Instructions
Step 1
Choose a green tea. Many varieties are available at specialty shops and supermarkets. When you are using an infuser, choose a loose-leaf tea. Experiment with teas until you learn their flavors; when you have sampled a few, you will have a base from which to choose a tea to suit every mood.
Step 2
Choose an infuser. The size of the infuser you need depends on the size of your brew. A small ball infuser is good for single-serving cups, but you will need a column diffuser to make a full pot. Your infuser should accommodate your leaves with ample room for them to expand while brewing.
Step 3
Prepare your water. The tea will taste better with purer water. If you have a water filter, use filtered water to brew your tea. Bring your filtered water to a boil. Allow it to boil for a few minutes, then remove from heat. Once it has settled, bring it to a boil again. Boiling imultiple times will help to remove the chlorine from the water. Green tea should steep at a temperature well below boiling so the water will not scald the leaves, which creates a bitter taste. Your tea package will tell you the best temperature for the variety of tea you have chosen. Insert the thermometer in the water and do not begin steeping until it has cooled to the recommended temperature.
Step 4
Measure your tea leaves while the tea is heating. Use the amount that the manufacturer recommends while you are first trying the tea. After you are familiar with it, you can adjust the amount of leaves for your preferred strength of tea.
Step 5
Add the tea leaves to the infuser. Make sure they have room to expand and will not be packed so tightly that the water will not be able to flow through the infuser.
Step 6
Add the infuser to the water and let the tea steep. Brew the tea according to the instructions on the package; different teas require different steeping times. Two minutes is usual. Do not leave the tea in longer than the recommended time; it will become bitter with oversteeping. If you want strong tea, use more leaves but brew for the same time.
Step 7
Pour the tea into your favorite teacup and pair it with a snack such as fruit, cookies or cake.
