How to make green tea taste good? Here are 12 ways

I hated the bitter taste of green tea initially. Now, it’s my go to drink. In this article, I share 12 ways you can make your green tea taste good.

The first time I had green tea, I wanted to run to the nearest sink and spit it out. I couldn’t bear the bitter taste that came with it and my taste buds decided to hang itself to death.

I’d say green tea’s flavor profile waste a little too earthy to my liking. Depending on the brewing time and the leaves I used, I also got a grassy taste to it.

But since you can’t overlook the green tea health benefits such as improving your metabolic rate and reducing the risk of a poor heart, I spent the next 3 months trying different methods, a variety of tea blend, and multiple steaming process to make the green tea not taste bitter.

Here are a few techniques I follow that you can use to make your green tea taste better.

12 ways to make your green tea taste better

1. Buy Better Quality Green Tea Leaves

Quality begets quality. Nobody can deny that. The true flavour of green tea comes from high quality leaves and not from the tea bags or green tea powder that we purchase in the super market.

While tea bags definitely provide convenience, most of them contain broken tea leaves and dust from the manufacturing factories, and are often adulterated. Moreover, tea bags restrict the leaves to expand and infuse flavour into your tea. Tea leaves need enough room to expand to let the water do its job.

Your best bet for a more tastier green tea is to buy quality tea leaves in loose quantities (look for “Loose tea leaves”) directly from a reputable supplier or online store. You will get better value for money as well as freshness.

If you have never tried buying loose-leaf tea before, it may seem like an intimidating task at first but once you start using them, you’ll be hooked!

Related read: Different types of green tea to lead a healthy life

2. Steep green tea with cooler water

When steeping hot water over boiling temperature, the tannins present in the tea leaves oxidise which gives the bitter aftertaste. Steeping cold water helps preserve the antioxidants and polyphenols present in the tea leaves. The cooler water also makes the green tea more refreshing when consumed.

Add 20g of loose green tea leaves into a pitcher along with about 67 ounces of room temperature water and let it sit for roughly 8 hours. You can then go ahead and drink it or put it into the fridge to chill a bit before drinking. Hope that helps you.

3. Add honey

Honey adds natural sweetness to any drink. And this goes double for green tea. Adding some honey to your green tea will help balance the acidity level of the beverage. Honey contains fructose which acts as a natural sweetener.

Fructose doesn’t raise blood sugar levels so it does not cause insulin spikes. In fact, studies show that adding honey to green tea actually lowers blood glucose levels by increasing satiety.

Make sure you add real honey though.

4. Don’t boil your green tea

The water temperature you use to brew will affect the flavour of green tea. When leaves are infused with hot water, they tend to give off a metallic smell and contribute a great deal to the bitter flavor. Boiling also destroys all the beneficial compounds present in the tea leaves such as catechins, amino acid, vitamins, etc.

If you want the best flavour, brew green tea at 60 degree celsius for no longer than 2–3 minutes or at 80 degree celsius for only a minute. Instead of boiling your green tea, bring the water to a rolling boil and pour it on top of the tea leaves. Remember, both the temperature and the brew time play a big role in how your green tea tastes.

5. Add lemon to your green tea

Lemon juice has been used for centuries to add more flavor to food. If you have ever had lemonade, then you know what I am talking about. The same principle applies when making green tea. Adding lemon juice makes the drink much sweeter and gives it an extra kick. You should use fresh lemons because they contain less sugar than bottled ones.

To get started with adding lemon juice, simply cut up two slices of lemon into small pieces and place them inside a glass jar. Then fill the rest of the space with boiling water. Let the mixture sit overnight before serving. This step helps infuse all of the flavors from the lemon into the water.

If you want to take it even further, try putting the whole piece of lemon inside the jar instead of just cutting it up first.

You can also experiment with other citrus fruits such as lime, orange, grapefruit, etc. They work very similarly to lemon but their tastes vary slightly so keep experimenting until you find something that works best for you.

6. Spice it up by experimenting with flavours

There are countless ways to spice up your green tea. Here are three ideas that you can experiment with:

• Cinnamon — Cinnamon adds a warm aroma to your tea. Just remember to only use ground cinnamon since powdered spices tend to burn easily. Also, never heat cinnamon directly over fire. Instead, stick it inside a pan and let it simmer until it becomes fragrant. Once done, pour the cinnamon oil over your tea.
• Vanilla Extract — Vanilla extract brings a rich sweetness to your tea. All you need to do is add a few drops of vanilla extract to your cup. Be careful though; too much vanilla can overpower the natural flavour of the tea.
• Honey — Honey provides a nice balance between bitter and sweet and acts as a natural sweetener. When combined with green tea, honey creates a smooth blend that goes down easy. Plus, honey contains antioxidants that help fight against cancer cells.
• Sugar — Sugar acts as both a preservative and flavouring agent. Since green tea doesn’t naturally have caffeine content, you shouldn’t worry about consuming too much sugar. But if you feel like upping the ante, then you can certainly add a pinch of brown sugar to your brew. Brown sugar packs a lot of calories, however, so proceed carefully!
• Related read: How many calories are there in a cup of tea?
• Cardamom Seeds — Cardamom seeds are native to India and Sri Lanka. Their distinct fragrance pairs perfectly with green tea. In fact, cardamom seeds were once used to treat stomach ailments back in ancient times. Today, they continue to serve as a digestive aid.

7. Use fresh herbs in your green tea

Herbal teas are becoming increasingly popular these days. They offer many health benefits such as weight loss, increased energy levels, improved digestion, etc. One thing that herbalists recommend is to always buy organic herbs whenever possible. Organic herbs tend to be fresher and stronger tasting than their non-organic counterparts.

One herb that works really well with green tea is mint. Adding peppermint leaves in your green tea gives it a refreshing flavor and packs a powerful punch thanks to menthol oils.

( Pro tip: If you ever get the chance, buy the Moroccan Mint to give your tea that little bit extra oomph of freshness.)

Mint leaves are very refreshing on hot summer afternoons so why not put them in your cup? Simply chop up several sprigs of mint and throw them into a pot filled with boiling water. Allow the mixture to steep for at least 10 minutes before straining out any remaining bits of leaf.

You can also add mint leaves after the brewing is complete. Mint will give the tea its characteristic flavour but won’t affect how long the tea lasts. If you want more of an effect from the mint, try adding some honey as well. Use fresh mint instead of dried mint. Fresh mint leaves have much stronger flavours than their dry counterparts.

Another option would be rosemary. Rosemary also tastes delicious but it does require a bit more work.

First, remove the stems from the rosemary leaves. Next, wash off the dirt and sand that might still be stuck onto the leaves. Finally, dry the leaves thoroughly before placing them in a bowl full of boiling water. Steep the leaves for 15–20 minutes before straining out the liquid.

You can also combine different types of herbs together. For example, mix equal parts of spearmint and peppermint leaves.

8. Try Different Teapots

Teapot selection plays a big role in determining the final outcome of your brew. There are three main categories of teapots — ceramic, stainless steel and enameled cast iron. Each type offers unique advantages over the others.

Ceramic pots are usually made from clay and therefore heat evenly across the surface. Stainless steel pots are easy to clean and maintain. Enameled cast iron pots last forever and retain heat extremely well.

However, each type of pot has its own set of pros and cons. So, depending on your preference, choose whichever style suits you best.

Ceramics — These pots come in various shapes and sizes. Some are designed specifically for single servings while others hold multiple cups simultaneously. Regardless of size, ceramics generally produce smoother results compared to other styles.

Stainless Steel — This material is highly durable and resistant to corrosion.

Enamel Cast Iron — Cast iron pots are heavy duty and long lasting. These pots are ideal for large quantities of tea due to their ability to withstand extreme temperatures.

9. Make your green tea into an iced tea

Instead of hot green tea, brew iced tea. Iced green tea is more refreshing and hydrating than hot ones. Just like a hot cup, brew the green tea. Bring the green tea to room temperature before you put it in the refrigerator for a few hours. When serving, add ice cubes and a couple of lemon slices to up the ante.

If you’re in the mood to experiment, try adding couple of pieces of finely cut fresh ginger.

10. Make a green tea latte

If you’re familiar with matcha latte, you know how delicious it can be. To make a green tea latte, you’ll need a strong brew to make a tea latte similar to iced tea. Your strong green tea acts as that ingredient. Simply warm up some milk and add to your tea.

If it’s necessary, you can add a little bit of sweetener to give it a sweet taste.

11. Use sugar alternatives

Whether you’re preparing your green tea with cooler water or with steeping it with hot water, you can compensate the bitter flavors by adding just a hint of stevia or other sugar alternatives.

Since stevia doesn’t contain carbohydrates nor any calories, they’re a great alternate source of sweetenerYou can also choose other natural sources of sweeteners such as jaggery or honey that can make your green tea taste better.

12. Try Different Teaspoons

When brewing green tea, you need to choose between loose tea and pre-packaged tea bags. Both options come with pros and cons. Loose tea tends to cost slightly more per ounce while tea bags usually cost significantly less. On top of that, loose tea allows you to control exactly how strong you want your beverage to be.

However, tea bag varieties often include additives like milk powder which give the tea a creamy texture. These ingredients don’t necessarily affect the overall quality of the tea itself, but they definitely change the taste. To avoid having to deal with those issues, consider trying different kinds of teaspoons. Some people prefer wooden spoons over plastic ones. Others enjoy stainless steel spoons. Whichever type you decide to go with, keep in mind that each spoon offers a unique experience.

For instance, if you find yourself craving something sweet, then you might want to opt for a metal teaspoon rather than wood. Wood absorbs moisture whereas metals won’t. As a result, you will end up getting a drier sip.

On the other hand, if you love the idea of steeping your tea in milk, then you might want a wooden spoon. Wooden spoons allow you to stir the contents without disturbing the bottom layer of foam.

Finally, if you feel like experimenting, then you can always purchase both types of spoons and see which kind you prefer best.

Conclusion

There are plenty of ways to enhance the flavor of green tea. By following these tips, you can create a variety of new recipes that suit your preferences perfectly.

Experimenting with different combinations of ingredients will give you endless possibilities. Just remember to follow the basic rules outlined above.

Originally published at https://acozydrink.com on September 7, 2021.