5 OF OUR FAVORITE ICED GREEN TEA OPTIONS
There are so many amazing green tea flavors and preparation methods, but here you have it…
- Watermelon Lime Green Tea
- Pineapple Paradise Green Tea
- Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte
- Mizudashi Sencha Supreme
- Kori Dashi Gyokuro
Green Tea is categorized based on its level of oxidation. While black tea is a fully oxidized tea, green tea’s oxidation process is halted early on. The Chinese and the Japanese have two different ways of halting oxidation. The Chinese prefer to roast the tea leaves either by pan-frying or through an oven. This gives the tea a rich, nutty nuance. The Japanese steam their tea to stop oxidation which yields a more vegetal and broth-like cup full of umami flavor.
Just as there are different ways to process green tea, there are also many different ways to steep tea. These differing ways all result in a slightly nuanced flavor profile. When tea is traditionally steeped in hot water it releases tannins, catechins, and caffeine. These all contribute to the bitter notes within the tea. However, tea can also be cold brewed which means the tea is steeped for longer in cold water. This process produces the smooth, pure, and uninhibited flavors of the tea. Tea can also be slow brewed over ice which proves to be superior at extracting even more of the subtle sweet notes of the tea.
Here are 5 very different iced green tea options to try this summer including method of brewing, instructions, and even a few recipes.
1. Watermelon Lime Green Tea
This fun and colorful green tea blend brews into a sweet and citrusy infusion. With the delicious nuances of its organic green tea base combined with hibiscus, pomegranate, watermelon seeds, and lime pieces, you are left with a flavorful ruby infusion worth a cold brew. In fact, one of our favorite ways to enjoy this tea is in a special summer fruit drink.
Combine in a blender…
- Fresh Frozen Watermelon Chunks
- Cold Brewed Watermelon Lime Green Tea
- A dollop of Honey
- A Squeeze of Fresh Lime
Blend, serve and enjoy.
2. Pineapple Paradise Green Tea
This best-selling tea is a light, well-balanced infusion of smooth sencha, tart pineapple, and sweet mango. Once brewed, the sencha leaves provide subtle notes of grassy sweetness paired perfectly with the exotic flavors of the tropics. In the hot summer months, it’s the perfect thirst quencher. It also makes for an amazing base for fermented kombucha tea. Pineapple Paradise Green Tea is also great in smoothies. Check out this smoothie recipe…
Ingredients:
- 2 cups of steeped Pineapple Paradise Green Tea, brewed extra strong
- 1/2 ripe avocado
- Juice of half a lemon
- 1 cup frozen chunks of pineapple
- 1/2 cup of your favorite milk
- 1 handful of spinach, kale, or chard
- Honey to taste
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until smooth, and enjoy!
3. Iced Vanilla Matcha Latte
This vanilla twist on traditional matcha is a welcomed introduction to new matcha drinkers. With the addition of natural vanilla flavor, the earthy and grassy notes of the ground green tea are subdued for a better balance of flavor more manageable to the matcha noob, but also a welcomed detour for the serious green tea connoisseurs.
Seriously though, matcha is the ideal tea for lattes and this includes the delicious iced latte.
- Sift 3g of Vanilla Matcha Green Tea Powder
- Add 60 ml of 176°F water
- Using a Matcha Whisk “Chasen” vigorously whisk the mixture
- Pour milk of choice over ice
- Pour in whisked matcha
- Enjoy!
4. Mizudashi Sencha Supreme
Our Organic Sencha Supreme Green Tea is a first flush, Japanese steamed green tea that produces a smooth golden-green infusion full of complex vegetal, yet, sweet umami flavors. The dark, blue-green, flat, needle-like leaves produce a grassy aroma reminiscent of seaweed and spinach. This antioxidant-rich green tea is perfect for cold brew. The Japanese word for cold brew is mizudashi and cold brewing teas such as this sencha or even our gyokuro help to bring out the pure unaltered flavors of the tea.
- Place 10g of Sencha Supreme Green Tea in a pitcher
- Add 200 ml cold filtered water
- Chill 24 hours in refrigerator
- Before removing leaves, stir the leaves and wait for the tea to settle thereby extracting more flavor
- Enjoy!
5. Kori Dashi Gyokuro
This prized shade-grown, Japanese Green Tea produces a nuance of flavors that is wonderfully soft and satisfying. Its broth-like, umami sweetness and smooth clean vegetal flavors are akin to spinach or fresh peas. The beautifully subtle and nuanced flavors come forth more powerfully when brewed with ice. This method isn’t for everyone, but it does bring out some of the subtle flavors of the tea. The Japanese call this method Kori Dashi and while this process takes longer, it does extract some of the subtle sweet notes of the tea.
The process of ice brewing tea begins by placing ice above the tea leaves in such a way that the ice melts and drips onto the tea leaves. Once all of the ice melts you can strain the tea leaves and enjoy the cold sweet ice brewed infusion. This can also be accomplished by placing the tea directly on the ice and waiting for the ice to melt. Once melted, strain and enjoy.
