Explore the enjoyment of green tea brewing process

I have been asked over and over again: how do you brew PREMIUM loose leaf green teas?

I always start from saying it is much more dynamic than just step one, two and three.

Special natures of green teas

Premium green teas are made of young tender tip leaves, some use single tips only and the others use the tip plus 1-2 leaves below. Apart from all being unfermented (classification of green tea), there are different in every other way: plants, geographic locations and climate conditions and making processes etc. The end results are green teas with different appearances, aroma, tastes and after taste.

How to brew a desirable cup of green tea?

One thumb of rule to brew premium green tea is we always recommend using sub-boiling point temperature hot water due to the tenderness of their leaves, around 90oC or just below. A glass tea vessel is ideal for observing, monitoring and enjoying the brewing process.

There are three ways of adding tea leaves to the brewing vessel depending on the nature of the green tea:

1. add the leaves to the vessel first before adding hot water to it; (bottom infusion)
2. fill half of the vessel with the hot water, then add the tea leaves before topping up with the other half of the hot water; (half way infusion)
3. fill the vessel with the hot water before dropping in the tea leaves. (top drop infusion)

Different green teas require or more suitable for one method than the other and the best way to find out is to try them out. Generally speaking, we recommend the top drop for the very young tender leaves and bottom infusion for the more nature leave green teas.

Good quality green tea

A good quality green tea will process the following:

1. Pure and elegant aroma arising with the steam when in contact with the hot water
2. Tea leaves descend and ascend after being in contact with the hot water, create a phenomenon some describe as rolling green clouds and others as under water forest (for an experienced tea grader, this is also a great opportunity to evaluate the quality of the tea leaves)
3. The tea brew starts producing a clear, light and bright yellowy colour drawing out the nutrients and refreshing taste of the green tea
4. A long lasting, lingering and refreshing after taste. 

Just like everyone has a different taste, various green tea drinkers will find out with time with regard to what tea vessel they prefer to use, how much leaves to put in (even how to add the leaves as described above), what water temperature is best for the green tea they prefer and how long to brew their favourite green tea(s).

In summary, green tea brewing process is to be explored, experimented, enjoyed and perfected. The chart of thermometer for water temperature, spoon for amount of leaves and timer for brewing time is not how you create your desirable cup.