SENCHA:
After you have brought the kettle to a boil allow the water to cool for about 3 minutes. The water should be hot, but not boiling, about 79 to 87 degrees Centigrade (175-190 degrees Fahrenheit). Steep for 1-2 minutes. 

HOW MUCH TO USE
Gyokuro and Sencha:
Use 1 teaspoon of  tea for every 8-12 ounces of water. 

Only brew the amount of tea you will consume immediately. If you brew 20 ounces of green tea and pour a 10 ounce cup, come back 20 minutes later and pour a second cup, the second cup will be bitter. This is why we only sell small and midsize teapots at our site. 

A Japanese teapot is recommended for practical and aesthetic purposes.

INFUSION
After you have emptied the teapot completely for the first serving, the wet leaves will not continue to steep. You can infuse the leaves again.

Sencha can be infused 2 or 3 times. 

For gyokuro We recommend no more than two infusions.

Important Note. If you make a second or third infusion, pour hot water in the teapot and then immediately pour the tea. 

Do not wait 2 minutes for it to brew again because the leaves have already been opened during the first infusion. If you wait 2 minutes to brew the second infusion the tea will become bitter. 

If the leaves sit for more than 2 hours, discard them and brew a fresh pot.

GYOKURO:
After you have brought the kettle to a boil allow the water to cool for about 5 minutes. A slightly  lower temperature of 70 to 80 degrees Centigrade (160-175 degrees Fahrenheit) is best. Steep for 2-3 minutes. 

Netto Gyokuro can accommodate higher temperatures close to boiling, we recommend letting the water cool for 3 minutes.

*These are general instructions for brewing gyokuro. For detailed instructions, including brewing our new Uji TezumiGyokuro please click here.

BOTH SENCHA AND GYOKURO:
Use 1 teaspoon of tea for every 8-12 ounces of water.

GENMAI CHA AND HOJI CHA

GENMAI CHA:
Use the same ratio of tea to water as sencha. Steep for 1 minute. Water temperature is the same as for sencha.

HOJI CHA:
Use the same ratio of tea to water as sencha. Pour boiling hot water over the leaves and brew for 40 seconds to one minute.

MATCHA-
Pour hot (but not boiling hot) water over the leaves. Use 1/2 level teaspoon of tea for 1 cup (8 ounces) of water for medium tea. 1 level teaspoon for 8 ounces of water for strong tea.

Please click here If you are interested in matcha preparation, or detailed info on our new tea ceremony sets.

TEA BAGS

GYOKURO, SENCHA, AND HOJI CHA TEA BAGS-
Place the bag in a large cup and fill the cup with hot (but not boiling) water. Gyokuro and Sencha teabags should steep for 2 minutes. Hoji cha should steep for 1 to 2 minutes.

Important -- For green tea bags- do not move the tea bag while it is steeping.  If you would like extra strong tea move the tea bag back and forth after it has steeped for 2 minutes.

For iced tea brewing instructions click here:

Preparing Iced Green Tea

©Copyright 2000 - 2009
JapaneseGreenTeaOnline.com, All Rights Reserved.