Green Tea
Green tea is one of the healthiest drinks in the world, rich in antioxidants. Unlike black tea, it is not oxidized, preserving its properties. Proper preparation requires attention to water temperature and steeping time to avoid bitterness.
⏱️ Cooking Time: 3 minutes
🥘 Ingredients
- 1 teaspoon green tea (leaves or bag)
- 200ml water
- Honey or lemon (optional)
👨🍳 How to Make
- 1
Boil water and let cool for 2-3 minutes until it reaches 75-80C.
- 2
Place tea leaves or bag in cup or teapot.
- 3
Pour hot (not boiling!) water over the tea.
- 4
Steep for 2-3 minutes (no more!).
- 5
Remove bag or strain leaves.
- 6
Add honey or lemon if desired. Serve hot or iced.
🔄 Cooking Variations
| Method | Time | Description | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Matcha (powdered green tea) | 2 min | Sift 1-2g matcha, add 80ml water at 80C and whisk with a chasen (bamboo whisk) until frothy. | |
| Iced green tea | 5 min + resfriamento | Brew normally, cool, and serve with ice, lemon, and honey. |
💡 Tips
- ✦ Water should be 75-80C, NEVER boiling. Too hot water burns the leaves and creates bitterness.
- ✦ Do not steep for more than 3 minutes to avoid bitterness.
- ✦ Same leaves can be reused 2-3 times, adding 30 sec each infusion.
- ✦ Iced green tea: brew normally, cool down and serve with ice and lemon.
🧠 Did You Know?
Green tea contains L-theanine, an amino acid that promotes relaxation without drowsiness - that is why Buddhist monks use it for meditation.
All tea (green, black, white, oolong) comes from the same plant: Camellia sinensis. The difference is the processing.
🥗 Nutrition Info
One cup of green tea (200ml) without sweetener has just 1 kcal. Rich in catechins (antioxidants), vitamin C, and L-theanine.