How to Make Japanese Green Tea

The green tea that the Japanese people drink on a daily basis is quite different from the tea used in the Japanese Tea Ceremony. Ocha, everyday tea, is made from loose dried tea leaves, which are available in several grades of quality, while tea ceremony tea is an intensely flavorful powdered tea that makes a frothy foam when it is whisked in hot water. Here's how to make a pot of everyday ocha

Japanese Green Tea (4 servings)

4 cups hot water (190 degrees F, just below boiling point)
5 tbsp green tea leaves

Place the loose tea leaves into a teapot. Add water. Steep for 3 to 5 minutes. Pour into mugs and serve hot.