Which green tea should you choose?
Above all, your choice of green tea determines the quality of your cup. At Kusmi, we recommend opting for organic loose-leaf green tea: Sencha, Genmaicha, Gyokuro, Bancha—each green tea has its own unique character. The organic label guarantees premium quality free from pesticides.
Discover our range of organic green teas made in Normandy!
What water temperature should you use for green tea?
The first step is naturally to heat water, but even this can be tricky. What temperature? How should you heat the water? Don't worry—here are our top tips.
The easiest method is using a kettle to heat water quickly—ideal for a tea break. Some kettles allow you to select the exact temperature; if so, choose 80°C. If using a standard kettle or saucepan, the ideal time to turn off the heat is when tiny bubbles begin to form at the bottom, just as it reaches boiling point.
Be careful not to add the tea before: bringing the water to the boil releases dissolved carbon dioxide, making your water less acidic and your green tea clearer.
Let the water rest for a few minutes, then add your green tea leaves, either in a teabag or loose-leaf. It is important to steep green tea in simmering, not boiling, water. This protects the quality of the leaves and preserves the beverage's beneficial properties.
How long should you steep green tea?
This is a key step to brewing great tea. Wondering why you shouldn't let tea steep too long? Quite simply, if green tea infuses for too long, its flavour and delicate profile are altered.
If you have opted for loose-leaf green tea, place it in the tea infuser, then immerse it in your cup. Leave the tea to steep without stirring, for at least 2 minutes and up to 5 minutes depending on your taste. Take care, however: steeping green tea for too long can release bitterness. To find the ideal infusion time for your palate, do a few tastings—the perfect excuse to enjoy tea more often! For your first try, refer to the brewing guidelines on your Kusmi Tea tin.
Then remove the tea and enjoy.
How to dose green tea
Here again, it all comes down to taste. The ideal dosage ranges between 2g and 3g per cup. Experiment a little to find the perfect amount for your palate.
Fancy giving it a go? Here are our favourite green tea recipes!
Homemade mint green tea recipe
Perfect for an afternoon break, mint tea is a true crowd-pleaser. But crafting it is an art in itself! To prepare it, you will need green tea, a bunch of fresh mint leaves, water, and sugar:
- Heat water to 80°C.
- Meanwhile, trim and wash the fresh mint leaves.
- Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of green tea to a teapot and pour in the water. Adjust the amount of tea to your taste.
- Stir to mix everything gently.
- Add the mint leaves.
- Add 1 to 3 teaspoons of sugar to taste.
- Leave to steep and enjoy!
In summer, you will also love the iced version!
Lemon green tea recipe
This lemon green tea recipe is 100% detox!
- Heat water to 80°C.
- Meanwhile, wash and cut 1 slice of lemon.
- Add 1 to 2 teaspoons of green tea to a teapot and pour in the water.
- Squeeze the lemon and leave to steep for 2 to 3 minutes.
- Enjoy!
What about matcha tea?
Matcha is a unique green tea ground into an ultra-fine powder. You do not steep matcha. Once the water is at the right temperature (between 70°C and 80°C), add about one teaspoon of matcha and whisk immediately. When the water takes on a vibrant green hue, it is ready to enjoy. Discover our tutorial to brew your matcha tea to perfection.