One of the most important factors to take into account when brewing green tea is the quality of the water being used, as  it can directly affect the flavour, taste and colour of the tea.

Water contains small amounts of minerals and dissolved solids that are invisible to the naked eye, and it is these impurities that determines the overall taste of your tea. If they are present in too high a quantity, they will overpower the natural taste of your drink, but if they aren’t present they will make the flavour of your tea seem very dull.  Finding water with the right balance of minerals is essential when it comes to brewing a good cup of green tea.

Depending on your location, you might struggle to make a decent cup of tea using just tap water. This is because tap water in some countries, and particularly in urban environments, just isn’t pure enough. You can easily get around this problem though by using a water filter or using bottled water instead.

For the aficionados out there, a good way to create the right balance of minerals in your water is to invest in a gadget called a Total Dissolved Solid meter (TDS) and some demineralised water.  Using this device can help you to accurately balance the mineral content of your water, improving how your tea tastes.

Next time you make a cup of green tea, take a while to appreciate the quality of your water— a key factor in how much you enjoy your drink.