How to Make Green Tea

Tired of coffee and soda? Green tea is a light, refreshing alternative for entertaining friends or sipping solo. But it takes patience and careful preparation to bring out the subtle flavor of green tea. Follow these simple steps for how to make green tea and you'll be brewing like a bona fide tea master in no time.

People all over the world enjoy green tea for its delicate flavor, plentiful antioxidants and low level of caffeine.George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods: Green Tea It comes in hundreds of varieties hailing from China, India and Japan, but all green teas owe their unique properties to a special curing process. Once plucked, the youngest leaves are steamed and dried over heat to limit oxidation, retain their color and prevent a bitter taste.Chinese-American Tea Association: Ask the Tea Master HowStuffWorks: How Tea Works: Other Types of Tea

How you handle your green tea will affect the final brew as much as that first careful preparation. Follow these simple steps to get a perfect cup every time:

1. Use bottled water or filtered tap water for the best results.
2. Loose leaf teas produce a better flavor.
3. Steep longer then two minutes for a stronger tea.
4. Store extra tea in an airtight container.
5. For less caffeine, steep once, drain, and steep again.

• Aside from your favorite loose leaf or bagged green tea, you won't need anything more exotic than a few common kitchen items to get started:

1. Tea kettle
2. Teapot
3. Teaspoon
4. 8oz teacups
5. Tea strainer
6. An airtight storage container

• The entire process of brewing your green tea won't take more than a few minutes. Once you've laid out your equipment for quick and easy access, follow these simple steps:

1. Fill your tea kettle with as much water as you'll need.
   • For the best tasting tea, use bottled spring water or filter tap water to remove chlorine.George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods: Green Tea Chinese-American Tea Association: Ask the Tea Master Most supermarkets stock filtration systems for purifying tap water.
2. Bring the water to a rolling boil, remove from heat and let cool 30 to 60 seconds.
   • Unlike most teas, boiling water can produce a bitter taste in green tea.Planet Tea: Preparation Green tea should steep in water between 160 and 170 degrees Fahrenheit.George Mateljan Foundation for the World's Healthiest Foods: Green Tea
3. Portion 2-3 grams of tea leaves (1 teaspoon) into the teapot for each cup you'll serve. For pre-portioned tea bags, use one bag per cup.
4. Add hot water to teapot and let steep between 30 seconds and two minutes. Longer infusions will result in a stronger tasting tea.Chinese-American Tea Association: Ask the Tea Master
5. When using loose leaf tea, place a strainer over each cup before pouring to filter out unwanted leaves. Otherwise, the tea will continue to steep in the bottom of your cup, resulting in a bitter taste.Planet Tea: Preparation
   • Note: Some teapots come with strainers built into the spout or infusers that can be easily removed.
6. Fill each cup and serve.
7. Last but not least, seal your remaining tea in an airtight container and store in a cool, dry place. Tea can absorb odors from nearby foods.UK Tea Council: Make a Perfect Brew

1. You can steep tea leaves more than once before they lose their flavor.MarthaStewart.com: Green Tea 101

2. For less caffeine, steep the tea once and drain. Then steep the same tea leaves again and serve the second infusion.Planet Tea: Preparation

3. Loose leaf teas typically produce a better flavor than tea bags.HowStuffWorks: How Tea Works: Tea Preparation

4. Add lemon, mint, honey or milk for a refreshing twist.