Loose Leaf Green Tea – The Holistic Approach To Drinking Green Tea

Loose leaf green tea is simply green tea that does not come in the form of a tea bag. It consists of whole tea leaves, buds or cut leaves which were rolled and twisted into various shapes. Now, all of us are already quite familiar with tea bags but not with loose tea leaves. Invariably, loose leaves are always favored by tea connoisseurs. But you don’t have to be a connoisseur to enjoy green tea infused from loose leaves. So, before you let your mind conjure up images of beautiful teapots and cups, if you are just starting out, let me assure you that you don’t need to buy them if you do not wish to. Or, any infusing accessories, for that matter.

Why drink green tea infused from loose leaves?

Some may wonder why you should go through the trouble of making and drinking green tea prepared from loose leaves when you can simply make your tea out of a green teabag. Then let me introduce to you the holistic approach to drinking green tea which is basically the whole experience of enjoying the beverage.

The practice of mindfulness

Throughout the whole process of making your tea from loose leaf green tea right up to sipping it in the comfort of your own home, you want to be fully aware, being mindful of what you are doing and living in the moment. As you unwrap the packet to reveal the loose leaves, revel in the moment as the rich aroma of the leaves fill your nostrils and allow yourself to touch the leaves to appreciate its beautifully crafted shape, color and texture. And, when the water boils, just listen to the sound of your whistling kettle and notice how the steam waft itself upwards. Surely, each and everyday, you want to find a time to put away the stress of modern living, relax and rejuvenate yourself.

Aesthetic experience with loose leaves

Some drinkers are just fascinated to see how the leaves unfurl when they are brewing it. It can be quite a lovely sight to behold. Surely, you can’t have that with green tea bags, can you? Take the case of the flowered-shaped Green Peony tea, for example, which is one of the specialty green teas from China. The leaves kind of opens up when you are brewing it. One enthusiast commented to me that not exactly but it was the nearest thing to seeing a flower opened right before her very eyes.

Higher level of antioxidants for health

Loose leaf green tea has a higher content of green tea antioxidants or more specifically the polyphenols catechins to which all the health benefits of green tea are attributed. As you savor each sip from your cup, just by being aware that it is a healthy drink, you can’t help feeling full of gratitude for one of the best gifts from Mother Nature.

More satisfying and richer flavor

As compared to teabags which are made of the smallest particles – the dusts and fannings, with loose leaf, the infusion is from a larger surface area and as such, you will be getting a richer and full-bodied flavor.

Where do you start

One question I often got asked by beginners was where they should start since there are so many different types of loose leaf green tea to choose from. One suggestion is to start with some of the Chinese green teas since they are generally quite mild and take it from there. One high quality type is the Longjing Tea (Dragon Well) which has a sweet taste and earthy aroma. You may already have some ideas of what sort of taste you like. If you are like myself who likes something that tastes smokey, then you may find the Gunpowder green tea most palatable. Or, if you like it scented or flavored, then you may like to try the Jasmine green tea or the Jasmine Pearls.

And, if you appreciate watching the unfurling of the leaves, another type I can suggest is the Lu An Gua Pian. See how the leaves open up to reveal themselves on the surface of your brew.

Then, there are the Japanese green teas. One that you can drink everyday is Sencha loose leaf green tea. Slightly astringent, it has a refreshingly green scent with a tinge of sweetness in it. A higher grade would be the Gyokuro although I feel that this tea may not be so suitable if you are just starting out because of the more exacting brewing instructions like water temperature to bring the best out of its loose leaves.

As you continue your journey of discovery into the world of green tea, it is hoped that this article will usher you into enjoying loose leaves green tea to the fullest – the holistic approach to drinking green tea. But, again taste is personal and it might take quite some time before you discover one or a group of green tea loose leaves that you really like. You will also find that at certain times of the day you may prefer drinking one particular type of loose leaf green tea to another. Yes, you can have a loose leaf green tea to suite your moods – if you will!

Filed under: About Green Tea

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