Green Tea Organic Infusion

Botanical name: Camellia sinensis
Plant family: Theaceae
Plant part used: Leaves
Product type: Organic green tea leaves for infusion
Processing: Green tea is produced without the oxidation process used to make black tea
Naturally occurring compounds: Caffeine, L-theanine and polyphenols, including catechins

🌿What Makes Green Tea Different?

Green tea, black tea, white tea and oolong all come from the same plant, Camellia sinensis. What makes them different is primarily how the leaves are handled after harvesting.

In green tea production, oxidation is limited by heating the leaves relatively soon after picking. This helps retain the characteristic green colour and fresh, vegetal character of the leaf. Black tea, by comparison, is allowed to oxidise much more extensively, creating its darker colour and deeper flavour.

Green tea is also particularly interesting for its naturally occurring polyphenols, especially a group known as catechins. One of the best-known green tea catechins is EGCG (epigallocatechin gallate).

🌿Caffeine + L-Theanine: An Interesting Natural Combination

Green tea naturally contains both caffeine and L-theanine, an amino acid naturally present in tea leaves.

This combination is one of the characteristics that makes green tea quite different from coffee. Rather than looking at green tea simply as another source of caffeine, it is worth considering the whole composition of the leaf.

The actual amount of caffeine in your cup varies according to the tea itself, the quantity of leaves used, water temperature and infusion time. A longer or stronger infusion will generally extract more caffeine than a lighter preparation.

This makes green tea an interesting choice when you want a naturally caffeinated drink but prefer the ritual and character of tea to coffee.

🌿When Would I Choose Green Tea?

Green tea makes particular sense as a morning or daytime infusion. It can replace a second coffee, accompany breakfast or lunch, or become a simple afternoon tea ritual.

It is also a good choice if you are looking for something less sweet and floral than many herbal infusions. Its fresh, vegetal and slightly astringent character makes it particularly pleasant after food, when you may not want another coffee or a sweet drink.

Because it naturally contains caffeine, I would generally choose it earlier in the day rather than as an evening infusion, particularly if you are sensitive to caffeine.

Use 14–18 g of green tea leaves per litre of water, approximately 4–5 tablespoons.

Heat fresh drinking water to a maximum of 80°C and pour over the leaves. Cover and leave to infuse for approximately 5–10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Strain before drinking.

For a single 250 ml cup, this corresponds to approximately 3.5–4.5 g of green tea leaves.

Adjust the steeping time within the recommended range depending on how light or full-bodied you prefer your green tea. Avoid boiling water, as very hot water can bring out more bitterness and astringency.

- Certified Organic Product
- Certified Organic Agriculture (AB certified)
- Origin of raw materials: China
- Country of manufacture: China

Ingredients: 100% Organic Green Tea Leaves (Camellia sinensis).

Plant part used: Leaves
Organic: Yes
Additives: None
Flavourings: None

The story of green tea (Camellia sinensis), the plant behind all true tea, begins thousands of years ago in ancient China, where tea has a long history both as a plant preparation and as a beverage.

According to Chinese tradition, tea was discovered around 2737 BCE by Emperor Shennong, the legendary farmer and herbalist associated with early Chinese knowledge of plants. The story tells that while water was being boiled beneath a tree, several leaves fell into the pot. Shennong tasted the resulting infusion and was intrigued by its refreshing character.

Whether or not the encounter happened quite this way, the legend reflects something important about tea's history: tea was associated with plants, traditional practice and wellbeing long before it became the everyday drink we know today.

Over the centuries, tea became increasingly connected with Chinese philosophy, scholarship and contemplative traditions. Its naturally stimulating character also made it particularly suited to long periods of study and meditation.

By the Tang Dynasty (618–907), tea had become deeply integrated into Chinese culture. It was no longer simply a plant preparation, but part of social life, hospitality and ritual. During this period, the scholar Lu Yu wrote the Cha Jing, or The Classic of Tea, the first known major work devoted entirely to tea. It explored everything from cultivation and water to preparation, utensils and the art of drinking tea.

🌿From China to Japan

Tea travelled from China to Japan with Buddhist monks, where it became closely associated with monastic and Zen traditions. Over the centuries, Japanese tea culture developed its own distinctive methods and rituals, eventually giving rise to the highly refined Japanese tea ceremony.

Here, preparing and drinking tea became about much more than the beverage itself. Attention was given to the water, the utensils, the movements, the surroundings and the act of being fully present for a simple cup of tea.

🌿Green Tea Comes to Europe

Tea reached Europe in increasing quantities during the 17th century, particularly through Portuguese and Dutch trading networks. At first it was rare, exotic and expensive, enjoyed mainly by wealthy households.

As international tea trade expanded, it gradually became an everyday beverage. During the 19th century, the British also played an important role in expanding commercial tea cultivation beyond China, particularly in India and Ceylon, now Sri Lanka.

🌿One Plant, Many Teas

One of the most fascinating things about tea is that green, black, white and oolong tea all originate from Camellia sinensis.

Their differences come largely from the leaves selected and what happens to them after harvesting.

With green tea, the freshly picked leaves are heated relatively quickly to limit oxidation. This helps preserve their characteristic green appearance and fresh, vegetal flavour, while producing a tea quite different from the deeper, more oxidised character of black tea.

From an ancient Chinese plant tradition to Zen monasteries, European tea tables and today's morning cup, green tea has travelled remarkably far.

Yet the ritual itself remains beautifully simple: tea leaves, hot water and a few quiet minutes.

Contains caffeine. Not suitable for children, pregnant women or breastfeeding women.

Store in a dry place.

🌿 Why would I choose green tea rather than a herbal infusion?
Choose green tea when you want a naturally caffeinated daytime drink rather than a caffeine-free herbal infusion. It has a fresh, vegetal character and works particularly well in the morning, with lunch or as an alternative to an afternoon coffee.

🌿 Is this the same kind of green tea used for matcha?
It comes from the same plant, Camellia sinensis, but it is a different preparation. This product consists of whole green tea leaves for infusion, while matcha is made from specially grown and processed tea leaves that are ground into a fine powder and consumed whole.

🌿 Why shouldn't I use boiling water?
Green tea is more delicate than many black teas and herbal infusions. Water that is too hot can extract more of the bitter and astringent components of the leaf. For this tea, use water at a maximum of 80°C for a fresher, more balanced cup.

🌿 Can I make the tea stronger if I prefer a more intense flavour?
Yes. Start with the recommended 14–18 g per litre and adjust the infusion time within the recommended 5–10 minutes. A longer infusion gives a stronger, more astringent cup. Remember that preparation also influences how much caffeine is extracted from the leaves.

🌿 When is the best time to drink green tea?
Morning and early afternoon are natural choices because green tea contains caffeine. It can also be particularly enjoyable after a meal, when its fresh, slightly astringent character provides a clean finish. If you are sensitive to caffeine, avoid drinking it close to bedtime.

🌿 Can green tea replace coffee?
It can be a good alternative when you still want a naturally caffeinated drink, but prefer tea to coffee. Green tea also naturally contains L-theanine and polyphenols, making its composition quite different from that of coffee.

80 g