Q&A for How to Make Green Tea

If this works for you in matcha, this is perfectly fine! Matcha can have a strong, bitter flavor that not everyone enjoys and the coconut cream likely tones this down and adds creaminess. Coconut is often combined with matcha for dessert dishes and baking, so if you enjoy it with match, then keep it up! The salt is also fine, it is a flavor enhancer and will also smooth out the taste.

Absolutely! If you prefer jaggery, then it's fine to add it and you'll also get the additional nutrients found in jaggery. Some devotees of jaggery believe it aids digestion but whatever the truth on that count, it does add a nice sweetness to green tea that may make it easier for you to enjoy. Add just a little to taste, it is still high in calories.

An easy fix to make green tea more refreshing is to add a few sprigs of fresh herbs to it. For example, a sprig of fresh mint or fresh basil can instantly give the green tea a lovely additional flavor that will calm the more strident flavor of the green tea. Pick the herbs fresh from your own herb garden/kitchen garden or buy them fresh, rinse gently, then add a sprig or two to the freshly made tea.

Never boil honey or lemon juice, it will ruin the nutritive values and also the taste. Add them just before sipping.

It can be, but it lowers the benefits. It's best if you drink it without sugar or milk.

Yes, it can help you lose weight by increasing your metabolism. Remember to drink it in moderation however, as too much of a good thing can quickly become a bad thing.

Yes, it is good for healthy, glowing skin, especially in the facial area.

Green tea contains caffeine, so it has all the drawbacks caffeine does, if you consider that a drawback. It does not have as much caffeine as black teas though.

Yes, you can drink it whether it is warm or cold.

The smaller pieces mean that there is a greater surface area to volume ratio and therefore faster brewing (i.e. diffusion of tea particles from the leaf to the water). A slower brewing is more desirable. Also, you get to drink the leaves, which isn't as pleasant.

Never drink green tea with empty stomach. You can consume it (approx.) 2 hours before your meal or 2 hours before sleeping. Drinking it before your meal will help your body absorb iron better from your meal.

You may reuse it, but tea contains many nutrients, which will decrease if the tea is used more than once.

Have it in the morning and/or the early afternoon. Don't drink green tea too late in the day, as it contains caffeine and may keep you up at night.

Yes you can. The process is known as cold-brewed tea. For every 1 quart of water, add 4 tea bags or 1 tablespoon of loose leaf tea. Place the tea and water in a resealable container and place in the fridge, steeping only for about 5 hours. Afterwards, remove the tea bags or strain.

Yes, it's fine to drink green tea when you have an ulcer.

No, ideally the water should neither be steaming nor lukewarm. Steeping the leaves for just 3 minutes will brew you a perfect green tea.

Yes, sugar can be added but it has less nutritional value than honey. Honey is preferable.

You can drink it 2-3 times a day, but not with an empty stomach. Drink it right before a meal or an hour after eating.

Yes, you can.

Green tea does contain a little caffeine, so kids can drink it, but should be limited to a cup or two a day.

15-20 minutes before exercise is best.

You can make as many servings as you need. Using a teabag in a teapot should make two to four cups. For stronger tea, one bag might only get you one or two servings.

Of course. You can drink it with one or the other, with neither, or with both. It all depends on your personal preferences.

It's relaxing, anti-aging and can help reduce abdominal fat. It has antioxidants, which are good against free radicals. It's a hydrating agent and can sooth throat irritations. It's also known to prevent heart diseases and cancer. Caffeine in it can boost your energy levels and perk you up. It can also be used as a skin moisturizer. It's also a mild tanning agent.

As often or as little as you like, unless you're sensitive to caffeine, in which case you should stick to three times a day at most.

Not in itself, but green tea can give you more energy for exercise, and if you like the way it tastes, then you can drink it instead of consuming unhealthier drinks. Both of these things will help make your legs thinner.

Yes, green tea is supposed to be boiled. If you are using tea leaves, then bring them to a boil with water. Use more or less tea leaves based on how strong you want your tea to be. The longer you boil the water, the strongest the concentration of tea will be as well. If you are using a steeping pack, then boil water and steep it until you get the concentration of tea you desire. Then you can discard the pack and enjoy your tea!

The only major difference is with matcha, which already has its own section of this article. With any loose-leaf tea you could try gong-fu or kung-fu style: fill a small teapot (no bigger than a coffee mug) or gaiwan about halfway with tea leaves. Pour boiling water over it and steep for only 15-30 seconds before pouring into a small cup. Keep the leaves, though, and steep them again and again until you've had enough tea, adding 10 seconds each time you do. Each cup will bring out a different component of that tea's taste. Most good green teas can be steeped at least five times this way.