Tips For Brewing Green Tea
The jury is still out on this one but most people seem to agree that drinking green tea can have numerous benefits on a person’s health. Regardless of whether you agree with this or not, there is no denying the pleasurable feeling that you get from drinking this refreshing beverage.
If you drink green tea regularly as a way to take advantage of its health benefits or if you merely enjoy a cup from time to time, it is important to know how to brew it properly in order to gain the maximum taste and health benefits. Green tea is particularly dependent on brewing time and water temperature and this article will teach you how to best tailor these factors in order to brew the best pot of green tea that you possibly can.
The importance of water temperature
It is absolutely essential to get the water temperature right when brewing green tea. This is the best way to ensure that you are able to get the best qualities of the tea. Making the water too hot will result in an overly bitter brew with much of the tea’s distinctive aroma lost. Leaving the water too cool on the other hand will result in green tea that does not impart its full range of flavors.
Keep the temperature on the low
That being said, green tea generally benefits from a lower temperature than that you would normally use of other teas. The reason for this is that there are several substances found in green tea leaves that add to the flavor and aroma the brew. The amino acids and natural sugars contained therein will have a lot to do with the flavor and sweetness of the brew, with the polyphenols or tannins contributing much of the tea’s bitterness and astringency.
So why the lower temperature? Amino acids typically dissolve at a temperature of 140°F or 60 °C, while tannins dissolve at a much higher temperature of 176°F or 80°C. if you want to extract the sweeter amino acids while leaving the bitter polyphenols intact therefore, you should brew green tea at a lower temperature.
The right temperature for green tea
Most experts agree that green tea generally tastes best when brewed at a temperature between 140°F to 185°F. Of course this temperature range will also vary depending on the green tea’s grade and the time of its harvest, with tea leaves having been picked early in the spring being more suitable to lower brewing temperatures because of their higher amino acid levels.
So if you value the delicate taste of green tea and want to get all the natural goodness that it contains, make sure that you get the temperature right!