NIHON-CHA 🍵
Japanese Tea
Green tea is the most typically consumed Japanese tea.
Knowing the green tea characteristics of sweetness (amami), astrigency (shibumi), and bitterness (nigami) will help you brew a delicious pot of tea. Use about 2 grams of tea leaves per person.
The water temperature is key.
For the first steeping, enjoy the sweetness with the water temperature at 70 degrees centigrade. Keep in mind that pouring the boiling water into the teacup decreases the temperature by 10 degrees centigrade.
For the second steeping, increase the temperature to 80 degrees centigrade to enjoy the astringency.
For the third steeping, pour hot water over 90 degrees centigrade to savor the bitterness.