How To Make Green Tea

You say you don't like green tea; I say that's because you've never had a proper cup. All kidding aside, here is my step-by-step guide on how to make green tea and make it without the dirty, grassy taste.

STEP 1: Start with 1 cup of water per "serving". If you want one cup of tea, start with one cup of water. Heat the water in a heatproof container until it's steaming but not boiling. Anything between 165 and 190 degrees Fahrenheit is fine.

STEP 2: While your water is heating, measure out 1 teaspoon of loose tea leaves or tea pearls and put the tea into whatever strainer you're using. Place the strainer over the cup or teapot. You do not have to preheat your teapot; in fact, you may find it better not to.

STEP 3: Pour the hot water over the tea and let it steep uncovered for no more than 2 minutes. Every brand of tea is different so you may need to experiment a little to find the perfect steeping time. Never exceed 2 minutes, though, or you'll start to get that "dirty" taste that turns so many tea drinkers off green tea.

STEP 4: Remove the now-spent tea leaves, let your tea cool enough to prevent a burn and enjoy!

And you know what? That's really all there is to it. But if you want to take your green tea to an entirely different level, here are a few tips to make the most of your tea making experience:

TIP 1: Don't boil the water because boiling releases oxygen and makes a "flat" tea. In stronger teas, this isn't much of an issue but green tea is so subtle in flavor already, you may notice the difference. Water that is too hot also encourages the release of tannins and tannins are what make green tea taste "grassy" or "dirty".

TIP 2: If you need a stronger flavor, use more tea. Don't increase steeping time, though. This will make the tea stronger but it will also make it more bitter.

TIP 3: Don't cover your tea while it's steeping. The secret to really great green tea is to cool it down as quickly as possible. In fact, I often make tea in a French press coffee maker instead of a traditional teapot because the glass conducts heat so well that it allows the tea to cool before tannins are released.

SECRET BONUS TIP: Most people don't realize that you can actually reuse good quality tea leaves. To do so, simply give them a short ice bath immediately after steeping then set them aside for next time. Depending upon the freshness of the leaves you start with, you should get at least one extra use; you may get as many as 3 or 4.

WARNING: Green tea is best served hot but let it cool long enough to prevent a burn

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