Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (Full Version)

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kalikshama -> Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 6:50:55 AM)

Inspired by:

quote:

ORIGINAL: ChatteParfaitt

Please don't get me started on tea (tea being the nectar of the Goddess).

You can't imagine how I feel when I walk down a grocery aisle and see (you guessed it) INSTANT and ALREADY BREWED tea. The tea blasphemy knows NO BOUNDS.


Did you happen to see the episode of Breaking Bad when Gale used a laser (?) thermometer to make sure the tea water was at the correct temperature?

What is the correct temp for green tea? I know the hot water dispenser at work was perfect and I've had to experiment to get it correct at home - room temperature water heated for 2.5 minutes in the microwave and then adding the tea bag and steeping for three minutes seems to work.

I am using Celestial Seasonings Antioxidant green tea because their addition of stevia means I don't have to add sweetener. Next post will be on "real" green tea.



kalikshama -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 6:57:24 AM)

I'd also love for people to weigh in on traditional Japanese green tea such as sencha, matcha, and bancha.

Tea aficionados in South Florida should check out the tea ceremony at the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens.




ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 6:59:24 AM)

I am enjoying that CS blend as well. One of my favs in the green tea spectrum.

Unfortunately, I have to be off and won't be back until this afternoon. I look forward to seeing replies to this thread. It is the single most important one on CM today.



mnottertail -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 7:02:16 AM)

I am a fan of 180 degrees farenheit.



Thaz -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 7:05:05 AM)

A friend of a friend runs this site.

http://www.nbtea.co.uk/brewing.shtml

The short answer is that Green Tea varies a great deal but less than boiling water (assuming your not at high altitude!) is required and it should steep for longer than you think ;-)




lovmuffin -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 10:14:54 AM)

So what is wrong with bringing your water to a rapid boil ? I just boil the water and steep the tea. I didn't know there was a particular method for brewing green tea.



Thaz -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 10:22:59 AM)

if you use boiling water on green tea it will make it taste more bitter. Everyone I know who thinks green tea is too bitter hasnt read the instructions and was making it with boiling water



chatterbox24 -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 10:56:06 AM)

I will ruin that precious tea.

FIrst off I use a bag. ANd Holy shit, I get the water really HOT in the microwave. Then I point my finger (pinky) as straight as I can and remove it. I take the tea bag and dunk dunk dunk dunk while the whole time keeping my pinky straight, both pinkies while dunking. Cause it looks fancy. THen I throw the tea bag in the garage disposal. I spoon some sugar in the MUG, not a tea cup, a mug since I am lazy and I get two cups for the work of one. I use a spoon to drink the tea, and then cuss because it is to hot, but I use an english accent because it sounds classier when you yell obscenities with an accent.

Would you care for a cup of tea? one lump or two?



lovmuffin -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 11:06:58 AM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: Thaz

if you use boiling water on green tea it will make it taste more bitter. Everyone I know who thinks green tea is too bitter hasnt read the instructions and was making it with boiling water



It seems to me I get it weaker than black tea no matter how hot the water is. Ive never noticed a bitterness.

I make crap loads of ice tea (by the gallon). I use Luzianne family size bags. I've heard not to squeeze the tea bags out as it make the ice tea bitter but I've found no difference. Luzianne doesn't get cloudy or mucky after a couple of days in the fridge. I always use filtered water.


I do love tea of all kinds though, hot and iced. Thanks for the link.



lemarquis2 -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 11:25:33 AM)

I got the advice once (concerning japanese green tea) to pour boiling water over it, let it brew for one to two minutes, then pour that away and brew again wiith the rest of then no longer boiling water as usual. The resulting taste was lovely while I am not so sure about the resulting reduction in caffeine content.



DomKen -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 12:51:27 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: lovmuffin


quote:

ORIGINAL: Thaz

if you use boiling water on green tea it will make it taste more bitter. Everyone I know who thinks green tea is too bitter hasnt read the instructions and was making it with boiling water



It seems to me I get it weaker than black tea no matter how hot the water is. Ive never noticed a bitterness.

I make crap loads of ice tea (by the gallon). I use Luzianne family size bags. I've heard not to squeeze the tea bags out as it make the ice tea bitter but I've found no difference. Luzianne doesn't get cloudy or mucky after a couple of days in the fridge. I always use filtered water.


I do love tea of all kinds though, hot and iced. Thanks for the link.

Green tea is milder flavored than oolong or black tea. you won't ever get "strong" tea from green tea. You will get bitter flavors if you steep the tea in water that is too hot.

For loose whole leaves I aim for 180 and yes I do use one of those snazzy IR thermometers, for the sorts of green tea where the leaves are made into pellets I go  little hotter.

For Japanese tea I prefer matcha, the finely ground tea powder used in the traditional tea ceremony, for everyday use. I do on occasion buy an ounce or two of gyokuro, green tea grown under shade, which is nice as an alternative.

For ice tea I just get a mid grade black OP. Avoid tea bags as they are made with tiny bits of tea leaves and produce really awful tasting tea both hot and cold.



Thaz -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 1:02:53 PM)

Thanks Ken

I was trying to answer lemarquis without sounding condescending and short termpered. Marquiss is getting what they need from their tea and no issues there. However I was reacting in much way to someone asking how they serve their wine with 'Oh I add soda water and some sugar' after discussing fine vintages of Burgundy....

It's what you make of it and there's nothing wrong with iced tea.

I am of coursew rather short tempered today for some reason. Time for a cup of tea I guess...

Thaz



ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 2:15:15 PM)

FR: I am not a huge fan of green tea unless it is blended with something else, which is probably why I like the Celestial Seasonings offering of the Antioxidant green tea.

I prefer my tea very strong and sweetened with honey (though I use Truvia most days.) When I drink black tea, I also use cream. Since I prefer a British blend, this seems appropriate.

As to how I go about brewing, since most times I am brewing for myself only, I brew a cup at a time. I have an electric kettle which doesn't just boil the water, it gets a good rolling boil going, which is what I use. (Oh yes, and bottled drinking water, the water here in good old Indiana sucks.)

I use one tea bag per cup and would not dream of re-using (that's just wrong.)

I steep 3 full minutes for my morning English Breakfast tea. I prefer Tetley or Twinnings.

I have an online tea timer for various types of tea I enjoy.

Here's a link to one:

Tea Timer

I find correct steeping time is essential for the type of robust flavor I prefer.

When I brew up a pot of tea, I warm the pot first with boiling water, then add tea (generally using a tea ball or bags) and boiling water. I cover this with a dish towel and steep as directed.

To *really* be proper, tea should be served to guests with two tea pots, one of brewed tea, one of hot water so they can weaken the tea to their desired taste.

As for iced tea which I drink a great deal of in the warmer months, I prefer sun tea. I have a great front porch which gets the most marvelous morning sun, perfect for making my sun tea for the day.

I love to come up with my own blends, like 4 raspberry zingers with 2 ginger tea bags.

YUM.

I fully admit I have never had instant or premade tea, unless I was served it in a restaurant. Himself knows that if a place can't let me do tea properly, we won't be gong back.









lemarquis2 -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 2:25:34 PM)

In addition to the "dispose the first drink the second brew" method I mentioned I should probably add that the method you choose should be not only adapted to the quality of tea but also the quality of water you use.

Thaz also mentioned the altitude (above sea level I guess) in relation to boiling temperature (the higher you get the lower air pressure and with it boiling temperature of water). Living rather close to the Alps (like me) one should indeed consider that but also the abundance of minerals in the water which are only slightly reduced by boiling. Black teas rich in acidic contents (like Assam) react visibly with minerals forming deposits on the surface and in the cup. I can only guess that bitter components in green teas might be a similar phenomenon depending not only on temperature but also on minerals within the water.



ChatteParfaitt -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 2:31:15 PM)

I find the quality of the water very important to my enjoyment of the tea.




SWDesertDom -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 4:56:21 PM)

I always use about 160-180F for Sencha, depending on taste (usually hotter for Fukamushi, colder for Asamushi). About 1g/25ml, sometimes more. Steep about 30s first steep, 15s second steep, 1m third steep. Gyokuro needs cooler water 140-150, longer steeps, too.

Chinese green tea, I steep at around 180F. Pu-Erh (even green Pu-erh) I steep in boiling water, but only flash infusions at first (pour water in pot, pour out as fast as I can), use longer steeps for aged Pu.

Edit: Here is a good link on brewing Japanese Sencha http://www.o-cha.com/make-green-tea.htm



theRose4U -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 6:41:06 PM)


quote:

ORIGINAL: lovmuffin

So what is wrong with bringing your water to a rapid boil ? I just boil the water and steep the tea. I didn't know there was a particular method for brewing green tea.

White tea (young green tea leaves) would be ruined with this method & all subtle nuances of flavor lost

Live near CS plant & its always interesting driving by & smelling the days blend.

Personally ilike my green tea loose then use a steeping spoon...looks like a lobster cracker & tea ball had a baby! Spoon bowl has holes & claw type top with holes keeps tea manageable. Steeps like a spoon using gentle figure 8 motion

Huge fan of peach infused white tea which has a very limited run from CS



lovmuffin -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 7:17:26 PM)

This is all good to know as I'm a tea drinker. I don't have a thermometer but I'm going to boil and let it sit for a minute or 2. I'm boiling the water as I type this. I have a box of Lipton. The label reads "pure green tea". I also have one of those claw things. I think I'm going to shop for some of that fancy loose stuff. Another favorite of mine is orange or lemon spice. I don't use sweetner in any of my teas. I do use a drop or 2 of lemon in hot tea or a few drops in iced tea. I can drink up a gallon of ice tea in 2 or 3 days in the summer. For me it's an excellent thirst quencher.



lovmuffin -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 7:35:46 PM)

Cheers, that cup of green went well with this thread.



Level -> RE: Proper way to brew green tea and other green tea trivia (12/3/2012 8:10:30 PM)

Chatte mentioned using cream with black tea; anyone ever put into green?



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