Green Tea General Brewing Guidelines
Brewing Temperature: 175° (let boiling water rest for a minute before adding tea)
Brewing Time: 1-3 minutes (any longer, the tea will become bitter)
1 tsp of loose tea per 8 oz cup

These are some of our favorite loose leaf green teas:

Teavana Gunpowder Loose Leaf Green Tea Known in China as Pearl Tea, this tea owes its name to the shape of its tightly rolled tea leaves, which early European explorers compared with the shape of gunpowder. When infused, the leaves unfurl to produce a dark-green tea with a pungent flavor and piquant fragrance. Studies show green tea aids in detoxifying the body, regulates your blood sugar, helps avoid certain cancers and promotes healthy teeth, skin, and bones. 2 oz (25-30 cups of tea) for only $4.50.

Teavana Pi Lo Chun Loose Leaf Green Tea A rare tea from the Dongting Mountains of China. Grown in the shade of apricot, plum and peach trees, the tea leaves absorb the delicate scent of the fruit blossoms. The youngest tea buds and leaves are harvested and rolled into a snail-like shape. This rare green tea is excellent, even for people who don’t generally favor green tea. 2 oz (25-30 cups of tea) for $14.00.

Teavana Sencha Loose Leaf Green Tea A high quality, everyday tea from Japan. Flat, dark green leaves with a sweet aroma and taste. Low in caffeine. High content of vitamin C. 2 oz (25-30 cups of tea) for $4.80.

Green "Gunpowder" Tea made of twisted or rolled leaves...

Gunpowder Tea is is a strong tasting form of Green Tea produced in Zhejiang Province of China in which each leaf has been rolled into a small round pellet. It is believed to take its English name from the fact that the tea resembles gunpowder pellets used for cannon, and is also sometimes called “Pearl Tea”.

 
This rolling method of shaping tea is most often applied either to dried green tea (the most commonly encountered variety outside China) or occasionally to Oolong Tea.

 
Gunpowder Tea leaves are withered, steamed, rolled, and then dried. Although the individual leaves were formerly rolled by hand, today most gunpowder tea is rolled by machines (though the highest grades are still rolled by hand).

Rolling renders the leaves less susceptible to physical damage and breakage and allows them to retain more of their flavor and aroma. The tea will unfurl when brewed, releasing its slightly smoky flavor.

Brewing Guidelines for Gunpowder Tea
Brewing Temperature: 175°
Brewing Time: 1 minute
1.5 tsp per 8 oz cup

When buying gunpowder tea it is important to look for shiny pellets, which indicate that the tea is relatively fresh. Pellet size is also associated with quality, larger pellets being considered a mark of lower quality tea. High quality gunpowder tea will have small, tightly rolled pellets.

Matcha Green Tea is a very vibrant bright green color...

Matcha is thought to be one of the healthiest teas available because the entire tea leaf is used. Only the youngest, finest tea leaves are hand picked for Matcha, and it is ground into powdered form.

This tea is used in Japanese tea ceremonies. Because Matcha Tea is powdered, instead of the typical brewing then straining method, you disolve the powder into your water to drink. The best way to accomplish this is with a Matcha whisk (see below for picture).

Matcha is a very bright green color, a result of the chlorophyll’s relationship to tannin. The younger growth of a tea plant is greener and more vibrant in color, while more developed leaves further down the plant have had their chlorophyll convert gradually into tannin, giving a more bitter flavor and duller brown-green color profile.

Brewing Guidelines for Matcha Green Tea
Brewing Temperature: 160°
1/2 tsp loose tea per 8 oz cup
Whisk Matcha briskly into water until dissolved.

Recommended Matcha Green Tea:

Teavana™ Matcha Green Tea Traditionally used in the Japanese tea ceremony, this top quality green tea powder is hand-made from the youngest Gyokuro leaves. Matcha is said to be even healthier than other green teas since it is the only tea in which the whole leaf is used. In addition, only the finest, youngest leaves are hand-picked for Matcha. If you enjoy green tea, you should try this unique, powdered tea at least once. Only $16 for 1.1 oz tin of tea (30 cups of tea).

Teavana Bamboo Matcha Whisk This helpful little wisk is made from bamboo (a renewable source) and should be be used with our cast iron teapots, aiding to brew a perfect pot of tea without scratching the enameled interior. Designed to make perfect Matcha, simply whisk briskly for a great cup! Only $3.50!

Green Tea leaves on a lovely living tea bush...

Green tea is a type of tea made solely with the leaves of Camellia sinensis, that has undergone minimal oxidation during processing.

Green Tea originates from China and has become associated with many cultures in Asia from Japan to the Middle East. Recently, it has become more widespread in the West, where Black Tea is traditionally consumed. Many varieties of green tea have been created in countries where it is grown. These varieties can differ substantially due to variable growing conditions, processing and harvesting time.

Over the last few decades green tea has been subjected to many scientific and medical studies to determine the extent of its long-purported health benefits, with some evidence suggesting regular green tea drinkers may have lower chances of heart disease and developing certain types of cancer. Green Tea has also been claimed useful for weight loss management.

MORE IMPORTANT INFO ON GREEN TEA:

• Green Tea generally begins using its flavor after about a year, so do not store for long periods of time.

Green Tea General Brewing Guidelines
Brewing Temperature: 175° (let boiling water rest for a minute before adding tea)
Brewing Time: 1-3 minutes (any longer, the tea will become bitter)
1 tsp of loose tea per 8 oz cup

• If you are new to Green Tea, a sampler like the one (below) we recommend from Adagio Teas™ is a great way to try different varieties and discover your favorites. Highly recommended!!!