Americans Prefer Less-Intense Green Tea

CHICAGOAmericans prefer green tea from tea bags versus loose-leaf tea because the perceived intensity of bitterness in tea bag teas is lower than loose-leaf teas, according to according to a new study published in the Journal of Food Science. Chinese and Japanese tea bags were most preferred.

Researchers from Drexel University and Kansas State University examined differences in acceptability of commonly available loose-leaf and bagged green teas available from Japan, Korea and China to determine which green tea flavor characteristics appealed to the American consumer.

A total of six green tea samples from China, Korea, and Japan were used; three types of green loose leaf teas and three types of bagged green teas were chosen from each country. Six grams of loose leaf teas were place in 300 mL of water at 70 degrees C and brewed for two minutes. Single tea bags were brewed in 240 mL of water at 70 degrees C and the bag was dipped 10 times and pressed with a spoon prior to discard.