What is Green Tea? | Brewing Fundamentals
Keen to learn about the most popular drink in the world (after water) We have got your covered.

Lets first walk you through on what Green Tea is

Green tea is the most popular drink in the world (after water). And like all tea types, it comes from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.

Green tea is a type of tea that comes from the Camellia sinensis plant. Green tea has been around for centuries and was once used as a medicinal herb. Green tea is popular for its health benefits, including preventing cancer and promoting healthy skin and hair.

So what makes green tea so good? It all has to do the way is processed. While black teas and oolongs are oxidized, green tea leaves undergo a firing step (either pan-fired or steamed) to fix the tea’s flavour and to stop the air from darkening the leaves, so that beautiful jade colour stays intact. This results in vibrant flavours that range from bright, vegetal and nutty to buttery and umami-rich.

Explore our Green T's

A Litte Bit of History

Green tea has a long and textured history, dating back thousands of years. It is one of the oldest beverages in the world, and its popularity is only increasing. Though its origins are unknown, it is thought to have originated in China. From there, it spread throughout Asia and eventually to Europe.

Today, green tea is enjoyed worldwide for its many health benefits and refreshing taste.

Sensational Sencha - Traditional High Grade Japanese Green Tea

What does green tea taste like?

Green tea has a typical refreshing, vegetal and grassy taste. Within the green tea categorie, there are two that are the most populair. These are the green teas from Japan namely Sencha and Gyokuro. These green teas are steamed, which gives them a sweet, buttery and grassy rich umami taste. On the other hand we have Chinese green teas. Chinese green teas are pan-fired, whihc makes them more vegetal and nuttier in taste.

Besides these pure green teas, there is also a world of green tea blends. from lightly jasmine scented teas like Jasmine tea, Rose Meets Jasmine and Jasmine Pearls to fresh and fruity blends like the Lychee Lady which make super delicious iced teas – we even have a green tea-based silk road chai. Explore our selection of pure green teas, traditional teas with a twist and exciting new green tea blends to find the one you like the best.

Explore our Green T's

Gyokuro - Rare Japanese Shade Grown Green Tea

Interesting Facts about Green Tea

Green tea is a popular drink that has many potential health benefits. Here are some interesting facts about green tea:

High in Antioxidants

Green tea contains high antioxidants, which can help fight disease and improve overall health.

Improve Brain Function

Green tea may help improve brain function and reduce the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

Supports Healthy Lifestyle

Green tea can also help burn fat, lose weight, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

Health Benefits

Drinking green tea can also provide other health benefits, such as reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease.

The Benefits of Drinking Green Tea

Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks on the planet. That is also the reason why we use also use green tea in our wellness collection energy-boosting blends. Another interesting benefit, Green tea is very high in L-theanine. L-theanine helps in increasing focus and mindfulness. That is one of the reasons why top athletes drink a lot of green tea.

With its energizing and hydrating properties, it’s the perfect drink to sip on during a workout – especially iced.

How much caffeine is in Green Tea?

In essence, all tea contain caffeine but If you are looking for a lighter delicious refreshing way to get that caffeine boost you are craving, green tea is the the one for you.

Why? well green tea contains between 15-45 mg of caffeine per 250ml cup, which is about half the amount found in black tea.

Compared to coffee, green tea contains a lot less caffeine than an average cup of coffee. Because coffee holds on average 140 mg of caffeine per cup. If you want to lower your daily dose of caffeine, try Hojicha instead of your morning coffee. Hojicha has a nice toasty flavour and helps you increase energy levels and alertness.

How to brew perfect green tea - temperature & steeping time

Usually when we people talk about the taste of grene tea, they do not like it because they the tea tastes too bitter and astringent. But by adjusting two little steeping parameters – water temperature and steeping time – even the most difficult green tea dislikers can fall passionately in love with this terrific tea type.

What we don't know is that green tea leaves (like white tea leaves) are sensitive. If you put the green tea leaves in water with temparature above 80 degrees leaves will burn. This releases an excess of tannins, which is what causes that bitter taste. Steep green tea too long, and the same thing will happen. No worries, we will explain what you can do to prevent your green tea from turning bitter.

1. Water Temparature

Using the right water temperature is the first tip in making your perfect brew.. Depending on the tea, this means water between 75ºC (170ºF) and 85ºC (185ºF). What if you don’t have a thermometer by hand? No worries, boil your water like normal and let it cool down for 5-8 minutes. This should be enough time for the water to cool down to the right temp. Alternatively, if you’re boiling water in a pot, a good visual cue is when the water starts to form small bubbles.

2. Steeping Time

Tip number 2 for the perfect green tea brew is the time you take to steep the green leaves. We love to steep it not to long in order to keep the sweet flavour. Steep your green leaves between 1 to 3 minutes, and you’ll immediately notice a difference in taste. Your green tea will be light yet flavourful, you will taste the subtle notes instead of the bitterness.

Follow these simple steps, and we promise you, you’ll learn to love green tea!