Steeping your tea in cold water is a perfect solution if you want to enjoy a cold tea first thing in the morning, without having to fuss with a kettle. Plus, if you are on a raw-food diet, this preparation allows you to indulge in as much tea as you feel like. It won’t ever be heated above 45ºC.
The difference between the steeping with cold water is, naturally, the water temperature as well as the steeping time. The green tea leaves need more time to let go of their flavour and to infuse the water with the health benefits, which means you need to change the steeping time from 2 minutes to several hours. I usually prepare this tea at night-time, to make sure it’s ready to drink in the morning.
You need a glass bottle and cold filtered water (or mineral water). If you want to use ice, make sure it is made from filtered water as well. You’ll note every trace of the water, so avoid unfiltered tap water. If you only want to prepare one cup, use a marmalade glass, or something similar (with a lid).
Add water (and ice) as well as 1 teaspoon of Gyokuro leaves per cup (which means about 4 tea spoons for your bottle). You don’t need a filter yet. The leaves are better off without any artificial material. Close the bottle, shake it vigorously and place it for 6-10 hours into the fridge. Before serving the tea, shake the bottle again and use a strainer when serving filling the tea into your cup.
You’ll notice that the flavour is completely different from preparing the tea with hot water. It’s more silky, yet very intense and it will ensure you start your day with lots of energy!
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