Green Tea Forum

FataliTEA · Posted: Jan 28, 2008 11:18 am Post subject:

Drinking tea for nutritional value. hysterical

I drink tea for taste. Any health benefits that may or may not be there are a bonus. If the tea is still tasty during 4th and 5th steep, then you better believe I'll be steeping that tea 4 or 5 times. And Britt, if you don't find 3rd, 4th, and 5th steeps to be tasty, perhaps you're just not as skilled at brewing as me and Chip here. SO instead of giving up and making up the excuse that we're "over-infusing" our sencha, how about you try to better yourself and figure out a way to make later steeps taste better for you?

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 916 Location: Japan

I rarely go beyond three infusions. I go for three because after the second infusion I'm too lazy to re-do it again, and I don't go beyond three because I'm usually sitting in a room full of my full inventory and by that stage I'm ready for some strong flavor.

Ed · Posted: Jan 28, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject:

It depends on the sencha. The Fukamushi Supreme is easily good for 4 infusions, the 5th starts to weaken a bit but it's still very good. Steep times are a big factor. For the Supreme, I go with 45 seconds for the 1st steep; 10-15 seconds for the 2nd steep; 30 seconds for the 3rd; 60 seconds for the 4th and 2-3 minutes for the 5th. Your mileage may vary, but IMHO you're wasting tea if you throw out those leaves before the 4th steep of the Supreme. But if you prefer the flavor of the first 2 or 3 infusions then by all means brew a fresh pot. Smile

I do agree that the typical sencha starts to lose its mojo after 3 steeps, but that doesn't mean it's not worth steeping those leaves a few more times to get the last bit of juice out of them if you're inclined to do that. It's all about personal preference.

FataliTEA · Posted: Jan 28, 2008 12:48 pm Post subject:

syntheticpanda · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 198

You must have either a very small room or... well, nevermind. (I would have let that one slide if you hadn't posted that awful banner.)

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

greenisgood · Black Belt Joined: 20 Jan 2008 Posts: 112

It is bothersome that there's no one way to make good tea. But really, how consistant or perfect is anything grown from the ground. And when you add in all the minute variables of water quality, water temperature, amount of water, amount of leaf, freshness of leaf, brewing vessel, steeping time, pouring technique, time in between steepings.......how could anyone possibly agree on the best way let alone get the exact same results themselves. The world is an imperfect, subjective, exception-filled place, and so is tea. We can try to eliminate some of the variables but perfection or a "right way" is never realistic, we just sometimes hope it might be somehow.

Ed · Posted: Jan 28, 2008 2:38 pm Post subject:

Greenisgood, you just made the post of the year. Cool

Chip · Posted: Jan 28, 2008 2:53 pm Post subject:

Yes, that just about sums it up idea

Hmmm, Kevin, you must be sitting in your giant TeaFridge sipping Yutaki Midori...no wonder you caught a cold Exclamation

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 916 Location: Japan

I'm in the final stages of that * cold, it's just lingering on. I'm at the "feeling better but still have that friggin' nagging cough" stage that drags on forever.

I can revisit guricha today or tomorrow I think.

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 179

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 179

britt · 2nd Degree Black Belt Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Posts: 179

FataliTEA · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 4:42 am Post subject:

Chip · Posted: Jan 29, 2008 6:37 am Post subject:

True that!!! Long live 5 delicious infusions

There is a level of tact, diplomacy if you will that is required on a forum. We are not here to sling mud at each other or to put down others pratices. We come here because we share an interest, for many of us, a passion.

I like to think of this as a "brotherhood" if you will and a place to share. Not so much a place to debate. Expressing opinions is great, but again, a certain level of tact...consideration, would be advisable. We will not all agree on everything, but a mutual respect is important or debates will become the norm.

You will notice the forum is generally people sharing their success stories or asking questions, not a lot of questioning the practices of others in a negative manner.

So, yes, there is MUCH passion in how we brew our tea, insulting the way one brews tea (without even having a willingness to try it) is a little like insulting a guy's wife...you will get certainly get heightened reactions.