BREWING GUIDE

Great tea begins before the leaves ever touch the water. A few simple principles will help you unlock the full depth of flavor in every cup.

Start with Good Water

Japanese green tea — especially light-steamed varieties — is remarkably sensitive to water quality. Use clean, soft water with low mineral content to let the leaves express their full character. Filtered or spring water is ideal.

Tip: Bring water to a full boil for about 3 minutes to drive off chlorine, but avoid over-boiling — flat water makes flat tea.

Mind the Temperature

Water that is too hot is the most common cause of bitter Japanese tea. After boiling, let the water cool — or pour it into a yuzamashi (cooling pitcher) or your cups first. This also warms the cups so your tea stays hot longer after serving.

General rule: the higher the grade, the lower the temperature. Our Premium Midori brews beautifully at just 50°C.

Balance Leaf & Water

The amount of leaf relative to water shapes everything — strength, sweetness, and how many infusions you can enjoy. More leaf with less water gives a concentrated first cup and many rounds of resteeping. Less leaf produces a lighter, more casual brew.

A good starting point: 2 heaped teaspoons of leaf to 100–200 ml of water.

Enjoy Multiple Infusions

Unlike many Western teas, quality Japanese green tea reveals new flavors with each steeping. The first is rich and sweet; the second opens up into brighter, more aromatic territory. Raise the water temperature slightly and shorten the steep time with each round.

Our organic teas can typically yield 3–4 distinct infusions from a single serving of leaf.

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These Are Guides, Not Rules

Every tea holds a spectrum of flavors waiting to be explored. Lower your temperature for more sweetness, raise it for more body. Adjust your leaf ratio, experiment with steep times, and pay attention to what you enjoy. The best cup of tea is always the one that tastes right to you.

Brewing by Tea Type

Each category has its own ideal parameters. Use the guides below as your starting point, then adjust to taste.