Chinese green tea: how to choose it and brew it properly

Most of us have had a cup of green tea that tasted far too bitter. The leaves are rarely to blame: it is usually boiling water or a steep that went on too long. With a few simple guidelines, green tea shows its gentle side instead, with fresh, vegetal and sometimes lightly toasted notes.

What is Chinese green tea?

All teas, whether green, black or white, come from the same shrub: the tea plant, Camellia sinensis. What sets them apart is the way the leaves are handled after picking. For green tea, the leaves are heated quickly to stop them oxidising, so they keep their green colour and fresh taste. In China, this is traditionally done dry, in large heated pans, which gives many Chinese green teas a slightly toasty note; in Japan, steaming is more common.

China is the birthplace of tea, which has been drunk there for centuries, and it remains one of the major green tea producers. As the product sheet states, ours is a green tea from China.

Tea naturally contains caffeine, sometimes called theine, as well as polyphenols, compounds that contribute to its colour and its slightly astringent taste.

How to brew it

Our druggist recommends it simply as an infusion. Here are some common guidelines to adjust to your taste:

• Quantity: about one teaspoon of leaves (2 g) per cup.
• Water: bring it to the boil, then let it cool to around 70 to 80 °C. Without a thermometer, simply wait a few minutes.
• Time: 2 to 3 minutes is enough. Taste, then steep a little longer if you like a stronger cup.
• Strainer: use a tea ball or a roomy filter so the leaves can unfurl.
• A second cup: the same leaves can often be steeped again, a little longer.

Store the tea in an airtight tin, away from light, moisture and strong smells such as spices.

Precautions

A drink that contains caffeine. If you are sensitive to caffeine, enjoy green tea during the day rather than in the evening. During pregnancy or breastfeeding, and for children, it is advisable to limit caffeinated drinks: ask us for advice. If you are taking medication, talk to a professional as well. Always let your cup cool a little before drinking.

Our products

• Chinese green tea – brew with hot but not boiling water for a fresh, vegetal cup.

A ritual worth taking time for

Making green tea means slowing down for a few minutes: heating the water, waiting, watching the leaves open. Not sure about the quantity, the teapot or which accessory to choose? Drop by Droguerie Perusset in Yverdon-les-Bains, where our team will be happy to advise you.