in the green tea powder. And let it brew for a few seconds.
- Take a sip after 2 minutes or so to check the flavor.
- By this time, the color of the tea will turn into light or deep brown – depending on how strong your tea is.
- Add in honey or lemon to enhance the taste of the tea.
Expert Tips on How to Make Your Own Green Tea
No matter which method you use to prepare green tea, just make sure to never use boiling water. It makes your green tea tastes bitter and that’s not how an ideal cup of green tea should be like. Always follow the recommended temperature for brewing tea depending on the type of green tea leaves you are using. For example, Japanese Sencha leaves require a brewing temperature of 80 degrees C while Indian or Sri Lankan green tea 75 degrees C only.
Also, unlike regular tea, green tea never has milk. However, you can add a few drops of honey, lemon, raw sugar, or herbs for nice flavoring. It’s also important to let tea leaves steep in hot water for 2 -3 minutes. This will allow the water to absorb all the nutrients and flavors of the leaves. But make sure not to steep the tea leaves for a long time, or else, your tea will taste quite bitter.
Now that you know how to make your own green tea, what are you waiting for? Go and make a delightful cup of green tea for yourself and your family and enjoy it together with some healthy biscuits!
