Japanese Sencha is my preferred choice of tea in the warmer months.
Yes - it is lovely to drink in the colder months too, but I feel the best of Sencha is extracted when brewed with cold water.
After consuming 1 or 2 cups of cold brewed Sencha tea, I really feel relaxed, refreshed and replenished ...and there's actually science that explains why.
Green tea has different tastes and physiological functions depending on the temperature of water when it is brewed.
If you brew Sencha for too long - like 3-4 minutes you'll notice a very astringent and bitter taste.
Why?
This is because boiling water does a better job at extracting compounds such as epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and caffeine.
In contrast, cold water brewed Sencha has far less bitterness and astringency than hot brewed Sencha, and this is because Theanine and epigallocatechin (EGC) are easily extracted in cold water and these are the compounds which are directly responsible for the sweeter and richer notes of Sencha tea.
But here's the kicker - EGC has an immune-enhancing effect and theanine has a psychosocial stress-reducing effect. Two amazing outcomes from drinking cold brew Sencha.
Now that we have the science out of the way. Let's get cold brewing.
One of the easiest ways to cold brew tea is to set it up at night. It takes just a minute or two, and by morning a full bottle of rich tea is ready!
I'm using HARIO's filter in a bottle to brew my Sencha overnight in the fridge.
HARIO'S cold brew tea bottle is made in Japan by a company dedicated to the design, production, and sale of heatproof glass since it was founded in 1921.
The look and feel of this bottle exudes quality and it has a built in tea filter at the neck of the bottle which means you can pour directly into your glass and enjoy immediately.
Get 10% OFF when you pair a HARIO tea filter-in bottle with any of our loose leaf or matcha teas. Just enter HARIO10 on final cart checkout.
2. Pour filtered water up to ★ and mount the removable bottle spout with the filter set inside onto the glass.
The HARIO filter-in bottle is also very versatile.
You can even brew your own healthy fruit infusions.
Which loose leaf teas can I use for cold brew?
Sencha, Gyokuro and Hojicha make excellent choices for cold brewing. Roasted teas like Hojicha give a toasted and gentle caramel flavour to the brew and with lighter teas you will get grassier notes. Feel free to experiment will all different kinds of tea.
Can I cold brew Matcha in the HARIO filter in a bottle?
Absolutely you can!
And you won't have to wait hours to enjoy. Just add 2-3 scoops of Matcha powder into the bottle. Pour filtered water into the bottle and shake!
Pour over ice and enjoy. Simple.
Does cold brew tea go bad?
Nothing lasts forever.
With the infusion being made in the refrigerator you have 1-2 days to enjoy your cold brew tea. But trust me, it tastes so good that it won't last that long.
Get 10% OFF when you pair a HARIO tea filter-in bottle with any of our loose leaf or matcha teas. Just enter HARIO10 on final cart checkout.
