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Someone gave me loose green tea as a gift recently. I've had green tea before and it didn't taste like this. When I make it it tastes really bitter. I put 2 teaspoons of tea leaves in the teapot and add water (about 2 cups) that has just started to simmer, then let it steep about 10 minutes. Maybe it's just the type of tea - it's Chinese tea and has Asian characters on the tin.

Your water may be too hot. And you are definitely steeping it too long. Both release more of the tannic acid creating the bitter taste.

http://www.thefragrantleaf.com/brewingtips.html

I don't use a thermometer but just heat water until it starts "shimmering," remove from heat before it starts simmering. Steep for about 3 minutes.

Oh wow... Ten minutes steep time is way too long for green tea. Takes only 3 minutes max, and a couple of brands I use take just 2 1/2 or they become bitter.
The water shouldn't be at a full boil, either. It should just be steaming.

Way too long steep time -- most people don't steep LONG enough, however -- once the water is colored they think tea is done.

I always let my water come just to the boil (I'm not sure what temp it is -- I have an electric tea kettle and it turns off at the proper temp) but it is just beginning to boil.

I thought simmer was less than a boil -- perhaps your water is not hot enough.

Martha

I was really interested in this thread since I'm trying to drink less coffee and more green tea. Is there a brand that I should consider trying?

I'm presently using Peet's Sencha Tea, which is a loose green tea. The label says: "A bright green tea with fresh cut grass notes, this is the classic Jap. tea." I make it in my French Press, but I'm not enjoying it very much. I turn the teapot off as soon as it starts to produce steam and I have been steeping it for 4 mins. Don't think one minute will be it taste any better, but I'll try it now for lunch.

Thanks for the website, Sherry. Very informative. I learned that Sencha is a spring tea that should be steeped 3 mins. in 170-degree water!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: CA Lori,

Green tea is supposed to be very healthy, but I am not such a great fan of green tea by itself. I often combine a green tea bag with an orange or lemon zinger or raspberry bag, and that makes enough for two cups. I find the raspberry addition especially nice if we want it iced.

Cannot tell much difference between most of the green teas (probably because I mix them with the fruits), except I personally do not care for the Earl Gray variety.

weakestlink mentioned loose tea...however if anyone is using tea bags...do NOT squeeze the bag(s). Don't smash the loose tea leaves either. And...don't reheat the tea leaves in any form. You got the good stuff with the first steeping.

I've had two different web sites highly recommended but have purchased from neither:
www.harney.com
www.teavana.com - Especially this one.

I did 170 degree water and 3 min brew. It may have been a little better. Not sure. Maybe I'm just getting more used to the stuff!

When I first started drinking coffee, I didn't like it either. I had to use both cream and sugar to get it down. Now, eons later, I prefer it black. And I much prefer reg. over decaf. I suppose if I only had green tea to drink for months and months, I might develop a taste for it, too.

I think there is a Teavana in a nearby shopping mall. They had all kinds of teas and tea-making equipment for sale. A lovely store with very friendly/helpful clerks. I'll have to go back and check it out, I've only been there once and happened on it quite by accident.

Conrad, what's a "zinger"? I'm assuming a slice of orange or lemon. Never heard the term before.

Zinger? lol
Celestial Seasonings calls some of their herbal brews by that name.
Lemon zinger

OIC

No need for
I did not make myself clear, the "lol" was because I reread what I wrote, and to me it sounded like shot of flavored vodka or the like?

If you don't care much for green tea do try some white tea It is better for you and does not have the bitternes of the black or green tea. If you can't find any white tea the Stash Tea Co. has a few differnt kinds of white tea. Try it you'll like it.

I find green tea pretty tasteless (like hot water), or bitter (as I've mentioned). I tried putting a sprinkle of ground cinnamon or powdered ginger in the tea when it's steeping.

I'm going to have to try the cinnamon or ginger. I went to Teavana in a nearby mall and bought some white tea. I don't like it. It was also quite expensive, $23 for 2 oz.

Lipton green tea with citrus.... Can buy it in a 20 oz bottle like soda, or in 1 gal containers, it can be drank hot or cold & it is actually good either way. If heating it, bring just to the temp you want to drink it at, and NEVER boil it. It is also quite beatiful served in a glass pitcher with some lemon/orange slices floating. You can also add a few mint leaves ot a sprig of rosemary. Serve over ice. (And maybe with a teacake.. but not anything really sweet, it makes the tea taste bitter if you drink it after sweets) It is very refreshing on a hot day.
If you look in the tea aisle at your larger local stores, they have quite a few flavors of green tea in teabag form, simply bring water to a steam & pour over bag, steep 3 minutes & remove bag. Enjoy!
Hope you find one you like

Bottom line, weakestlink, if you don't like green tea, why make the effort to drink it? If it is because of "recent medical studies," I hope you understand that they are just that, "studies," so feel free to carry on with your life without being concerned that you aren't falling into step with the latest...

Just live your life and don't worry - stress is a far more destructive element than anything you might be consuming. Have fun, wake up in the morning with something to do. Smile - smile at everyone you see and then smile back if they make eye contact. Take a walk, breathe deeply and stop to admire things around - that tree, those buildings, the sidewalk.

A purposeful life is one worth living....

Idaho is correct! What with all the new studies abounding with no clinical proof, we would have to throw away half the stuff in our pantries every other week if we believed them all!

Lori,

Did you find some tea at the store? We just had one open and I can't wait to go sampling. There was a jasmine tea that was delightful. Always fun to taste the new flavors.

Thank Everyone for the TEA TIPS!

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Beau's Rose,

Beau's Rose, yes I did. It was Teavana. A beautiful store with lots of knowledgeable clerks and all kinds of tea gear . . . but pretty expensive! Don't know if I mentioned that I tried weakest link's suggestion of cinnamon (in my white tea), which did enhance it. But didn't like the ginger suggestion. I also tried dropping in a few chocolate chips on another attempt, but that didn't work at all--I just had a blob of chocolate sitting in the bottom of my cup. Next, I think I'll try some vanilla, or maybe a splash of Kahlua or Bailey's.

quote:

Originally posted by CA Lori:
Next, I think I'll try some vanilla, or maybe a splash of Kahlua or Bailey's.

Now you're talking! Love Bailey's in hot cocoa too.