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wrath186
White Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 21
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 Posted: Jun 27, 2008 12:44 am Post subject: Hello and Help |
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Hello, I'm basically brand new to brewing and drinking green tea. I had originally looked into tea as a weight loss supplement, but the more I reasearched it the more I became interested in it. So, I purchased a small tea set and some different teas and have been just plodding away at brewing tea.
I have read as much on the subject as I can regarding brewing techniques and times, but I'm still a bit confused. The teas I've been getting haven't been bitter, but they haven't been all that strong either. I've only had black teas, so I'm not sure if I'm on the right track with my brewing or if the tea I have is sub-standard or if I'm messing something else up.
I purchased three teas:
Jasmine Dragon Pearls (Imperial Long Chu)
Superior West Lake Dragon Well (West Lake Long Ching)
Gyokuro - which is supposedly a premium Japanese green tea)
I've brewed pots of each and found them pleasant enough, just very weak.
Is this normally the case? The Superior WL Dragon Well was very woody with a nutty finish. Not unpleasant, just not as nice as the floral of the Jasmine Pearls. The Japanese tea tasted the most like tea to me, but very light, almost grassy.
Do any of these descriptions sound on or off? I'm hoping for a bit of direction.
I've been using filtered water with a thermometer and timer to measure everything as precisely as possible. Steeping times have been between two and three minutes, depending on infusions.
Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. |
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olivierco
Brown Belt
Joined: 01 May 2007
Posts: 71
Location: France
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 12:46 am Post subject: |
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| For gyokuro, brewing instructions are here |
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okimasa
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Location: Elora, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 2:23 am Post subject: Re: Hello and Help |
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| wrath186 wrote: | | Hello, I'm basically brand new to brewing and drinking green tea. I had originally looked into tea as a weight loss supplement, but the more I reasearched it the more I became interested in it. |
Although its not really what you were asking about, green tea doesn't really do too much for weight loss. |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 2:36 am Post subject: |
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| i usually let it steep for 1-1.5 minutes, if it's weak you may not be using enough leaf, how much are you using? |
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wrath186
White Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:39 am Post subject: |
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Okimasa wrote:
| Quote: | | Although its not really what you were asking about, green tea doesn't really do too much for weight loss. |
Yeah, it's kind of a bummer about the weight loss. I found that out after some exhaustive research. Aside from that, though I found that there were other health benefits. I have been slowly modifying my diet the last two years to weed out processed foods and try to live healthier and more naturally. I thought that this might be another good step in the right direction.
| Quote: | sleepyredmoo wrote:
i usually let it steep for 1-1.5 minutes, if it's weak you may not be using enough leaf, how much are you using? |
The directions said two to three teaspoons for 8oz of water. I was using two. |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:43 am Post subject: |
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Well if it doesn't work for you, just adjust to your taste, it should be how you like it, not specifically how the bag directs there are some good brewing guidelines here on o-cha, you should check those out too.
oh, i'm actually glad it doesn't really make you lose weight, i'd actually like to gain a few pounds. |
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okimasa
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Location: Elora, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| wrath186 wrote: | Okimasa wrote:
| Quote: | | Although its not really what you were asking about, green tea doesn't really do too much for weight loss. |
Yeah, it's kind of a bummer about the weight loss. I found that out after some exhaustive research. Aside from that, though I found that there were other health benefits. I have been slowly modifying my diet the last two years to weed out processed foods and try to live healthier and more naturally. I thought that this might be another good step in the right direction.
| Quote: | sleepyredmoo wrote:
i usually let it steep for 1-1.5 minutes, if it's weak you may not be using enough leaf, how much are you using? |
The directions said two to three teaspoons for 8oz of water. I was using two. |
I'm unframiliar with Jasmine Dragon Pearls and Superior West Lake Dragon Well, but for Gyokuro, you need about 2 tablespoons per 8 oz.
Anyway, yes! Green tea has a wide array of health benefits!
Also, welcome to the forum! |
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wrath186
White Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:52 am Post subject: |
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Ok, tablespoons. That seems like a bit much. The water barely covers the leaves now. Maybe it's the teapot. I purhcased one with a little strainer inside. The strainer is about the size of a Dixie cup. Maybe I should remove the strainer and just brew straight through the pot.
It's not a terribly expensive pot. I just started out brewing and didn't want to spend a ton of money until I was sure that I liked the tea. I've looked on O-Cha for pots. Maybe I'll get a better one there. |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:55 am Post subject: |
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| wrath186 wrote: | | The strainer is about the size of a Dixie cup. |
It's important for the leaves to expand properly when brewing so that strainer probably is too small. |
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okimasa
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Location: Elora, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 3:58 am Post subject: |
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| wrath186 wrote: | Ok, tablespoons. That seems like a bit much. The water barely covers the leaves now. Maybe it's the teapot. I purhcased one with a little strainer inside. The strainer is about the size of a Dixie cup. Maybe I should remove the strainer and just brew straight through the pot.
It's not a terribly expensive pot. I just started out brewing and didn't want to spend a ton of money until I was sure that I liked the tea. I've looked on O-Cha for pots. Maybe I'll get a better one there. |
Yeah, for Gyokuro, it does seem like a lot, but you really need it. Is your little strainer like a little basket that can be taken out from the top? If so, yes, you REALLY need to take it out, expecially for gyokuro. Your tea pot may or may not have a little strainer on the inside of the spot. If it doesn't, try pouring the tea out and through your strainer into the cup(s). |
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wrath186
White Belt
Joined: 26 Jun 2008
Posts: 21
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 4:00 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I'm going to try that. Will use the strainer after the steeping takes place.
Next question: I was looking at some of the different kinds of teapots and was wondering if any are made for left handed people? |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 4:01 am Post subject: |
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| i've never seen one, but i'm sure there are |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 4:02 am Post subject: |
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 and now i have |
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okimasa
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 15 Mar 2008
Posts: 168
Location: Elora, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| wrath186 wrote: |
Next question: I was looking at some of the different kinds of teapots and was wondering if any are made for left handed people? |
Teapots with a glaze on the inside would be best for us "simple folk". If the inside is unglazed, the clay can absorb some of the flavour, making the teapot really only useful for one type of tea.
I'm not sure where to get teapots with the handle sticking out the side for left handed people, but the kind with the bamboo handle going over the top of it may work. They are pretty abundant. |
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sleepyredmoo
2nd Degree Black Belt
Joined: 26 Mar 2008
Posts: 177
Location: Fergus, Ontario, Canada
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| Posted: Jun 27, 2008 4:06 am Post subject: |
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| okimasa wrote: | | the kind with the bamboo handle going over the top of it may work. They are pretty abundant. |
Maybe you should post a pic of yours. |
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