/15/04

> While intrepidly exploring rec.food.drink.tea, Michael Plant
> rolled initiative and posted the following:
>
>> /15/04
>>
>>
>>> While intrepidly exploring rec.food.drink.tea, Jaime rolled
>>> initiative and posted the following:
>>>
>>>>
>>>> I have taken to drinking Red Rose Green Tea. I bought a box
>>>> of it a few months ago, transferred the tea bags to a canister
>>>> but it sat in my kitchen cupboards untouched. I just brewed a
>>>> cup of it and it seems good.
>>>>
>>>> I was wondering (since I tossed the box all those months ago)
>>>> how long should I let it steep for and is brewing green tea
>>>> do-able in a teapot. I use a brown betty type pot.
>>>
>>> Loose leaf green teas typically steep for twice the time of
>>> blacks, e.g. 3 minutes is typical for a black tea, while 6 to 7
>>> minutes is typical of greens. Green tea is also steeped at a
>>> lower temperature.
>>
>> Derek, I steep greens seldom more than 2 minutes, even at
>> temperatures as low as 130 degrees (in the case of best Long
>> Jins and Gyokuros). Once the leaves open, even less time is
>> required. Perhaps I'm putting in far more leaf than you. My
>> formula is simple enough and usually works: Half the number of
>> grams of dry tea as there will be ounces of wet water. More
>> often I brew at between 160 and 175. Most good green teas seem
>> happy at this range. Six or seven minutes sounds like a pretty
>> long steep to me.
>
> You're using much more green tea than I am. I use about 1/3 or even
> 1/4 as much as you do.
>
> I could be doing it "wrong", but it's always worked for me and
> produced quite tasty results.

Hey. You ain't doin' it wrong. You're doin' it right. The proof is the tasty
results. Enjoy your tea.

Michael