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During processing, Japanese green tea is first steamed and not heat-treated.
The result is that Japanese green tea can be brewed for full flavor using a lower water temperature and less time than other teas.
Next, brewing a pot of Japanese loose leaf green tea is not difficult at all.
Water Quality
The taste of loose leaf tea is generally mild and not overpowering. If your tap water tastes bad, then so probably will your green tea.Fresh, filtered or bottled water for the best tasting tea.
Heating the Water
Heat as much water as needed for the green tea you desire to drink.
It is necessary to bring the water to a boil for the best taste.. For water heating purposes, either a kettle or microwave oven is fine.
How Much Green Tea
One teaspoonful (two grams) per person or cup is sufficient.
However, depending on your own taste, use as much tea as suits you. After gaining brewing experience, it won't be necessary to actually measure the quantity.
The Teapot
Using a tea ball will result in good tasting green tea, but typically it is too small to allow the tea leaves to properly expand during infusion.
This restricts bringing out full flavor. I recommend a teapot that has a removable metal basket in which to place the tea. The tea leaves are placed directly inside this type of pot. .
Infusion Water Temperature
This will vary according to the variety of the green tea . If the water has reached boiling point, then let it cool a few minutes, or add cooler water to bring the temperature down.
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PART 2
Infusion Time
This will also vary with each green tea variety .
Do not swirl or shake the teapot to speed up infusion because this may adversely effect the brew's taste. Then gently pour the brew into your cup.
Japanese green tea will usually not taste bitter. If a more astringent taste is desired, then increase the amount brewed, water temperature and brewing time.
Loose leaf green tea may be infused more than once depending on your taste. I recommend three times as the maximum. Use the same temperature water, but the brewing time is only a few seconds.
You can significantly reduce the caffeine in green tea by discarding the liquid from the first infusion.
How to Serve Loose Leaf Tea
The tea leaf residue found in the bottom of your cup is absolutely healthy.
One important cultural note is that when you are served green tea by a Japanese person, especially if you are in their home or in Japan, then please do as they do.
How to Store Loose Leaf Tea
After packaging, loose leaf teas will remain fresh for about one year.
Before opening the package, the freshness can be prolonged by putting the package in your refrigerator or freezer.
After opening the package, place it in an airtight, tightly sealed container, away from direct sunlight and heat. DO NOT put it back into the refrigerator or freezer.
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Shizuoka is a major producer of green tea in japan, both in terms of quality and quantity .
The mountainous districts around the basin of Abekawa, Ohigawa and Tenryugawa rivers, all famous for their tea plantations.
Shizuoka boasts about 41% of the tea plantations in Japan, and our share of tea production is roughly 45% of the national crop.
ORIGIN OF TEA
Although the origin of tea in Japan is not clear, it is said that in the Nara/Heian era the custom of drinking tea was brought by monks from China, who also brought seeds of tea trees.
There is a Chinese poem which support the hypothesis that we had native tea trees in Japan. A court lady of the Saga Emperor wrote: "she boiled the spring water and made some tea. The tea with a little bit of salt tasted better."
Also there is a poem saying that the Taijou Emperor had tea with the monk Kaikou, seeing Kuukai off when he went back to the mountain. From these we can guess that the custom of drinking tea had spread among the upper-class at that time.
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Shizuoka is very famous for tea leaves. So tasty. Please try ! Leave a Comment
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on May 11, 2005
on June 28, 2004
