Nok - Green Tea Leaves

Nok Cha

"Green Tea"

Classifications of Green Tea

  • Eun Jak (Chim)   First stage of leave that grow (needle shape)

  • Jak Sul (Oo Jun)  Next level of leave grow (leave shape begins)

  • Sae Jak   Small leave

  • Joong Jak  Medium leave

  • Dae Jak     Large leave

Compatible Metabolism:

  • Tae Yang In

  • So Yang In

  • Tae Yeum In

  • So Yeum In

The green tea plant roots deep underground in winter time and can survive in very poor conditions. A one meter plant can grow 7 to 20 meters under ground. The ideal climate for green tea is around 30 degrees Celsius. Although, the resulting tea will taste better if the plant grows in a climate that experiences rapid changes. Rapid change is to be understood as going from a very hot climate to a very cold climate over a short period of time. The seasons for green tea normally begins in the middle of April. It is then that the green tea plants begin to grow, and by the end of April the green tea is ready for harvesting. The green tea plant can live forever given the right conditions.

The green tea plant grows needles which become leaves that are removed at various intervals and used in the tea. There are five different classifications of green tea based on when the needles or leaves are cut. The first classification is known as Eun Jak, which is the most expensive tea, costing around $400 per 24 ounces. The second classification is the Oo Jun (Jak Sul). After about 10 days the needles have matured into sprouts which now cost around $180 per 24 ounces. The third classification is the Sae Jak, which are baby leaves that are cut when they become greenish - yellow and cost around $80 per 24 ounce. The fourth classification, Joong Jak, is when the leaf is almost completely grown and is cut. Joong Jak costs approximately $50 per 24 ounce. The fifth classification is Dae Jak, which is cut when the leaves are green and completely grown. This is the green tea normally available to most people and it usually has branches mixed in with it because the plants are cut with machines. Dae Jak is currently prices between $10 and $20 per 24 ounce. The green tea that usually comes in the tea bag is a mixed powder of branches and Dae Jak leaves. This powder contains almost no health benefits because it is of extremely poor quality. This powdered tea is not appropriate for the tea ceremony and it has none of the benefits of the more expensive, properly grown and harvested green teas described above.

Procedures for Drinking Green Tea:
  • Boil the water
  • Put the green tea in the Ta Kwan. Gather the hot water in the Su Goo and wait 10 minutes for the water to cool to 70 degrees Celsius. Rinse the Ta Kwan with the green tea inside once. Then dump the water into the Toa Soo Ki after the water has performed the cleaning of the tea.
  • Clean all the Chat Jan in the Toa Soo Ki’s liquid that was produced from step number 2.
  • Collect water for the second time in the Su Goo. Then once the water reaches 70 degrees Celsius pour the water into the Ta Kwan.
  • Pour the water from the Ta Kwan into the individual cups (Chat Jan).
  • The server must drink first before anyone else drinks. Those who did not serve must express their appreciation by drinking with two hands.
  • When one drinks, one must taste the tea with the tip of their tongue.
  • Drinkers must empty their minds.
  • The above steps must be repeated a total of five times. The temperature of the first serving needs to be 70 degrees, and the subsequent servings should be 50 degrees. 
  • The first flavor of the first severing will taste like the aroma. 
  • The second time the taste will be sweet. 
  • The third time the taste will be savory. 
  • The fourth time the taste will be bitter. 
  • The fifth time the taste will be mild.

When preparing the green tea, the tea must be 70 degrees Celsius. This temperature needs to be adhered to because the green tea contains pine oil, which is an anti-aging, anti-cancer agent. If the server makes the tea too hot then these healthy agents are destroyed. Drinking green tea causes the saliva to become sweet, a phenomenon known as Yak Chim. That sweet saliva is produced when our immune system is active. The green tea cleans up the toxic elements and creates a calm mental and physical condition.

Affect

Green tea helps to prevent flu and helps relieve allergies.  Conditions such as stress, depression, hypertension, diabetes and high cholesterol may also be counteracted by green tea.  Green tea also helps strengthen the normal functioning conditions of the bladder and spleen.  However, if consumed with dairy products, then the effectiveness of Green Tea is reduced.  Green tea also contains amounts of caffeine. 

Caution

Green Tea should be avoided if lung disease, bronchitis, heart disease or  stomach problems are present.