Green tea suggestion

I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important. What I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup of hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is this tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions welcomed, I think.

Thanks

EC

Reply to
Ed Clark
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Ed Clarkrbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read0310/31/03 03: snipped-for-privacy@cox.net

Ed,

Here are some thoughts, for what they're worth:

First, green teas are indeed quieter, subtler, gentler on balance than red teas. The show might just be passing you by. Having said that, you might try Lin Yun White Down from Special Teas. The web page for the tea:

Also, perhaps a Bao Zhong, which is, strictly speaking, an oolong, but as green as oolong gets. Here's one I haven't tried yet, but intend to, from In Pursuit of Tea. It goes by the name of Pouchong Ching Fung. (Pouchong and Bao Zhong are transliteration variants of the same Chinese words.)

I am recommending these two because they are flavorful and distinct and for the most part forgiving. The directions on the packets of these two will be accurate enough.

Be aware of course that many vendors put ridiculous brewing instructions on their packages, often recommending too high a temperature for green teas or too long a brewing time. Anyway, experiment away. BTW, if you can, try to find either of these teas in your friendly neighborhood Chinese market. The Bao Zhong should be readily available. There are undoubtedly 10,000 green teas you could try. Good luck.

Let us know your brewing parameters: temperature, steep time, and leaf amount.

Best, Michael

Reply to
Michael Plant

Ed,

Another green you can try is Gunpowder (note, though, that a black Gunpowder is also available). One I like is SpecialTeas No. 531 Temple of Heaven Gunpowder China. I find this tea to have a distinct flavor that I think has subtle smoke, leather and flower components. Also, I find it's fairly forgiving of time and temperature, and you can get at least two very good infusions.

Regards, Dean

Reply to
Dean Macinskas

.

Vietnamese green tea is kickass, and doesn't taste like spinach. Genmaicha had rice in it, and carries a distinctive taste.

Reply to
Tea

I've also tried the Gunpowder from Special Teas, and at first I didn't like it, but it grew on me because it was flavorful and relatively easy to brew.

Steve

Reply to
Steven Hay

Also, try adding more leaf, and try oolongs and chinese greens. I've found japanese greens to be more subtle in flavor.

steve

Reply to
Steven Hay

Ed Clarkrbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read0310/31/03 03: snipped-for-privacy@cox.net

I recently found a tea at an Asian market called Fukamushi-Cha. It has more flavor body and isn't as subtle as most Japanese green teas. It's very forgiving as far water temp, but brew time should be kept to around 30 seconds. It's not a very complex tea, but at times I really enjoy it.

Blues

Reply to
blues Lyne

"Subtle" is an understatement; my experience (admittedly limited) with Japanese greens is that they produce "a cup of hot, greenish yellow water". In fact, if I close my eyes a cup of hot water is all I've got left. Too much 3-alarm chili and vindaloo, I guess.

Regards, Dean

Reply to
Dean Macinskas

What types of green tea have you tried so far? Lower-priced, ordinary teas are of course going to taste rather ordinary. That's not to say that only the most pricey teas are capable of giving satisfaction; I regularly drink ordinary Japanese kona-cha (green tea "dust", sometimes labeled as "sushi tea") in the cold months and enjoy its rough, warming qualities. A big 200g bag costs only $5 at the local Japanese grocery. My suggestion is to try some of this. Then perhaps get a sample pack of some high grade gyokuro, something that goes for at least $25/100g.

Green tea, Japanese green tea in particular, is generally delicate in flavor, much more so than black tea. And it's the antithesis of coffee drinks at Starbucks. If you're more accustomed to taste sensations that pack these sorts of punches, then green tea is going to take some re-adjustment in perception. As Dean alludes to in his post , it's quite possible that the ethereal qualities of green tea simply overpass.

--crymad

Reply to
crymad

Didn't you mean flavored milk drinks at Starbucks?

Reply to
bubbamike_01

I found this one good enough to order twice. Bit pricey.

Reply to
Chandler

I second this suggestion. This is a good robust, cheap, flavourful tea. It also makes a really refreshing cold-water steep overnight.

Cameron

Reply to
Cameron Lewis

I recommend you try tamaryoku cha from ureshino. it has a stronger , slightly smoky earthy taste, than other japanese green teas. francisco

Reply to
francisco

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