Green tea is a popular stomach-soothing beverage that also doubles as a natural health remedy for countless ailments. For thousands of years, the Camellia sinensis plant has been utilized in herbal wellness rituals across the globe, including the ancient Indonesian practices of Jamu.
At a glance
To make the most of this beloved Southeastern Asian brew, you need to know the proper techniques behind crafting a cup of it. That way, you can indulge in a robust and delectable flavor profile while enjoying the many wellness benefits green tea has to offer.
Keep reading, and we'll share everything you need to know about green tea and making the perfect cup at home.
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What is green tea?
Legends say that the practice of drinking green tea originated in China in 2737 BC when several tea tree leaves fell into the Emperor of China's cup of hot water. Later, this relaxing and refreshing beverage spread to India when Chinese monks traveled to spread the word of Buddhism.
Green tea is often used in many cultures and customs around the globe. One prominent example of the usage of green tea is found in the ancient Indonesian wellness customs of Jamu.
Green tea in the herbal wellness rituals of Jamu
Green tea is one of the many natural ingredients used in the Jamu health and wellness rituals. From health-boosting Jamu beverages to this age-defying Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner, there are many ways that Jamu has utilized natural elements like green tea in order to promote better health and wellness.
The book JAMU LIFESTYLE: Indonesian Herbal Wellness Tradition explores the many ways that the natural elements of Jamu can be used to enhance your daily life in a modern, fast-paced world.
Whether you want to indulge in a nature-fresh healthy drink or experiment with plant-based skincare cream, you can find your path with Jamu.
True teas versus herbal teas
Green tea is one of the most popular steamy beverages in the world and is a staple in many cultures and customs. This type of tea is one of the five types of true teas out there, in addition to tea types like black tea, white tea, and oolong tea.
True tea, also referred to as real tea, is naturally caffeinated and made directly from the leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant.
Herbal teas, on the other hand, have minimal caffeine content and are created from an assortment of natural herbs. Herbal teas are made with the entirety of the Camellia sinensis plant, including the stems, roots, leaves, flowers, or rhizomes.
Sencha
Japanese green teas usually have a subtly sweet flavor and come in a pronounced light green shade.
Sencha is one of the most popular types of Japanese green tea and accounts for about 60% of the green tea that is produced in Japan. It's the traditional steamed green tea of Japan and has a refreshing and sweet flavor.
Sencha can be paired with popped or roasted rice kernels in order to create genmaicha tea. Genmaicha has a heartwarming toasty flavor and has natural caffeine, making it a good tea choice to replace your regular coffee brew with.
Hojicha
Instead of being steamed, hojicha tea is roasted in porcelain pots.
This distinctive type of green tea comes from reddish brown leaves instead of the common vivid jade green leaves. It's best when served with a meal and has a rich, robust flavor profile.
Jasmine green tea
Jasmine green tea is merely jasmine flower-flavored green tea.
It's an herbal brew and one of the most popular Chinese green teas. Jasmine-flavored green tea also contains a higher concentration of catechins and has a sweet, fragrant taste.
Flavored green teas like jasmine tea are often created with a green tea base and then additional flowers, herbs, or even citrus fruits in order to craft an enjoyable and vibrant taste.
Other types of flavored green teas include lavender green tea and mint green tea.
Matcha green tea powder
If you're looking to make green tea without any bitterness or unpleasantness, it's worthwhile to consider brewing yourself a mug of matcha green tea.
Matcha is perhaps the sweetest green tea type available and is often used in traditional Japanese ceremonies.
Matcha tea powder comes from whole-ground tea leaves and has a rich, full-bodied flavor. However, the profoundly sweet taste it has isn't the only enjoyable aspect of this green tea powder.
Often hailed as the "king of green teas," matcha also has a higher nutritional value than regular tea, and some sources even claim that it has one hundred times more antioxidants than standard green tea.
The health benefits of green tea
Green tea is made from the unfermented leaves of the Camellia sinensis plant and contains a very high concentration of health-boosting antioxidants.
The antioxidants in green tea, known as polyphenols, are the foundation behind the many health benefits of green tea.
Green tea is chock full of a type of polyphenol known as catechins. The primary catechins found in green tea include epicatechin (EC), epigallocatechin (EGC), epicatechin-3 gallate (ECG), and epigallocatechin-3 gallate (EGCG).
EGCG is the most powerful of these catechins and is a very potent antioxidant.
How do the antioxidants in green tea help your health?
Your body will naturally develop free radicals over time. Though not all free radicals can damage your health, they are often the primary culprit behind things like premature aging, heart disease, and cancers.
Antioxidants are found naturally in plenty of fruits and vegetables, in addition to green teas. And these antioxidants are the superheroes that help to curb the disastrous effects of free radicals.
Free radicals are unstable molecules that can float around and negatively impact other healthy cells. But antioxidants are able to work to neutralize these unstable cells so that they don't cause undue harm to the rest of your body.
Drinking green tea for better cognitive function
Though green tea can help with soothing an upset stomach or relaxing inner tension, the proven health benefits of green tea can go much deeper than that.
A research paper from 2017 has found that when you drink green tea, you are able to improve your cognition, mood, and brain function. It is believed that this is due to the caffeine and L-theanine found in green tea.
Another study in 2020 found that green tea was linked to lower markers related to Alzheimer's disease.
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Green tea can help with managing blood sugar levels and preventing heart disease
The benefits of green tea also extend to your overall wellness. This warm beverage has been shown to potentially be able to temporarily reduce blood sugar.
Regularly drinking green tea can also potentially lower one's risk of heart disease by managing blood pressure.
How to brew green tea at home from sachets
When it comes to making your own green tea at home, it's important to find the right method for you. If you're looking for convenience, it's likely best if you brew your green tea from sachets.
Tea bags allow you to make green tea on the go and also quickly. The first step in this process is making sure you have the perfect green tea blend.
A soothing and relaxing blend of sencha green tea
The Soothing Island Comfort Green Tea from JUARA is the premium choice of green tea sachets for those looking to indulge and unwind with a single cup.
Carefully crafted with an uplifting blend of refreshing ginger, fruity pineapple, and organic green tea leaves, this calming brew is the ultimate way to relax in the comfort of your own home.
To perfectly brew these green tea bags for a rich, full-bodied flavor, start by bringing some water to a full boil. Pour the boiling water over a tea bag, and let it steep for one to three minutes. You can serve this green tea hot or iced, and you can also add honey, agave nectar, or another natural sweetener for some extra flavor.
How to make loose-leaf green tea at home
If you're looking to experience the full potential of your favorite green tea recipe, you should try to brew green tea leaves. To prepare green tea this way, start by boiling water to a water temperature of 185℉. Then, fill your tea pot with eight to ten ounces of hot water.
Measure your loose green tea leaves so that there is about one teaspoon of loose tea leaves for every eight to ten ounces of hot water. After you add your loose leaves to the hot water, steep it for at least three minutes.
The steeping time can vary based on how strong you want your brew to be - if you want a stronger green tea taste, try to steep your brew for a few extra minutes.
Strategically use your tea strainer so that you can make the most of each cup
After you steep green tea, place a basket strainer over your cup. As you pour your brewed green tea, the strainer will catch the tea leaves as they fall.
If you plan to drink all of your brewed loose-leaf tea, you can instead place the loose leaves in a strainer inside of the teapot, so that you can easily remove them once your steeping time is up.
How to make iced green tea
If you are looking to make a refreshing and revitalizing cup of iced green tea, the process is simple. Just make green tea as outlined above, and then allow it to cool. Be sure not to over-steep your tea. After it's cooled, add some ice cubes and serve cold.
Final thoughts
Making a mug of hot green tea with the best flavor doesn't need to be challenging. With this guide, making tea at home will help soothe your stomach and boost your health. It's a simple way to enhance your healthy lifestyle!
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