Green Tea is steeped in intrigue and has been for millennia. First, it originally comes from China—that vast land with ancient and mysterious cultures. Second, the tea, itself, appears to possess a wide variety of healthful qualities, most of which are unscientific, yet still apparently more than anecdotal. Third, Green Tea has elaborate and intricate traditions built around it (i.e. Japan’s Chado, or “The Way of Tea”) that make it so much more than just a ‘cuppa tea.’
Trader Joe’s own history with Green Tea has been a marvelous mixed bag, spanning across categories. We currently offer Matcha Green Tea Latte Mix, Mochi Green Tea Ice Cream, Green Tea Mints, French Green Tea Soap, Organic Green Tea and Lemonade, and Organic Green Tea in bags. Until now, we’ve never presented it in a loose format. Our Coconut Green Tea fills this spot and represents one of our earliest forays into the world of loose teas.
We went out of our way to acquire our high-quality Green Tea from Japan. To it, we’ve added real coconut bits, dried lemongrass, and dried ginger. What we haven’t added is sugar. What you taste is that slightly bitter Green Tea, unsweetened, with a pronounced coconut flavor that doesn’t overwhelm. The lemongrass and ginger together provide a nice balance.
Enjoy this loose tea hot or cold. If hot, be sure not to steep it in water that is too hot—167ºF to 194ºF is best. (For reference, 212ºF is water’s boiling point). Our favorite method is cold brewed: Add one teaspoon of loose tea for each eight-ounces of cold water. Then chill in the fridge overnight before straining, for an extra smooth brew.
