Green Tea Forum

geoff · Uh, Can I Add Sugar? Joined: 10 Jun 2007 Posts: 3

Is there a better filter than the mesh I normally use for filtering out the sincha leaf fragments. I have a lot of fine leaf pieces of the midori in my cup. I don't dislike this, but I wonder what others do.

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

My teapot is made of ceramic and the screen is also ceramic, yet very well made. Nevertheless, I get a lot of particles in my cup yet I do not mind this and in fact welcome it. Some people are partial to a cup that is more crystal clear and devoid of tea particles...

One solution you could use is to get an additional very fine strainer to pour the tea through. So you would hold the teapot and pour and have the liquid go through another piece of mesh. This strategy might make your tea virtually particle free depending upon how fine the additional mesh infuser is.

Chip · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 4:18 am Post subject:

...however, removing too much particle is said to remove too much flavor. So, it is a balancing act.

If you remove so much particle to render the brew crystal clear, I think it would lose too much flavor.

Photiou · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 7:05 am Post subject:

I did not like O-Chas Yutaka Midori much for exactly that reason - too broken grade and dusty. I use my french press for teas with small particles/fukamushi and kyusu with ceramic screen for lightly steamed teas.

I think Uji Sencha Miyabi was better of the two O-Cha senchas I tried and I have stayed on ujicha after that.

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

You say "broken grade" like fukamushi is a bad thing...

Photiou · Posted: Jul 01, 2007 8:46 am Post subject:

Maggie45 · Posted: Jul 02, 2007 7:08 am Post subject:

Kevangogh · Forum God Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 926 Location: Japan

The nature of the internet is that you can't always come across as you would face to face.

Karen · Black Belt Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 123

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 475

I would say, and this is just my opinion, that any leaf fragments even if they continue to "brew" this probably doesn't even equal 1/10 of a gram of tea. That being the case, I can't see how it would increase the bitterness. I could be wrong though, I like my tea fragments.

Karen · Black Belt Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 123

Hi, Ryan!
I'm gonna disagree with you on this. I've experienced this mainly with non-Japanese teas (usually green), but it's quite true. The little buggers just kept brewing but the problem disappeared with straining. I've found that this isn't a problem with oolongs brewed in an Yixing pot, though, because the leaves are large and just don't pass through the pot's filter. What can I say...I'm anal. Sad

Photiou · Posted: Jul 03, 2007 8:27 am Post subject:

I have to agree with Ryan then Smile

- as my kyusu has a ceramic screen it will let some leaf fragments trough but I have not detected any extra bitterness in tea (sencha) even if I let it stay some time in a teacup.

Place X also advertises their hohin teapot by saying that few leaf fragments its coarse filter lets trough will improve taste Rolling Eyes

.
(admin, how is the hohin hunt going?)

Chinese teas I have do not have small leaf fragments so I have not had any problems with them.

Karen · Black Belt Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 123