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Green Tea Recipe (Hot Brew): Smooth, Balanced Cup Without Bitterness

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5 from 1 review

This hot green tea recipe gives you a smooth, lightly grassy cup without the harsh bitterness that happens when water is too hot or tea steeps too long. You’ll brew at the ideal temperature range and steep just long enough to keep it fresh, clean, and balanced, perfect as a daily ritual, with optional lemon, ginger, or mint.

  • Author: Natalie
  • Prep Time: 2 minutes
  • Cook Time: 2 minutes
  • Total Time: 4 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup
  • Category: Beverage / Tea
  • Method: Steeped
  • Cuisine: Japanese-inspired / Asian
  • Diet: Low Calorie

Ingredients

Base (required):

  • 1 cup (240 ml) filtered water
  • 1 tsp green tea leaves (loose) or 1 green tea bag

Instructions

  1. Warm 1 cup (240 ml) of water to about 175°F / 80°C—hot with light steam, but not boiling. If you don’t have a thermometer, stop heating when you see small bubbles starting to form.
  2. Add 1 tea bag or 1 tsp loose-leaf green tea (2–3 g) to a mug or infuser. Loose-leaf tends to taste more aromatic, but either option works well.
  3. Pour the hot water over the tea and steep briefly: Loose-leaf: 1½–2 minutes; Tea bag: 1–3 minutes. Keep the steep short for a cleaner, smoother flavor.
  4. Remove the tea right on time to stop extraction. Enjoy it plain, or add lemon, mint, or a small drizzle of honey after brewing. For iced tea, let it cool, then pour over ice.

Notes

  • No-bitter tip: If green tea tastes harsh, the water was too hot or it steeped too long—brew around 175°F and remove the tea promptly.
  • Stronger flavor (without bitterness): Use a bit more tea (ex: 1½ tsp), not more steep time.
  • Cold brew variation (optional): Mix 1 tsp tea + 1 cup cold water, refrigerate 4–8 hours, then strain. (This chilling time is hands-off and isn’t included in the total time.)
  • Weight-management note (YMYL-safe): Unsweetened green tea is low-calorie, but it’s not a “magic” fat-burner—results depend on overall habits.
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