Asian Tea-Drinking Hack Saves Big Money, Surprising Many!

Ever since you started drinking green tea, you’ve felt a lot more zen. Could it be the relaxing effects of theanine that are awakening your inner Buddha? You’re not sure. Regardless, this wellness ritual has been a staple of your afternoons for years.

You refuse to succumb to the convenience of tea bags. Initially, like everyone else, you found them quite handy. Pulling the tag, unwinding the string, and dunking the bag into water is so much simpler than fussing with a filter or a tea infuser. Why complicate things? That was until the day you sipped a brew made from loose leaves. It was an eye-opener. Since then, you’ve never looked back…

However, a cloud mars this perfect moment of serenity, leaving a bitter aftertaste in your mouth: the cost. Even without splurging on top-notch varieties, quality tea comes at a price. With a precise 3 grams per cup, the expenses add up quickly. You begin to wonder how those who indulge in two or three mugs daily manage: “Do they grow it themselves, or what?”. While it’s true that tea plants can be cultivated in our climates under favorable conditions, don’t count on your little bush to supply your annual consumption…

Clever tea enthusiasts have a well-kept secret to enjoying their brew without breaking the bank (or gardening). It’s a trick even Asians themselves use. They perform… multiple infusions. To maintain some aromatic depth (and not end up drinking something akin to flat water), simply increase the initial steeping time slightly with each new cup. In this way, using our Western methods, it takes about two to three times to “exhaust” the leaves.

Note that this practice isn’t only economically beneficial. It also offers a taste advantage: with each new cup, a different aspect of the tea is revealed, providing a unique experience. Additionally, the concentration of stimulating substances decreases with each infusion—not enough to turn it into a bedtime herbal drink, but those sensitive to caffeine will appreciate it.

Warning: while this method works well with whole leaves, it is quite disappointing with broken leaves. The experience is not much better with flavored teas, which lose almost all their aromas after the first infusion. However, a good natural green, black, or oolong tea will happily accommodate this practice. A piece of news that should certainly reassure your wallet!