The secret to enjoying green tea comes not only from leisurely sipping it and letting the warm aroma fill your senses, but also in its preparation with loving care and use of high quality tea leaves. Below are several steps to making that perfect cup of tea.
Start with the right teapot
The type of teapot and teacup used can make a difference to the taste. For high-grade teas, a smaller teapot is the best choice, but for ordinary teas an earthenware teapot will retain heat better and produce the best flavor. Always ensure that you use a clean teapot to start with. You would want to avoid using teapots which may have gathered residue in hard-to-reach places from previous use such as the spout, which could alter the taste of the tea.
Fill it with water…
The type and quality of water used will of course affect the taste of tea. Nowadays, people tend to prefer using bottled mineral water to using tap water in brewing tea. Mineral water, having many dissolved minerals such as calcium, is considered “hard water” as opposed to soft water with fewer minerals. If the water is too hard, tannin in the tea cannot be fully extracted from the leaves. On the other hand, water that is too “soft” will not be able to fully “release” the aroma of the tea.
If you are using tap water, bring it to a boil first and let it cool. This is especially advisable if it has been treated heavily with chlorine thus emitting an unpleasant smell. After four or five hours, the smell would have disappeared. You can cool the water more quickly if you pour it into another container. If you are using unboiled water, let it stand overnight first before making your tea.
Don’t forget the water temperature…
According to an old saying, “the first serving of tea should be made with water that is not too hot so that you’ll draw out the flavor, while the second serving of tea should be made with hotter water to draw out the astringency…”. In practice, it is better to go for an in-between temperature where you’ll obtain a balance between flavor and astringency. Even if the water is not too hot, the amino acids such as theanine (carrying the tea’s flavourful properties) will still dissolve in it. The ideal temperature will also be determined by the type of tea leaves being used.
In practice, allow the water to cool to a temperature of between 165F and 185F. This usually takes 30 to 60 seconds from boiling point. The reason why water is allowed to cool is because water, at boiling temperature, destroys the flavor resulting in a bitter-tasting green tea. Use approximately 2 grams of green tea per cup (or 1 teaspoon for a 6 to 8 oz cup). Once the temperature is right, pour the hot water over the green tea leaves. Cover the lid and allow the green tea to brew for one to two minutes before serving.
Consume immediately
Tea, especially the green tea variety, quickly oxidizes when it comes into contact with air. The oxidization causes it to darken in color, lose its aroma and destroys the vitamin C in the leaves. Because it is so sensitive to air, the leaves are better bought in small sealed packets. For packets which are partially used, keep in a container which can be sealed properly in order to preserve the freshness of tea.
Always change the leaves
To obtain the full beneficial effects of tea, the tea leaves need to be changed often. Drinking ten cups of tea a day using only the first and second servings will enable you to derive the full benefit of the tea catechins.