Bitter, harsh and grassy — that’s how many describe the taste of green tea!
Those who aren’t a fan of this oriental concoction may be wondering why some people love green tea despite its detestable flavour. Or, maybe, they are wondering how to make green tea taste good so they can love it too.
It’s true – not everyone loves green tea because of its rather unlikeable taste. But this bitter flavor can only be expected if your cup of green tea was not prepared properly. Usually, teas that have been steeped for too long or were not rinsed properly before brewing have that unpalatable flavor. There are a lot of factors that can affect the overall taste of your green tea – from the steeping time to the temperature of the water.
Before you make the next cup of tea, let’s take a look at some ways on how to make green tea taste good but still be healthy.
Brewing the best green tea
In order to make the best green tea, you need the right temperature of water and an ample brewing time. In traditional cultures in the Orients, particularly in China and Japan, tea is regarded highly. They celebrate tea culture and tea ceremonies. Tea connoisseurs have mastered the art of preparing different teas.
But today, with the availability of different green tea products, you don’t necessarily have to be a tea master to concoct a great green tea. Ready-to-mix products like the Matcha Green Tea Powder are intended for everyone to enjoy. Guaranteed organic, this tea powder is very easy to prepare and also very versatile you can use it to make a green tea shot recipe.
If you choose to go a little more traditional and use green tea leaves, you have to be a little careful with the preparation or else the tea would taste bitter. The temperature of the water is very important in making a great tasting cup of tea. Brewing the green tea leaves in a very hot water will result in a bitter, less aromatic tea. After the water boils, let it cool down to at least 80 to 90 degree Celsius before putting the tea leaves. Let the leaves brew for about 3-4 minutes. Meanwhile, if using tea bags, it should brew within 2-3 minutes.
Once done, immerse the tea concoction in a cool water bath to until it’s cool enough to drink. Consume it immediately. Avoid vigorously stirring the green tea as it will turn the concoction brown. Think of a sliced apple and exposed to air – it turns brown after a few minutes.
If you’re looking for ways on how to make green tea taste good, chances are, you are preparing it improperly. Following our tips on how to brew your green tea should do magic.
How to make your green tea taste good?
Green tea is intended to be enjoyed as is – no addition. But if you want to make your green tea taste even better, then try these great tea additions.
- Lemon
Lemon is definitely one of the most popular green tea enhancements. And who doesn’t love its citrusy flavor? If you want to enjoy Lipton green tea for weight loss, adding lemon’s citrus notes should make the concoction taste better. You can even try lemon for any green tea preparations. You can try squeezing a lemon wedge into almost any blend of green tea. You can even try it in your daily cup of Matcha Organic Tea Powder. For sure, you’ll be looking forward to your morning tea sessions.
- Sweetener
Traditionally, green tea is consumed without sweetener but adding a little sweet should help banish its grassy taste. Some are asking how to sweeten green tea? You can actually use any sweetener like sugar. But if you want it to be healthier, you can add a teaspoon of honey or try stevia or agave syrup. Adding sweetener would surely make it more appealing to your palates.
- Mint
In some Mediterranean countries, green tea is enjoyed with mint. In fact, green tea plus mint is a staple in Morocco. Mint with tea is also added with sweetener. There are many commercially available tea blends that pair green tea and mint. The Lipton Green Bags Mint Pack reproduces this pairing perfectly. If you want to go natural, you can simply brew green tea leaves and add fresh spearmint.
- Herbs
Warm spices are more popularly paired with black tea blends but it should also complement the best green tea for weight loss brand and make it even more flavorful. Ginger is also a great herb to add into your tea. Its bright, spicy flavor can create a nice green tea concoction. Cinnamon and cardamom are less popular but they work well with your cup of green tea. Another favorite addition in Chinese tea ceremonies is jasmine. In fact, it’s almost always part of any dim sum meal. Dried jasmine flowers added into your green tea is simply amazing!
- Ice
Perhaps, the simplest and easily available addition to any green tea shot recipe is ice! You don’t really need to think of any fancy ways on how to make green tea taste good but still be healthy. Making your green tea taste better simply needs a short trip to the fridge and a piece of ice cube! Green tea is best served iced as it reduces the unpleasant flavor of the tea. If you find the flavor to be somehow muted, you can add a pinch of lime or citrusy flavor to give it a fresh zest! Iced teas can be served sweetened or unsweetened.
Drinking green tea shouldn’t be a pain. It should be an enjoyable experience! Green tea is a very healthy alternative to other overly sweet beverages, juices and soda. Plus, it can help you lose your weight!
Try these tricks and see how you’ll fall in love with green tea!
Happy tea drinking!
