The ancient Chinese scientists knew that pure water was essential for making good tea (green tea). The Taoists use porcelain trays to collect rain water or melting snows to get high-grade pure water to make tea. The best water to make tea was collected from the snow fallen on the winter plum blossom, or from the morning dew on the lotus leaves. Of course, these were waters without pollutions or contamination with metals. Now we know that metals, especially iron, in the hot tea are catalysts that may promote oxidation of tea catechins, especially EGCG. Chlorines and detergents also cause degradation oxidation of green tea.
Deionized Water -- Therefore, 710EGCG® green tea must be brewed in deionized water, such as distilled water or water purified by reverse osmosis. All recent science-based research works, which prove the health benefits of green tea in the laboratories, have been based on using green tea prepared in deionized water. Green tea brewed in tap water containing chlorine and iron tends to be bitter in taste.
Filtered Water -- Filtered water has no scientific definition. It quality depends on the kind of filters used.
Bottled Water -- If the bottled water is purified by distillation or by reverse osmosis, it is good to use. However, the solutes in a bottle of spring water are naturally variable from spring to spring.
710EGCG® green tea is high-antioxidant green teas. It is different from the dust-grade teas that have a very large total cut surface. Therefore, the usual recommended method of brewing green teas in infusion tea bags for 3-5 minutes is not adequate to prepare Dr. Lee's TeaForHealth®. It requires an extraction time in boiled hot water for 15-20 minutes in the OX® tea steeper for a full extraction of the antioxidants into the tea liquid. This is particularly true when the deluxe grade tea leaves are used since the deluxe tea is composed of intact tea leaves that have a very small cut surface at the base of a leaf or a group of three leaves.
The tea leaves will not sink to the bottom of the tea liquid if the water is not hot enough and the extraction time is not long enough during steeping. After the boiling water is poured into the steeper, the water temperature will generally drop to 90-92ºC immediately. In 20 minutes, the hot tea temperature generally drops down to about 65ºC, which is good for slow sipping in small mouthfuls usually with some food in the mouth, but the tea is still too hot for “drinking” in large mouthfuls. Green tea was never meant to be consumed in large mouthfuls in ancient China. A hot tea cooled down to 56ºC which will not coagulate serum proteins is generally acceptable and safe for “drinking”.
Dr. Lee has developed a unique, patented tea steeper that has been designed to eliminate all free air from the container in which the tea is brewed. The OX® oxygen exclusion tea steeper set is available in several attractive designs at the Tea Shop. The base of the OX® steeper set incorporates a reservoir to protect against spills as well as a convenient holder in which to rest the lid while enjoying the soothing taste of Dr. Lee's TeaForHealth®.
To enjoy the fullest benefits of TeaForHealth®, the following steps are recommended:
- Place 3-15 gm (about 0.1-0.5 oz.), usually 3.5-4 gm (one and a half of teaspoonfuls),, tea leaves in an OX® oxygen exclusion steeper to brew for maximum (15-20% more) preservation of antioxidants.
- Pour boiling hot water to fill the steeper to the rim.
- Cover the steeper with the OX® oxygen exclusion lid and let the overflowing hot water run down the steeper sides to the base.
- Steep tea for 20 minutes until the hot tea cools down to below 56°C. All tea leaves should sink to the bottom when the tea is ready. If the tea leaves remain floating, this is an indication that the water used was not hot enough.
- Drink the tea within one hour; or separate the tea liquid from the leaves, cool the tea immediately over ice, and store it in a refrigerator to be consumed within 24 hours.
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1-866-DRLEE'STea (375-3378)
Fleminger, Inc. • 160 Hawley Lane, Suite 205 • Trumbull, CT 06611
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