Of all the varieties of tea brewed from the Camellia Sinensis plant, green tea is perhaps the one with the most storied reputation. Despite its bitter taste, people buy and drink it in droves, in no small part to the numerous health benefits associated with this form of tea. Just look at that WebMD article.

Though they eschew the idea of green tea being a magic weight loss formula, medical professionals are intrigued by the catechin content it holds, something that may help it improve blood flow and cholesterol.

In addition to that, though, it may also help with stabilizing blood sugar levels and helping improve brain function, helpful facts for anyone, but of value to individuals who may be at risk for degenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s.

It’s more than enough to get most people interested, and one of the first things anyone asks is, “how is this stuff made?”

Read on to learn how to both hot brew and cold brew green tea. [Read more…]

Loose leaf tea, and, by extension, whole leaf tea, are varieties of tea that use a more complete form of tea leaf in their brewing process. Unlike “normal” tea from teabags, which use a finely granulated form of tea, loose leaf tea uses larger leaves with a reduced total surface area.

This is appealing to many tea drinkers, because the brewing process for loose leaf tea helps preserve its intense flavors, leading to a finished cup of tea that is tastier and more pleasing to serious tea aficionados.

Thanks to the advent of many traditional (and modern) techniques, there are several ways in which anyone interested in making their own loose leaf tea can go about getting it done, so read on to learn how to make loose leaf tea. [Read more…]