10 GOLDEN RULES FOR GREEN TEA PREPARATION

Do you feel that each cup of green tea is not as tasty as it could be? Do you use the "right method" when preparing green tea? Did you know that green tea preparation is different because each tea has it’s own preparation method?

Green tea is not made like black tea and herbal tea is not prepared like regular tea. There is a whole universe based on small details about tea, but it ensures that each sip will be succulent and that you are getting all the benefits from your tea. Here are 10 golden rules for green tea preparation.

1. RESPECT BREWING TIME

Perhaps one of the most important aspects when preparing green tea, is the perfect amount of time for infusion. Indeed, 1 minute 45 seconds to 2 minutes maximum is the recommended amount of time for ideal Green tea infusion. Since there are several types of green tea, this may vary a little.

You will notice that a long infusion duration makes the tea slightly more bitter. This is due to the release of too much tannin into the water.

2. CHECK THE TEMPERATURE

The temperature influences the duration of infusion, the temperature of the water is very important. Green tea is infused at 175 ° F or 80 ° C. If the temperature is too high the tea will have a bitter taste and will actually burn the flavors of the tea.

3. USE QUALITY WATER

You want quality time, with quality tea. So carefully choose what you put in it. You can use tap water because your body is used to it. However, try making tea with filtered water and see if there is a big difference.

In addition, hot water must contain oxygen, so boiling water more than once is not recommended.

4. CHOOSE A GOOD QUALITY GREEN TEA

Not all teas are created the same. Indeed, some cheap tea leaves do not offer optimal flavor and can come from polluted regions. It is best to check the provenance and choose a good brand. Moreover, when a tea is either approved in a laboratory or certified organic and / or fair-trade, it helps to know that it is a good quality tea. For example, at Four O'Clock, many of our teas have these certifications or have been approved in laboratories.

5. MAKE SMALL QUANTITIES

Tea is delicate just like its preparation. Avoid large teapots and especially those made of silver. It leaves a strange taste compared to teapots made of cast iron, ceramic or even out of clay. It is better to respect a certain teapot size and only make a reasonable amount at a time, it is better to make a fresh pot if you want more tea.

6. HEAT THE TEAPOT BEFORE PUTTING IN THE HOT WATER

One of the problems with cold teapots is that they lower the water temperature very quickly. This does not allow the tea time to infuse properly. To remedy this, make more hot water and fill the teapot. Let the tea pot warm up for a few seconds and then replace the water and add the tea to start the infusion.

7. STIR YOUR TEA A BIT

After your infusion, lightly stir your teapot especially if you are making tea with loose leaf tea.This balances the taste and may make deposits from the leaves go to the bottom of the teapot.

8.ONLY ADD SKIM MILK

For those who put milk in their tea, use milk over cream. Cream makes the tea heavier and gives it a velvety texture. In order to keep the clear and liquid appearance of the tea, milk is a better choice. However, in the end, our advice is to make your green tea the way you like it.

9. STORE YOUR TEA PROPERLY

In order to ensure optimum preparation, green tea should be kept in a cool and dry place. After opening a tea bag, transfer it to an airtight metal container or glass container. The goal is to preserve the aromas as long as possible.

10. BE ADVENTUROUS

Green tea is full of possibilities like mint green tea, Sencha green tea and even Jasmine green tea. Try all the different types of green teas to have a better experience.

It is important to mention that tea in a bag and loose leaf tea should not be prepared in the same way, they do not take the same amount of time for infusion. It all depends on the type of tea you have. Green tea is the most common in North America, but do not limit yourself to only this kind of tea, there are so many more to discover.

Moreover, several rules also apply to certain types. Now you know the golden rules of green tea preparation and everything leads us to believe that the next cup you will drink will be delicious.