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The Best Cup of Tea
Tips for Making the Best Cup of Tea
Use Boiled Water
Because…
Boiled water softens hard water
Boiled water is cleaner
Boiled water reduces residual chlorine and its smell
Green Teas are Sensitive to Water temperature
Because…
Water that is too hot will result in very bitter green tea.
Water with a temperature of 160f-180f will make the best cup of tea with sweetness and umami
Brewing with cooler water brings more sweetness to your tea.
To lower the temperature of the boiled water, first pour it into the cup then pour it over tea leaves into the tea pot. This will lower to the temperature significantly.
Other tips
Pour all (to the last drop) green tea into the cups. A lot of Umami is on the bottom of tea pot!
Keep your green tea away from sun light ,heat and moisture.
The ideal room temperature for keeping green tea fresh is 40-50f to keep them fresh (It is recommended to keep green tea in the jar or some other tight container, like a tea can. It is also recommended to use green tea sooner once you open the package. You can also divide the green tea into two then half of the green tea can be stored in the refrigerator or freezer)
What you need…
1) Teapot with strainer (attached or separate).The picture shows a Kyusu, a Japanese teapot.
2) Cup, Mug or Yunomi, a Japanese teacup (shown in the picture).
3) Your favorite green Tea (sencha, fukamushicha, Kukicha etc)
4) Hot Water (boiled and then cooled usually to160°F to 175°F)
How to make a best cup of green tea…
Pour boiled water into cup(s) and wait 2 minutes or so.
Place green tea leaves (1Tbsp) into the tea pot.
Pour the water from the cup(s) to the tea pot and wait 1-2 minutes (This pouring process will cool the water to about 170°F, the best temperature for brewing most Sencha green tea. ( Ideal temperature vary, depending on the tea).
Pour the green tea into the cup(s). If you are using more than one cup, pour the tea from the first cup into the second cup, and from the second cup into the third. Then reverse the process, pouring from the third cup into the second and from the second into the first. This ensure that every cup of tea tastes the same. Make sure to pour the tea to the very last drop!
*Tea at the bottom of the teapot has the most umami !
How to make cold brew tea
You need
1)A large bottle or jar (a mason jar is good), or cold brew tea bottle such as Hario Filter-In Cold Brew Tea Bottle.
2) Green tea bag(s)
3) Water
Put the tea bag(s) into the bottle and add water in it. One 5gram green tea bag will need two cups of water.
Place the bottle into the refrigerator and let it remain there at least 3 hours. You can do this before you go to bed. Then you will have a wonderful iced green tea in the morning!
*You can also use loose tea leaves to make cold brew green tea. 1Tbsp holds about 5 gram of tea. Make sure to strain the tea when you pour it.