Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Originally Posted by PigHog

I've got a pack of (what is claimed to be) gyokuro karigane, which a relative bought me for Christmas. Will open it soon—I'm interested and skeptical in equal measures...

I'm not an expert on Japanese tea but I like Den's teas very much. I like them more than Ippodo and they are less expensive. I have one bad of their Gyokuro here that I haven't opened yet. The last one I got from them was really nice.

Originally Posted by PigHog

Yeah, for genmaicha, I'd agree with you. I hardly ever weigh tea anymore though. I just go based on what I think looks right in the scoop/pot.

If in doubt, add more!

Having said that. I don't often buy gyokuro and when I do, I don't think I use enough leaf.

I weigh. Its a habit from making pastry. And I always have a scale within reach so I just do it. Besides, they say things like "a teaspoon". Well, its hard to even measure a teaspoon of irregular shaped leaves like this. What is a teaspoon of sencha leaves? I suppose I could measure a matcha like that. But the irregular leaves of the other teas makes that a silly recommendation. At least I know what I'm working with when weighing.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I weigh. Its a habit from making pastry. And I always have a scale within reach so I just do it. Besides, they say things like "a teaspoon". Well, its hard to even measure a teaspoon of irregular shaped leaves like this. What is a teaspoon of sencha leaves? I suppose I could measure a matcha like that. But the irregular leaves of the other teas makes that a silly recommendation. At least I know what I'm working with when weighing.

Nothing wrong with that - whatever you get best tea from! These days I don't mind ending up with a pot that I wasn't so impressed with. It makes the times that I get everything spot on even better.

I do notice that the specific combination of tea/pot/cup does make a huge difference to flavour and feel, as well as just water temp and brewing time. If I drink from a cup that doesn't suit the particular tea, it doesn't taste as good, so sometimes I'll purposely have tea knowing it won't taste great, just because I want to use a particular cup or pot!

I've ordered from ippodo once but wasn't over keen. Their tea seems to be relatively coarse but their prices are reasonably high. Plus their shipping costs to the UK is ridiculous.

Wuyi Oolong this evening.

Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

Wuyi Oolong this evening.

I have some Oolong coming in the mail next week.

I've been lazy as of late. I've been taking large amounts of organic green tea and oolong tea fannings and powdering them in my vitamix. Poor quality homemade matcha, really. 1/2 to 1 tsp of powder in the mug, 185-190 degree water, let it settle until it's drink temp and leave the sludge in the bottom..... about 6-8 mugs of that per day. Not very exciting, but flavor is not too bad.

ChrisL

Homemade Match.....that's a first.Good or bad congratulations on being a pioneer.

This weekend I've been drinking Assam from my three mug pot.

My Oolong has not yet arrived. But some black tea has.

Wuyi Oolong this evening.