Green tea is an unfermented tea that retains more natural ingredients and has health benefits such as disease prevention and anti-cancer effects. Depending on the variety of tea, the brewing method may vary slightly. So what is the best way to brew green tea?
[The Best Brewing Method for Green Tea]
Brew with water at 80°C to 85°C and drink it freshly brewed. Green tea is a non-fermented tea, and common types include West Lake Dragon Well and Biluochun. These teas are delicate and not suitable for brewing with freshly boiled water. The ideal temperature is 80°C to 85°C, with a tea-to-water ratio of 1:50. Brew for 2 to 3 minutes and it is best to drink it immediately.
If the brewing temperature is too high or the brewing time is too long, the polyphenols will be destroyed, resulting in the tea turning yellow and the aromatic substances volatilizing. It is best to use a porcelain cup for brewing green tea.
When brewing, moisten the tea leaves with 1/4 of the water first, wait for 20 seconds or half a minute, then pour in the water and drink. Green tea is generally not covered with a lid during brewing, as it may cause the tea to turn yellow.
[Characteristics of Green Tea]
Green tea is a non-intoxicating type of tea. It has the longest history, the most varieties, the highest production, and the widest consumption in China. Some famous green tea varieties include Taiping Monkey King, Enshi Jade Dew, Biluochun, Liu'an Melon Seed, Xinyang Maojian, and West Lake Dragon Well.
China produces about 70% of the world's green tea, making it the largest producer of green tea. Green tea is produced in 18 provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities in China, with Zhejiang, Anhui, Jiangxi, Hunan, and Sichuan being the main regions. Zhejiang, Anhui, and Jiangxi produce the most green tea.
Green tea pays great attention to the "three greens" of dry tea, soup color, and leaf base. The best aroma is a high and long-lasting floral fragrance, followed by a delicate aroma, a bud aroma, and a chestnut aroma. The green tea soup is green and clear, with a pleasant aroma and a refreshing taste.
Green tea retains more natural substances in the fresh leaves. Among them, the retention rate of theophylline and caffeine is more than 85% of the fresh leaves, and the retention rate of chlorophyll is about 50%. The loss of vitamins is also minimal, forming the characteristic of "clear soup and green leaves, with strong taste and efficacy" of green tea.
[Precautions for Drinking Green Tea]
Although green tea is good, there are also precautions and taboos when drinking it.
Firstly, people with poor stomachs should drink less. Green tea is slightly cold and can easily irritate the intestines and stomach. People with cold stomachs or frequent stomach pains should drink less or not at all. It is recommended for people with poor stomachs to drink some relatively warm white tea, black tea, or ripe pu-erh tea, as these teas have undergone fermentation and are better for the intestines and stomach, and will not cause stomach pain.
In addition, women should pay special attention not to drink green tea during the following periods: menstrual period, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause.
Secondly, do not drink it before bedtime. The substances like caffeine in tea, when absorbed by the body, have a noticeable stimulating effect on the central nervous system. Drinking tea can make you mentally stimulated, affecting sleep, and even causing insomnia, especially with newly harvested green tea, the effect is more pronounced.
Thirdly, do not drink it on an empty stomach. Drinking tea on an empty stomach, especially in the morning just after waking up, can easily cause excessive absorption of caffeine in the intestines, leading to symptoms such as palpitations, dizziness, weakness in limbs, and mental confusion. People who do not usually drink tea are more prone to the above discomfort. This is called tea intoxication. If tea intoxication occurs, you can relieve it by sucking on candy or drinking some sugared water.
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