Cold Brew Green Tea

Have you ever tried making COLD INFUSED GREEN TEA?? It's color ranges between a beautiful golden amber hue to a light yellow-green depending on the tea that it used, is light in flavor, and by some considered "sweet" in comparison to the strong bitter flavor of hot tea because the tannins are not extracted. This also makes cold brew more gentle to drink, as tannins can irritate the gut causing nausea or discomfort in some people.

Interestingly, research has found that cold brew green tea is much higher in antioxidants called polyphenols than the hot water infused tea alternative. It does take some time, but it doesn’t take much effort on your behalf. Plus, cold brew green tea is much lower in caffeine than hot brew, containing about half the amount of caffeine per serving (~15mg per cup). This makes it a wonderful alternative for caffeine sensitive individuals and anyone looking to boost their polyphenol intake! 

Of course, you have all heard that green tea is good for you…but why?? The polyphenol in green tea called epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) has been found to be effective against multiple aspects of cancer development and progression and can be considered a safe and effective approach to cancer prevention and therapy. Furthermore, researchers have found that EGCG activity is enhanced by the presence of vitamin C (like lemon juice)! Some studies have also looked at green tea and its ability to improve skin health, reduce acne, and may also provide protection from UV damage and sunburns. 

In terms of gut health, due to its rich polyphenol content, regular green tea consumption encourages the growth of beneficial microbes called Bifidobacterium. Research has also found that green tea consumption may help offset the dysbiosis (imbalance of good and bad bacteria) and inflammation caused by high fat diets. Since green tea is in the top 100 polyphenol rich plant foods, no wonder it can do so much good!

Cold Brew Green Tea
With the summer weather upon us, and cold beverages a pleasant delight, I hope you will try to make your own cold brew green tea. There are various types of green tea you can try. I personally have used jasmine green tea for a lighter more floral option and gunpowder for a robust earthy flavor. Choose any green tea that you enjoy! Add a squeeze of lemon to enhance the properties of EGCG or add a splash of cream for a bit of decadence. Drinking 2-3 cups of cold brew green tea daily can provide many powerful anti-inflammatory and gut friendly benefits. 
 
Makes 8 cups
 
INGREDIENTS
2 tablespoons loose leaf organic green tea 
8 cups of filtered water
 
Optional Add-ins (when serving):
Freshly squeezed lemon juice
Rose water
Mint leaves
Organic Half and Half or Cream
Sweetener of choice 
 
DIRECTIONS
Add 8-10 cups of filtered water into a large stainless steel pot. Stir in loose leaf green tea. Cover with lid and place into refrigerator. Allow the tea to infuse for 6-8 hours, or even overnight (see note below). Stir briefly every few hours if able. Also give it a good stir before straining. Stirring gently agitates the leaves to encourage the diffusion of the polyphenols into the water. The more often you stir, the more flavorful and potent the brew. 
 
Pour the infusion through a fine mesh sieve into a large bowl with a pourable lip. Transfer the strained cold brew into glass jars/bottles. Store in refrigerator. Enjoy plain, with a squeeze of fresh lemon juice (enhances the activity of the ECGC), a ¼ tsp of rose water for an extra floral aroma (this pairs nicely with jasmine green tea or emerald cloud green tea), a sprig of fresh mint, or a splash of cream (pairs well with the more robust gunpowder green tea). Add sweetener if desired and pour over ice.  

*Note: The longer you infuse the tea, the more robust the flavor. If this is your first time making it, try your cold brew at 6 hours and then decide if you want to infuse it longer for more flavor. 

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Are you going to give this a try?? Let me know what you think!

Eat Happy,

​Selva