Green Tea Recipe

Heat water

Measure 2 cups (about 480 ml) of fresh cold water. Heat the water until it reaches 160–180°F (70–80°C). If you don't have a thermometer, bring water to a full boil, then remove from heat and let sit 2–3 minutes to cool slightly.

Preheat teapot/cup

Pour a small amount of the hot water into your teapot or teacup, swirl to warm the vessel, then discard the warming water. This helps maintain proper brewing temperature.

Steep tea leaves

Place 2 tsp of green tea leaves into an infuser, teapot, or directly into the cup. Pour the heated water (160–180°F / 70–80°C) over the leaves. Steep for 1.5–3 minutes: shorter (1.5–2 min) for a lighter, sweeter cup; longer (2.5–3 min) for a fuller flavor. Avoid steeping longer than 3 minutes to prevent bitterness.

Strain and serve

Remove the infuser or strain the leaves from the cup/teapot. Pour tea into cups. Taste and adjust if desired.

Sweeten

If you prefer a sweeter tea, stir in up to 1 tsp honey or sugar while the tea is hot so it dissolves easily. Adjust to taste.

Add lemon or mint

For a bright note, add 1 tsp fresh lemon juice to the brewed tea and stir. For a cooling herbal accent, bruise 3–4 fresh mint leaves between your fingers and add them to the cup or teapot during the last 30 seconds of steeping, or use them as a garnish.

Matcha (powdered green tea) variant

If using matcha powder instead of loose leaf, sift 1–2 tsp matcha into a bowl. Add 2 tbsp (30 ml) of hot water (160–175°F / 70–80°C) and whisk briskly in a zigzag motion until smooth and frothy. For a matcha latte, heat and froth 1 cup milk and pour over the whisked matcha; sweeten if desired.

Iced green tea

Brew green tea following the basic method but use double the tea leaves (4 tsp for 2 cups) and steep for the shorter end of the time range. After steeping, strain and let cool to room temperature, then refrigerate until cold. Serve over ice and add lemon or sweetener to taste.