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Known for its health benefits and mild flavor, green tea has been enjoyed for thousands of years in eastern cultures. According to Chinese medicine, it soothes an upset stomach, enhances energy, aids the metabolism, and may even lower your blood pressure. Here are a few pointers to help you brew the perfect cup.

The key is to start with high quality loose green tea leaves. These may be bought at a specialty tea store, online, or at an Asian market. There are many different types of green tea, each with a distinct flavor. Try longjing (dragonwell), the national drink of China, or Japanese genmaicha, also known as popcorn tea. Another option is green tea pearls that have been infused with jasmine. You will need about 1 teaspoon of leaves per 16 oz. of water. Or, if your green tea is in the form of pearls, you'll need about 6-7 pearls for the same amount of water. Use slightly more tea if you like a stronger cup.

Boil pure drinking water in a kettle on the stove or bring water to a boil in the microwave using a large glass measuring cup. While waiting for the water to boil, drop the tea leaves directly into the bottom of your favorite 16 oz mug.

Once the water boils, turn off the heat and remove kettle from burner. Pour the boiling water directly onto the tea leaves until the cup is full. Next, cover the cup with a saucer. This allows the tea to release more effectively into the water and avoids loosing heat too rapidly.

The flavor of the tea is best enjoyed at a warm, rather than hot temperature, so allow the tea to brew approximately thirty to forty minutes. You'll know the tea is ready if you can keep your hand on the outside of the cup without feeling any discomfort. Once brewed, you'll find that the tea leaves will sink to the bottom of the cup. To avoid drinking the tea leaves themselves, don't drink the entire cup, but leave behind a small amount of liquid at the bottom.

Now that you've brewed the perfect cup, remember to enjoy your tea at a leisurely pace. Each mouthful should be savored. Best enjoyed after a meal, you can incorporate this tradition into your workday or into your family routine after dinner. On the weekend, it can enhance your time with a book or be enjoyed with the conversation of a friend. Whatever the occasion, make it even better with a perfect cup of green tea.

Learn more about this author, Lydia Chen.
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