Green tea is consumed all over the world for its unique flavour but also for its many virtues. It has its roots in the four corners of Asia but has spread widely across the planet to become a ritual in many civilisations. Where does this famous beverage that we so love to drink, hot or cold, come from?
Chinese green tea, centuries-old origins
Green tea is the first variety of tea to have been manufactured. There are many legends surrounding its origins, but the most famous traces its birth back nearly 5,000 years. In 2700 BC, Emperor Shennong, a great botanist and creator of traditional Chinese medicine, is said to have been the first to have come up with this famous drink. While resting in the shade of a wild tea plant, a leaf fell into his cup and created, by pure chance, a brand new beverage. Convinced by this new aroma and its benefits, he then incorporated tea into many treatments. Little by little, green tea became a luxury product and a true tradition, which then spread beyond the borders of China, and then of Asia.
How to prepare Chinese green tea?
The Chinese version is traditionally prepared in a cast iron teapot. The water temperature and steeping time are very important criteria. They must be carefully respected to obtain a quality tea. These parameters vary depending on the tea chosen. For example, Chinese green tea chun mee, which offers a gentle taste with a slight hint of bitterness, should be steeped for 2 to 3 minutes in water at 75 to 80°C. Ideally, to reduce bitterness, it is recommended to make a first infusion of 30 seconds and discard the water. Chinese green tea gunpowder, used to make the famous mint tea, generally steeps longer, for 3 to 4 minutes, at a temperature of 80°C. Purists will prefer it plain, but it is very pleasant to enjoy with a little sugar.
Japanese green tea, another legend
Japan is also a surprisingly rich source of tea varieties. Consumed for 1,500 years, matcha is the most popular Japanese tea. It is in fact an extremely fine powder obtained by grinding green tea between two stones. Legend has it that tea was brought to Japan by an Indian Buddhist monk. At the time, it was traditionally consumed boiled in milk and seasoned with salt and spices. It was in 1191 that matcha tea made its appearance in Japan and became an extremely popular drink. The tea ceremony is moreover a deeply rooted ritual in Japanese culture.
How to prepare Japanese green tea?
Japanese tea comes in a multitude of varieties. Each has its own specific preparation requirements. Among the most consumed, we find Japanese green tea sencha, which accounts for 80% of the tea produced in Japan. Characterised by its yellow colour, it offers a light aroma and a taste that is both bitter and gentle. Japanese green tea bancha is also high on the list and stands out for its high iron content. Both beverages are prepared in the same way: they are steeped for 2 minutes at a temperature of 70°C.