I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important. What
I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup of
hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is this
tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions welcomed,
I think.

Thanks

EC

Ed Clarkrbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read0310/31/03

> I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
> virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important. What
> I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup of
> hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
> temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is this
> tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions welcomed,
> I think.
>
> Thanks
>
> EC

Ed,

Here are some thoughts, for what they're worth:

First, green teas are indeed quieter, subtler, gentler on balance than red
teas. The show might just be passing you by. Having said that, you might try
Lin Yun White Down from Special Teas. The web page for the tea:

<http://www.specialteas.com/cgi-bin/S...ct/detail.pl?U
+scstore+azcp9276+524>

Also, perhaps a Bao Zhong, which is, strictly speaking, an oolong, but as
green as oolong gets. Here's one I haven't tried yet, but intend to, from In
Pursuit of Tea. It goes by the name of Pouchong Ching Fung. (Pouchong and
Bao Zhong are transliteration variants of the same Chinese words.)

<http://store.yahoo.com/teastores/poucminyue.html>

I am recommending these two because they are flavorful and distinct and for
the most part forgiving. The directions on the packets of these two will be
accurate enough.

Be aware of course that many vendors put ridiculous brewing instructions on
their packages, often recommending too high a temperature for green teas or
too long a brewing time. Anyway, experiment away. BTW, if you can, try to
find either of these teas in your friendly neighborhood Chinese market. The
Bao Zhong should be readily available. There are undoubtedly 10,000 green
teas you could try. Good luck.

Let us know your brewing parameters: temperature, steep time, and leaf
amount.

Best,
Michael

"Ed Clark" > wrote in message
news:rbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read03...
> I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
> virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important.
What
> I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup
of
> hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
> temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is
this
> tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions
welcomed,
> I think.
>
> Thanks
>
> EC
>
>
Ed,

Another green you can try is Gunpowder (note, though, that a black Gunpowder
is also available). One I like is SpecialTeas No. 531 Temple of Heaven
Gunpowder China. I find this tea to have a distinct flavor that I think has
subtle smoke, leather and flower components. Also, I find it's fairly
forgiving of time and temperature, and you can get at least two very good
infusions.

Regards,
Dean

"Dean Macinskas" > wrote in message
news
>
> "Ed Clark" > wrote in message
> news:rbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read03...
..
> What
> > I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup
> of
> > hot, greenish yellow water.

Vietnamese green tea is kickass, and doesn't taste like spinach. Genmaicha
had rice in it, and carries a distinctive taste.

> Another green you can try is Gunpowder (note, though, that a black Gunpowder
> is also available). One I like is SpecialTeas No. 531 Temple of Heaven
> Gunpowder China. I find this tea to have a distinct flavor that I think has
> subtle smoke, leather and flower components. Also, I find it's fairly
> forgiving of time and temperature, and you can get at least two very good
> infusions.

I've also tried the Gunpowder from Special Teas, and at first I didn't
like it, but it grew on me because it was flavorful and relatively easy
to brew.

Steve

Ed Clark wrote:
> I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
> virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important. What
> I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup of
> hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
> temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is this
> tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions welcomed,
> I think.
>
> Thanks
>
> EC

Also, try adding more leaf, and try oolongs and chinese greens. I've
found japanese greens to be more subtle in flavor.

steve

Ed Clarkrbpob.104894$Ms2.94344@fed1read0310/31/03

> I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
> virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important.
What
> I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup
of
> hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
> temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is
this
> tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions
welcomed,
> I think.
>
> Thanks
>
> EC

I recently found a tea at an Asian market called Fukamushi-Cha. It has more
flavor body and isn't as subtle as most Japanese green teas. It's very
forgiving as far water temp, but brew time should be kept to around 30
seconds. It's not a very complex tea, but at times I really enjoy it.

Blues

"Steven Hay" > wrote in message
...

> Also, try adding more leaf, and try oolongs and chinese greens. I've
> found japanese greens to be more subtle in flavor.
>
> steve
>
"Subtle" is an understatement; my experience (admittedly limited) with
Japanese greens is that they produce "a cup of hot, greenish yellow water".
In fact, if I close my eyes a cup of hot water is all I've got left. Too
much 3-alarm chili and vindaloo, I guess.

Regards,
Dean

Ed Clark wrote:
>
> I am new to regular tea drinking. I have read about the qualities and
> virtues of green tea. Whether they are true or not is not important. What
> I am looking for is a green tea that has more flavor and body than a cup of
> hot, greenish yellow water. I brew at the recommended concentration and
> temperature but only get minimal results. Am I expecting too much? Is this
> tea supposed to be like that? Any recommendations and suggestions welcomed,
> I think.

What types of green tea have you tried so far? Lower-priced, ordinary
teas are of course going to taste rather ordinary. That's not to say
that only the most pricey teas are capable of giving satisfaction; I
regularly drink ordinary Japanese kona-cha (green tea "dust", sometimes
labeled as "sushi tea") in the cold months and enjoy its rough, warming
qualities. A big 200g bag costs only $5 at the local Japanese grocery.
My suggestion is to try some of this. Then perhaps get a sample pack of
some high grade gyokuro, something that goes for at least $25/100g.

Green tea, Japanese green tea in particular, is generally delicate in
flavor, much more so than black tea. And it's the antithesis of coffee
drinks at Starbucks. If you're more accustomed to taste sensations that
pack these sorts of punches, then green tea is going to take some
re-adjustment in perception. As Dean alludes to in his post , it's
quite possible that the ethereal qualities of green tea simply overpass.

--crymad

In article >,
Michael Plant > wrote:

> Here's one I haven't tried yet, but intend to, from In
> Pursuit of Tea. It goes by the name of Pouchong Ching Fung. (Pouchong and
> Bao Zhong are transliteration variants of the same Chinese words.)

I found this one good enough to order twice. Bit pricey.

--
--Chandler --
May Hog be your boatman when you reach the River Styx

> Another green you can try is Gunpowder (note, though, that a black Gunpowder
> is also available). One I like is SpecialTeas No. 531 Temple of Heaven
> Gunpowder China. I find this tea to have a distinct flavor that I think has
> subtle smoke, leather and flower components. Also, I find it's fairly
> forgiving of time and temperature, and you can get at least two very good
> infusions.
>
> Regards,
> Dean

I second this suggestion. This is a good robust, cheap, flavourful
tea. It also makes a really refreshing cold-water steep overnight.

Cameron

I recommend you try tamaryoku cha from ureshino. it has a stronger ,
slightly smoky earthy taste, than other japanese green teas.
francisco