Letting your mind relax before diving straight into the grind is one of—if not, the best means to start the day. Unwinding your brain releases any tension you’ve been accumulating, giving you more room to take in new information and function like a well-oiled machine.
Fortunately, there are many ways to start your day relaxed, one of which is by brewing yourself a cup of green tea.
For those who don’t know, green tea is a popular staple in tea culture across Southeast Asia, particularly in Japan and China. Because not only is it used as a casual beverage, but households also brew it for formal celebrations or when hosting guests.
Green tea’s popularity rose after people discovered its numerous health benefits, such as:
- Boosting metabolism
- Reducing cholesterol
- Improves cognitive functions
- Lowers heart risks
With these many benefits, people eventually got hooked on including green tea in their daily diet. However, using any random brand of green tea you see on the shelf won’t guarantee the quality you’re expecting. If you’re interested in brewing high-quality green tea, start with a high-quality bag of tea.
- The Origin
As mentioned earlier, most Asian countries already have green tea as part of their culture. Because of its significance, they’re familiar with how to make green tea properly. However, despite its high regard, Asian countries, particularly Japan and China, have different methods of handling green tea.
Japanese green teas are much more popular, considering they’re harvested after steaming while drying them. This technique encourages Japanese green tea to be more subtle and soft instead of anything as strong as a cup of Americano. On the other hand, Chinese brewers and harvesters typically roast their tea leaves to avoid oxidization, which tampers with the tea’s benefits.
- Loose Leaf Green Tea
Since green tea’s health benefits are what hooked you into brewing a cup in the first place, opt for loose-leaf green tea (or whole-leaf tea). After all, the best quality tea you can buy is sold as loose leaf green tea, as it contains fewer toxins than bagged tea, and the range at Rare Tea Company is more ethically produced than others. Ultimately, loose-leaf green tea contains essential oils that are only found naturally from full tea leaves.
“Green Tea from Rareteacompany.com”
Admittedly, tea bags are much cheaper and easier to handle because they’re held together by a bag. However, because they’re hidden from plain sight, manufacturers find it easier to hide broken pieces of tea leaves (or ‘dusts’), which are considered rejects from the entire process. So, it’s safe to say that tea drinkers are missing out when all they’ve drunk so far is bagged tea.
- Where To Buy
Although China and Japan are the most reliable sources of high-quality green tea, that doesn’t mean you have to travel all the way there to brew the green tea you deserve to drink. Fortunately, their products have been exported all over the world. However, if you want authentic green tea, look for Japanese (or Chinese) tea shops or supermarkets.
But despite seeing them use Asian aesthetics, don’t let your guard down. Check that the tea leaves are displayed away from direct sunlight. Before picking anything, ensure you read their labels thoroughly to see whether or not they’re close to expiring. Inquire with the store clerks or owners about the products they have on display. If they only repeated what was written on the label, that’s all you need to know that they’re unfamiliar with what they’re selling, disabling them from helping you properly.
- Senses
If you ask a veteran tea brewer what green tea is supposed to taste, the first thing they’ll say is ‘fresh.’ Low-quality or aging tea leaves eventually lose everything that makes them beneficial for the body. Therefore, the fresher the leaves, the better they are. That’s why avid tea drinkers consume this beverage regularly at any time of day. Otherwise, their tea might reach its expiration date before they have their fill.
Every new tea brewer must bear in mind that green tea leaves are packed within six months only, whereas their shelf life can reach up to a year. Aside from that, use all five senses to identify other traits of its freshness. Green tea must possess a strong yet sweet aroma. As for its appearance, most green tea is typically vibrant green. Although, some are brown, like hojicha. Once you have a sip, there should be a hint of sweetness, whether it’s Japanese or Chinese green tea.
Takeaway
Because of some misconceptions about its ‘bitter taste,’ it’s safe to say that green tea is not everyone’s cup of tea. But little did they know, this popular beverage possesses various health benefits that could improve one’s lifestyle. However, this can’t happen just from drinking the first tea container they see at the market. Therefore, if you’re interested in brewing green tea, learn to buy high-quality green tea.
