4 Steps to Make Super Green Tea
Hi guys! Mrs. Wada is here to share something. Do you like green tea? In the company I’m working at, one of the benefits I get is free green tea. I’m not sure if this applies to other Japanese companies. Even knowing the possible benefits of drinking green tea, I usually just skip it. It’s not that I don’t like it but whenever I drink one at work I get jumpy. And to feel that way throughout the day is not such a good idea. But just the other day, my favorite Japanese TV show Tameshite Gatten featured what they called “Super Green Tea.”
Contents
What is “Super Green Tea”?
Super Green Tea is not another kind of green tea. According to the show, a regular green tea can be turned into a Super Green Tea by brewing it with iced water, no hot water. Yes, Super Green Tea is cold brew green tea.
What makes it super, you may ask? Below is the list of benefits you can get from cold brew green tea, the “Super Green Tea.”
Benefits of Super Green Tea
- 50 percent more umami compared to the usual way of preparing green tea
- more epigallocatechin (EGC) that helps rejuvenate the immune system
- less bitterness and almost no caffeine
- ideal drink for hot weather
The benefits mentioned above can be attained by brewing the green tea in low temperature (4 degrees and below) and short period of time (5 minutes). With almost no caffeine, you can drink more and get more of those cathechins. Of course, drinking too much, just like any other cold drinks, is not good for the body and will give you reserve effect instead.
How to make “Super Green Tea” (Cold Brew Green Tea)?
Alright, here’s how to make Super Green Tea.
Ingredients
– 100 ml of iced water
– 10 grams of green tea leaves
That’s the pack of green tea leaves I got from our visit in Shizukatei Tea Garden in Kobe.
Shizukatei: Hidden Tea Garden in Kobe, Japan – The Wadas On Duty
Steps
1. Put the green tea leaves into the tea pot.
2. Add the iced water.
3. Wait for 5 minutes (and not more than that!). Make sure all leaves are soaked.
4. Strain and serve!
Third round. A bit lighter in color.
Tips: Do not leave the tea leaves soaked for more than 5 minutes or else it will be too thick, bitter and tastes, hmmm, not my liking. Just like what happened on my first try, below.
To prepare large quantity
If you want to make more, prepare 1-liter of iced water and put 10 grams green tea leaves packed in a tea filter paper. Refrigerate and let it soak for 30~40 minutes. After that, shake the container lightly, take out the filter paper and serve! Be sure not to soak it too long to prevent the bitter taste from coming out.
We’re not done yet. There’s more!
Do not throw the used green tea leaves, you can use for a hot green tea and you will get all the remaining cathechins from it. No waste, right? For me, that makes it a Super Green Tea.
Many people might prefer to drink green tea hot, but for people like me who have low tolerance of caffeine, following this method is one way to enjoy green tea and its benefits. Cold brew green tea for the upcoming summer!
What do you think? Do you like your green tea hot or cold? Give this one a try even for once and let me know how it goes.
If you like drinking coffee also, you might like to check out some tips below that I got from the same TV show.
Make your instant coffee tastes better – The Wadas On Duty
Hm. Interesting, but I think I’ll stick w hot tea.
Yeah, I got the same comments from other people too. I like my sushi with hot tea…which reminds me that even though I drink a lot of it when I’m at kaiten-sushi, I don’t get jumpy after. Weird.
This is a great post and very useful too! Thanks for sharing. I love green tea and will definitely try it out. I don’t mind the tea being iced or hot. It’s just as good for me!!
Sorry, there was a typo in my name. It should be Peggy! 🙂
Got it! Thanks for dropping by Peggy.
Thanks for your comment! I hope you’ll like it. Just don’t forget not to soak the tea leaves/bag too long. I often forget to take it out, resulting to a thicker taste. But I can always make another batch using the same tea bag. It’s my regular drink at work now. 🙂
Charming post — is there a genmaicha brand you like? It has close to non-existent levels of caffeine, if I am correct.
Thanks! About genmaicha, at my workplace, we stock up either regular green tea or genmaicha , both Ito-en, so I don’t usually buy for myself and the only brand I’m familiar with. Interestingly though, just recently I found new product of genmaicha made from Okayama. But I haven’t tried it yet. I do like the aroma of genmaicha. 🙂 How about you? You have a particular brand that you like?