Green Tea Forum

Ryan · Sensei Joined: 19 Jul 2005 Posts: 449

I don't remember what website I read this on, but I remember reading a site saying that when the mesh screen at the spout is ultra fine, it doesn't allow the aroma to pass through adequately. Is there any validity to this?

Granted, some mesh screens in Japanese teapots are very very fine. So almost no floating particles can or would get through. That can be a plus or minus depending on someones personal preference. The mesh screens that wrap around the interior of a pot are not nearly as fine as some that are just at the spout.

But then, it makes me wonder if these finer mesh screens also compromise some of the health benefits...

There is no question that you hear a lot of misinformation about tea on the internet. So I am consulting the knowledge of the o-cha forum.

What says you, on these two issues (aroma passing through, and health benefits)?

Oni · Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 130

I think when the mesh is fine it can become stuck more easily and your pouring may take much longer, not only the yixing teapot`s but the kyusu`s pouring time is important, I for example pour the tea until it comes quickly after that I tap a little on the back just that the leaves get away from the sprout area and than I can easily pour out the last drop of tea, I`m good to go for second infusion.

brianlavelle · Posted: May 10, 2008 8:17 pm Post subject:

I'm no chemist, by any means, Ryan but I wonder if aroma is perhaps carried at a molecular level so will get through the filter regardless of its fineness (unless yo've been hiding some 25th Century Sub-Atomic Filtered Kyusu: if so, please post some pics!). No doubt someone will correct that unsupported supposition on my part.

As for the health benefits, I can see that if no leaf gets through at all, some of the benefits of ingesting that leaf may be lost. It seems to be commonly accepted that you get more antioxidants and whatnot (I told you I wasn't a chemist...) with matcha, because the whole of the tea leaf is ingested, so perhaps the same principle might apply in reverse here?

Just my little pieces of misinformation. Rolling Eyes

Oni · Black Belt Joined: 15 Mar 2008 Posts: 130

I think they say that a too fine mesh filter influeces the taste is because it pours very slowly therefore it overbrews your tea, the amont of material a common tea gives to the water is 1-2% rest 98% is water.