How Do You Make Green Tea?

Green tea is one of the most delicious and healthful beverages on the planet. Chock full of flavor and antioxidants, it’s no wonder that this delicacy has been around for many hundreds of years. Fortunately, making green tea at home doesn’t have to be hard, and can be a fun process when done correctly. Here are the necessary steps to making green tea.

1.) Boil Water

As with any kind of tea, boiling water is the catalyst when it comes to making green tea. Without boiling water, the tea will not be properly extracted from the leaves and you will end up with a mere shadow of what could have been. It’s important to note, however, that if the water is too hot it can actually affect the tea negatively, resulting in harsh/bitter flavors. As a general rule of thumb, bring water to a boil and take it off the heat for thirty seconds before steeping your tea.

2.) Preparing Your Tea

If you are using a prepacked teabag, you’re all set to go. If, however, you are using loose-leaf tea, you must prepare it before using. This is usually as easy as transferring one to two teaspoons of the leaves to a metal tea infuser. A tea infuser is basically a small metal cage with multiple small holes that allows for the leaves to steep without getting left behind in the water. Secure your tea ball and place it in your favorite mug.

3.) Steep Your Tea

Once your tea leaves (either prepackaged or prepared) are settled in your favorite mug, slowly pour the hot water over the mixture. The general goal is to steep your green tea for approximately two to three minutes. Unlike other types of tea, steeping longer can result in overly bitter tea, which is something that no one wants or enjoys. Once the tea has finished steeping, remove the bag or tea infuser and go ahead and drink up!

A small side note: Many people feel as if you should cover your teacup with a small plate while steeping so as to not allow any flavorful vapors to escape. While this is not necessary, it certainly won’t hurt if you have the time and don’t mind dirtying up an extra dish. Covering your teacup will allow all of the volatiles to stay within the cup, rather than dispersing through the air. This can sometimes result in a far superior cup of tea.