Green tea

The tea plant, an unassuming evergreen shrub native to Asia, could arguably be called a celebrity in the plant kingdom. The beverage prepared from its leaves has been known for thousands of years. It became an integral part of Asian culture and eventually spread to every corner of the world, winning over many hearts. We are talking about green tea, or "true" tea.

Green tea is very popular in its homeland, East and Southeast Asia. The local tropical and subtropical climate suits the tea plant perfectly, which is why many hills and mountains are covered in terraced tea gardens. China and Japan are among the leading tea producers. However, green teas from Vietnam are also popular for their delicious taste and reasonable price.

Green tea has many varieties

They differ in leaf appearance, infusion color, and taste. Teas from individual plantations have their own distinct character—depending on the type of tea bush and place of origin, they have specific flavors, quality, and appearance. But one thing connects them all. To create green tea, the oxidation of the tea leaves must be stopped after harvesting. This is done using heat, steaming, or pan-firing. This preserves the delicate aroma and a range of substances beneficial to the human body—antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and more. Thanks to the high content of these substances in the tea leaves, green tea infusion is considered a very healthy drink. Once the leaves are dried, nothing stands in the way of preparing an invigorating beverage with greenish to golden hues.

To prepare a truly delicious infusion from loose-leaf tea, young tea leaves are harvested. It is important to maintain their freshness so they do not lose their enchanting aroma and distinct taste. That is why we pack only guaranteed fresh tea for you. After pouring hot water over them, the tea leaves unfurl and begin to release their full flavor and captivating scent. Many tea drinkers have fallen in love not only with the taste of the resulting brew but also with the alchemy of its preparation.

If you crave more information, you can find it in our tea guide.

If you are wondering whether to prefer loose-leaf tea over bagged tea, don't hesitate for another moment! Loose-leaf tea is healthy and tastes excellent; once you taste it, you will be hooked. Find a moment for yourself in your daily routine and enjoy a cup of quality tea. Make tea preparation your own little personal ritual. If you don't know how to do it, here is a simple guide:

Guide to preparing green tea

• You will need a glass infuser, tea strainer (ideally a bamboo one), and a teapot.
• Never pour boiling water over quality loose-leaf green tea! Use 70°C water for the first infusion. Boiling water would destroy the vitamins and cause a bitter and astringent taste.
• Steep the tea for 2 to 3 minutes. For the first infusion, two minutes is better; for subsequent infusions, it is appropriate to increase the water temperature and steeping time.
• You can steep quality loose-leaf tea repeatedly. Each type of tea requires a different preparation time and water temperature. Generally, however, the ideal for most green teas is:
  
  First infusion 70°C for 2 minutes
  Second infusion 80°C for 2 - 3 minutes
  Third infusion 90°C for 3 minutes
• Green tea infusion usually has a very light yellow to yellow-green color. The correct taste should be refreshing, slightly astringent, and full of rich flavor notes.