I have a package of Harney & Sons "Japanese Sencha Premium Green Tea" bags.
The brewing instructions on the box clearly call for boiled water to be poured into a warmed pot or mug (containing the tea bag) for three minutes.
I woud imagine Sencha would (should?) taste better when brewed using water from the kettle at 170 or so (maybe even in an unwarmed cup?)
What's going on?
I don't know why they do this, but every package of green, and even white, tea bags that I've ever had says to use boiling water. Go figure. I use a cooler temperature despite the instructions. It's never as good as loose leaf tea no matter what you do, but you've certainly got a better chance at a drinkable cup if you use the appropriate water temperature IMHO.
Agalena
One of these days whenever I get broadband Internet access I'm going to use Google to find out who started the tepid tea temperature myth for tea. A few suspects come to mind. All I need to know is how they inflate their tires during winter.
Trick or Treat Jim
snipped-for-privacy@posting.google.com10/31/03
22: snipped-for-privacy@yahoo.com
Sam,
Welcome to the world of "Don't Give A Rat's Ass about Their Tea or Their Customers" tea vendors. Of course, you are one hundred percent correct. I never buy tea from vendors whose brewing instructions are an insult to the tea, the tea producer, and the tea drinker. Well, almost never. Vendor should be boiled in his Sencha. Not that I have an opinion on this.
Michael
Now now, being careless about their printing/labelling doesn't mean they don't care about their customers or about their products.
E.g., remember Imperial Tea Court's recommendation on their website of a 3-5 minute infusion for gong fu cha (which is still there)? Yet ITC's employees are very helpful and almost scarily knowledgeable about their (excellent selection of) teas.
The same sort of things is the case for Harney & Sons, IME. I recommend a day-trip to their tasting room in western CT for the what a very pleasant cure for your hyperbole. ;-)
N., sipping hand-rolled Uji sencha purchased from H&S, brewed in a gaiwan for 2 minutes using 70 deg. C water.
Point well taken, Natarajan. It just urks me. Or is it "irks"? Anyway, it annoys me. I'll try to restrain myself.
Best, Michael
Natarajan Krishnaswamibo6e8c$e7o$ snipped-for-privacy@eeyore.INS.cwru.edu11/3/03
15: snipped-for-privacy@po.cwru.edu
{SNIP}
If you "urk" then you excuse yourself. If you "irk" then I excuse myself? :)
Have something to add? Share your thoughts — no account required.
Ask the community — no account required