{"id":1637,"date":"2022-05-18T03:53:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-18T03:53:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/pouringflowers.com\/?p=1637"},"modified":"2022-05-18T08:56:13","modified_gmt":"2022-05-18T08:56:13","slug":"why-is-my-green-tea-brown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pouringflowers.com\/why-is-my-green-tea-brown\/","title":{"rendered":"Why is My Green Tea Brown: 5 Top Reasons You Should Know"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Green tea is known for its delicate flavor profile and many health benefits. When you brew a cup of green tea, you expect to see a bright green or yellow-colored liquid in your mug. But what happens when you make your brew and the water is brown or of darker color? Why is your green tea brown?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s not an uncommon occurrence, but it can be confusing for many people. If you’re wondering why your tea is brown, either there’s nothing to worry about because that’s the natural color, or, something went wrong in the brewing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Basics of Green Tea Leaves<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Green tea is a type of tea made from Camellia sinensis leaves that are allowed to wither and dry after they’re picked. The leaves of the Camellia Sinensis tea plant are also used to make different types of teas like white tea, oolong tea, and black tea. Due to different methods of cultivation, growing conditions, processing methods, and time of harvest, there are different types of green tea with different flavor profiles and different colors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In other words, although green tea has the word “green”, it doesn’t mean green tea color has to be green. Green tea can be yellow, brown, or bright green.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Loose leaf green tea in a pot of water<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Have you ever wondered how tea leaves produce brown tea?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To understand what happens when tea leaves are dried, we first have to look at what kind of leaf they are and where they came from. Tea leaves come from trees called Camellia Sinensis, which grow in a variety of climates around the world. There are two main varieties: black and green. Black tea comes from fully grown Camellia Sinensis plants, while green tea comes from young plants that haven’t been harvested yet. Both varieties are picked by hand, and carefully plucked by farmers who have spent years perfecting their craft. These farmers use amazing tools like bamboo baskets and hooks made out of sticks to help them pluck each leaf from its stem without damaging any others nearby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once all the leaves have been harvested, they’re dried out in large metal drums (called woks) over open fires so they can be ground up into powder later on down the line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When the leaves are dried, they turn brown. The process of them turning brown is due to the chemical reaction with heat and air. This is known as the oxidation process. The more oxidation the leaves undergo, the darker they get.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With varying oxidation duration of tea leaves and different cultivation methods, a variety of green teas are produced. The different colors of this variety of green tea are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

  1. Yellow color<\/li>
  2. Vibrant green color<\/li>
  3. Bright, transparent brown color<\/li>
  4. Vivid green color<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    Why is My Green Tea Brown<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    1. Steeping Duration<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    The reason that brewed tea turns into brown color is due to the chemical called tannin. This compound has a brownish hue and it’s found in all kinds of plants, including those used to make tea leaves. The more tannin the leaf contains, the more likely it will turn brown when exposed to heat or hot water \u2014 which is exactly what happens when you brew green tea. What if you oversteep your tea? The longer you let your leaves steep, the stronger their flavor will become\u2014and therefore, the darker they’ll appear when brewed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    2. Type of Green Tea<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If you did not oversteep your tea, but your green tea doesn’t look as vibrant as usual; this doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with your brew.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Besides steeping duration, the color of the tea after you’ve brewed the green tea leaves depends on the type of green tea you’re using. Different green teas give different colors and flavors. Is it Japanese green tea, or Chinese green tea? Is it green tea of good quality or low quality? How can you tell if the tea you are drinking is of high quality loose leaf tea or that of a lower grade? Some tea types turn brown after just a few minutes, while others stay green for up to six minutes. This can be due to the type of green tea you are brewing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hojicha<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Hojicha is a type of roasted green tea that produces a light golden color or light to reddish-brown color when the tea leaves are steeped. This is not due to the quality of the tea leaves, but because of the manufacturing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    Cup of tea surrounded by green leaves<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Hojicha is traditionally produced in Japan, where it has been consumed for centuries. The word hojicha means “roasted tea” in Japanese. The process of making hojicha starts with the selection of tea leaves. They must be picked at the right time and from the right place so that their quality is high. Then they are transported to factories where they are sorted and stored until they are ready for use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The next manufacturing process for hojicha begins with roasting the leaves at high temperatures to bring out their natural oils and create an aroma that’s reminiscent of toasted nuts or popcorn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The process begins with the harvest of the tea leaves. The leaves are then dried in the sun over bamboo mats, which helps to preserve their natural flavor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    After they’ve been dried, they’re roasted over charcoal at high temperatures until they turn brown and become brittle. Hojicha is naturally brown in color because it’s made from roasted leaves\u2014and the longer the leaves are roasted, the darker they become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    The final step is to crush the roasted leaves into powder form. This makes it easier to brew when making hojicha tea or other drinks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    3. Water Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    If your green tea is turning brown quickly, it’s likely because your water is too hot. Water at higher temperatures (above 180 degrees Fahrenheit) will extract more tannins from the leaves or green tea bags and turn your tea brown faster than if it were brewed at lower temperatures. If this is happening with your tea, try to brew it with cooler water.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If your tea doesn’t get darker after six minutes of steeping time has passed, it might be because there isn’t enough caffeine in the leaves for them to extract fully into the water\u2014it takes some caffeine molecules from within the leaf in order for them to turn into tannins, which are responsible for making a dark-colored brew. If this seems like what’s going on with your cup of tea, consider using more leaves or letting it steep longer before drinking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    4. Water Quality<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

    Good quality water helps to brew your green tea the right way. A study by MDPI Journal reported that water hardness and softness can affect the oxidation of green tea which affects the color after brewing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Hard Water vs Soft Water<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

    Whether your water is considered hard or soft is dependent on the amount of minerals, typically calcium and magnesium. Soft water has less of such minerals than hard water [1]<\/sup><\/a>https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/diet\/difference-between-hard-soft-water<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>