Many people start their day with a steaming cup of coffee. But did you know that a cup of loose-leaf green tea comes with a ton of benefits?
Most people do not know how to make loose leaf green tea in the most beneficial way. In this article, we explain how to make the best tea recipes with loose leaf.
Benefits of Green Tea
Making the switch to green tea, or at least changing up the routine to include loose-leaf green tea in your daily regimen of liquids, is a smart idea.
There’s a whole lotta good in that cup of tea, including its fat-burning properties and ability to improve brain function.
Green tea has components that function as powerful antioxidants. Antioxidants are known to protect the body against disease and are an important part of a healthy diet.
Antioxidants can be found in a range of fruits, vegetables, and other unprocessed foods. As part of a balanced diet, green tea can be a good source of antioxidants.
Green tea contains a key active ingredient, caffeine, which is a known mental stimulant.
It also increases dopamine and the production of alpha waves in the brain which regulate mental alertness and makes it a great replacement for coffee.
How to Make Loose Leaf Green Tea
Making loose leaf green tea at home is pretty simple. At its most basic, all you need are tea leaves, hot water, and something to brew your tea in.
Whether you’re just beginning to explore the world of loose leaf green tea or are a dedicated tea drinker, we are here to take you on a journey where you’ll find the ordinary experience of drinking tea becomes extraordinary!
What you’ll need to prepare loose leaf green tea
Before you begin making a cup of tea, it’s a good idea to assemble everything you need. This includes the loose-leaf tea you’d like to drink, your mug, cup, or pot, your infuser or filter, and your tea kettle.
If you don’t have some of these items, don’t worry. There are plenty of ways to make loose leaf tea just by using items you probably already have in your kitchen.
You should fill your kettle with cold, filtered water and turn it on. If you don’t have a stovetop or electric tea kettle, you can also heat water using a pot on the stove. In a jiffy, you can even heat hot water in the microwave.
Water temperature is one of the most crucial aspects of a properly prepared cup of loose-leaf green tea.
If you use water that is too hot, you could destroy the tea leaves, while using water that is too cold can make your tea seem weak and bland as it is unable to properly absorb the flavor.
Using water that is the perfect temperature for your tea is a great way to ensure a perfect cup.
For Green Tea, the ideal temperature would be between 79 to 82 degrees celsius. You should place an infuser or tea filter into your pot or cup and measure tea leaves into it. In general, we recommend using one teaspoon of loose-leaf green tea per six ounces of water.
Keep in mind that measuring tea leaves isn’t an exact science. If you like your tea a little stronger, you may also want to use more tea leaves.
Once your water has reached the desired temperature, the next step is to let your tea leaves steep. We always recommend pouring hot water over tea as it helps to ensure that every part of the leaf is saturated, which makes for a more flavorful tea.
Once your tea is done steeping, you should remove the tea leaves from your pot or cup and enjoy your tea.
How to Make Iced Loose-Leaf Green Tea
While most teas can be consumed hot or cold, certain varieties will have a stronger impact with the ice.
Green teas are a great choice, as they are versatile in terms of temperature and have quite a range – some are nuttier, some are leafier. Try iced green tea once.
To cold brew your tea, add 1 tsp. of tea to every 6-8 ounces of water in your favorite iced tea maker or pitcher. Let it brew for at least four hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Discard or strain the tea leaves. Keep the pitcher refrigerated, and if desired, you can add ice in when serving.
For those of you who like your iced tea with a fuller flavor, we have an option for you too! Brew your tea as you normally would (with hot water) and refrigerate it until it’s cold enough for you! Add ice if you like it really cold!
How to Make Japanese Loose-Leaf Green Tea
Do you know how to make loose leaf green tea in the Japanese way?
One of the most common ways the Japanese brew loose-leaf Green tea is by pouring hot water from a hot water pot directly onto the tea leaves that are placed in the strainer of the teapot.
Measure about one teaspoon (2-3 grams) of green tea leaves per cup depending on the individual’s taste. A common practice is to sprinkle the loose tea leaves into the canister lid, measure the amount by estimating, and then pour them into the infuser.
Pour hot water over the tea leaves. Allow the tea to steep for only about 1 to 3 minutes. The duration varies depending on the quality of the leaves that are being used. Gently pour the tea from the pot. Observe the color and take in the aroma.
Make a mental note of how much tea you used and how long you allowed the tea leaves to steep to obtain the desired consistency.
There may be small bits and pieces of the tea leaves lingering in the tea, they will soon settle to the bottom of the cup. It is perfectly alright and healthy even to drink them however; most Japanese tend to discard them with the last sip or two of tea.
Which is Better, Loose-Leaf Green Tea or Green Tea in Teabags?
Loose-leaf Green Tea may contain more bioactives because they use higher quality leaves. However, leaves in teabags are cut smaller, and this is thought to enhance the extraction process.
Lower quality teas may also include more stems, which are higher in L-theanine than the leaves. So while fancy loose leaf might taste better, you probably get more bang for the buck from a humble teabag.
Health benefits might not be the only reason we choose to drink tea, but patience is the key if you want to get the most out of your cup. Whichever type of tea you choose, the longer you brew, the more goodness in each cup.
Best Loose-Leaf Green Tea Brands in the Market
1) Twinnings Green Tea
The classics stay classic for a reason, and this tasty blend is no different. If you are looking for the grassy, slightly tannic flavors that are associated with a strong green tea then this is your best bet.
2) Ahmed Tea
The blend of Jasmine buds and green tea gives you the light, refreshing flavour and enchanting, floral notes. There’s a mellow and relaxing taste to this combination that you can take throughout the day.
3) Vahdem Organic Mint Green Tea
It’s made from a blend of organic spearmint and peppermint leaves layered on top of gunpowder green tea. It is a medicinal mint concoction that is good for relieving allergies and sinus pain.
4) Harney & Sons Japanese Sencha Green Tea
This is the best loose leaf green tea, not just for the taste but also for its health benefits. It keeps your body in top shape and relieves your sinuses.
5) Bigelow Classic Green Tea
Bigelow is a tried-and-true classic tea brand, and their green tea is no exception. The flavor is milder than some other brands, but we found that Bigelow is the best green tea to pair with food.
Is Loose Leaf Green Tea Good for You?
Due to the fact that loose-leaf green tea is processed less than some other types of tea, the beneficial properties inherent in the tea plant may be better preserved in green tea.
Green tea has also been studied more extensively than other types of tea, meaning that scientific evidence for the health benefits of green tea is more readily available.
Now Prepare Your Green Tea with Loose Leaf!
If you’re interested in drinking tea for its many health benefits, you can’t go wrong with a cup of loose-leaf green tea and you know how to make loose leaf green tea now! On the other hand, if you prefer drinking other types of tea, you’ll still be getting plenty of benefits with each cup.
Ultimately, we recommend choosing a tea that you enjoy drinking and will consume regularly: the more often you drink good tea, the more benefits you’ll see!
