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Which Green Tea is Best: Loose leaf green tea or tea bags?
Which green tea is best? So much research is out about the healthful benefits of drinking green tea, but can we get the same healthful benefits as well as flavour and aroma from a green tea bag as from loose leaf green tea?
Before I lived in Japan, I used to enjoy tea, but usually bought the supermarket variety. I didn't know the difference in taste and flavour until I tried freshly brewed loose green tea. It was then that I answered the question which green tea is best.I think most people who buy green tea in the tea bag form, are looking for convenience. I used to think of the time needed to brew a pot of green tea, and then cleaning and disposing of the green tea. The tea bag seemed so much easier and convenient. The truth is, it may be a little more convenient, but the couple of minutes it takes to brew a pot of green tea is well worth it. Ever wondered what kind of tea is in a tea bag?We're so used to grabbing a tea bag and making a quick cup of tea, we never stop to think about what is really in each tea bag. At least this was the case for me, until I tore open a bag one day.After tearing open the tea bag I saw tiny bits of tea, it was then not hard to realise why the tea had an average taste. I did some research and found out that it is just the left-overs after the sifting of loose leaf green tea, that is put into tea bags. This is called 'dust' in the tea industry. Because the tea leaves have been broken into such small pieces, it really has little health value, or flavour factor.This might be alright if you mask the flavour with honey, milk and sugar. But unlike black tea, green tea is usually drunk unaltered, so the tea drinker can enjoy the aroma and full flavour of the brew. What about pyramid-shaped tea bags?
In the last couple of years, a new pyramid-shaped tea bag has come onto the market, and has gained popularity over the flat-shaped regular variety of tea bags. It is sometimes made from nylon or silk.It definately allows for a greater depth of flavour, compared with the flat, rectangular shape. This is because the pyramid-shaped tea bag can hold a longer leaf, and the shape allows the tea to expand in the hot water.And of course it is easier to dispose of, but the answer to the question which green tea is best? -is still the same... Why is loose leaf green tea best?
When you brew a fresh pot of green tea, you can actually see the tea leaves unfurl in front of your eyes. You can see the rich green colur envelope the teapot. You can appreciate the aroma, this certainly doesn't happen when I use a green tea bag!Of course, there are various grades of tea, and this will influence the flavour and aroma of your tea. But you can customise your tea, to suit your taste. This is what I most like about brewing my own tea. I also like the fact that I can re-brew my tea at least twice, and enjoy a flavoursome cup of tea. I no longer care about the time it takes to brew a pot of tea. I know that the tea bag can never compare with a freshly brewed pot of tea. I hope I have helped to answer: which green tea is best? If you want to buy premium loose leaf green tea, direct from Japan-do it here. Return from Which green tea is best? home to Japan-Green-Tea.com
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