Tea - Preparation

Guidance
1st Story	Let's go to Maikonocha	English	Japanese
2nd Story	Tea Picking	English	Japanese
3rd Story	Tea Processing	English	Japanese
4th Story	Tea Varieties	English	Japanese
5th Story	Serving Tea	English	Japanese
6th Story	Tea and Health	English	Japanese

Necessary things for preparing Tea!
There are five essential things for preparing tea:

1.Cha-ki (Tea Utensils)

To brew Gyokuro and Sencha, a kyu-su (Japanese tea pot) and teacups are necessary. Matcha requires a special matcha-wan (bowl) and chasen (bamboo whisk) and cha-shaku (bamboo spoon).
For preparing tea properly, cha-ki, or special tea utensils, are necessary.

2. Tea leaves

Naturally, tea leaves play an important part - take care in choosing appropriate leaves as it will decide the quality of the flavor.
At MaikoTea, you can sample different kinds of tea. We provide you, with confidence, various types of tea according to specified prices and grades. Let us serve you with the best Japanese green tea of superior quality!

3. Water

Water is a vital element for preparing tea. Boil soft water for best results.

4. The Details

To bring out the best tea flavor possible, the proper amount of water at the right temperature must be used.

5. The Mind

Perhaps the most important is the state of heart when preparing tea. There is great significance in the communication of the minds of host and guests enjoying tea time together.

The Art of Brewing Tea

Adjust the temperature and amount of water, and brew time according to the type of tea and the number of people you are preparing tea for.

Standard table for Serving Tea (First Infusion)

	high quality Gyokuro	average quality Gyokuro	high quality Sencha and Karigane	average quality Sencha and Karigane	Houjicha and Genmaicha
number of people	3	3	3	5	5
amount of tea	10 g 2 table spoons	10 g 2 table spoons	6 g 2 table spoons	10 g 2 table spoons	15 g 3 table spoons
temperature of water	50℃	60℃	70℃	90℃	boiling water
amount of water	60 ml	60 ml	170 ml	430 ml	650 ml
steeping time	150 seconds	120 seconds	120 seconds	60 seconds	30 seconds

This table only represents the general measurements. Of coure, it is adjustable to fit your personal taste. Please continue to 'experiment' in order to find the taste that is most fitting to your own preference.

After the first infusion, use higher temperature water and shorten the brewing time as the tea leaves have already begun to open.

Relation between water temperature and resulting tea taste

Higher temperature = increased aroma
Higher temperature = increased astringency
Any temperature ="sweetness"

*Note: when using lower temperature water, more brew time is required.
Tea always posseses a certain basic sweetness. However, when brewed with higher temperature water the extracted astringency might override this natural sweet taste.