Healthier New Yr: Drink Real Tea!
Jan. 7th, 2012 10:59 amAnd Real Tea doesn't come in a bag, BTW;>. Here are my favs for 2012(at present):
New Faves-'Snow Pear' Oolong and 'Emerald Green' Green Tea from Silk Road Teas. 'SP' is my 1st real Oolong and I LOVE IT! 'EG' is a typical Chinese high quality Green; Sweet, with lots of fruit notes. For such a Japanophile, I'm really fond of most Japanese Greens...too "grassy" for me;>!
Old Favs- 'Superior Pi Lo Chun' Green, 'Snowy Mountain Jian' Green, Litchee Jasmine Green, and Osmanthus Green...all from Enjoying Tea. Of the "plain" I like 'SMJ' the best. Of the flavored the LJ, though the Osmanthus is incredible. Just not as;>.
All these are loose-leaf Tea that are brewed with Water below Boiling. A good indicator that it's ready is that wisps of steam are just beginning to come off the Water and you can stick a finger in it without injury.
Oolongs are slightly different because the leaves must 1st be rinsed with the Water(just pour some over them to get them all damp is enough, the elaborate methods you'll read for are showmanship;>)then Steeped. Both for no more than 3 minutes. Longer and you can get the Astringent brew that using Boiling Water causes and why many folks don't like Green Tea(unless they also like biting into unripe Persimmons;>)...
Cheers,
Pat
New Faves-'Snow Pear' Oolong and 'Emerald Green' Green Tea from Silk Road Teas. 'SP' is my 1st real Oolong and I LOVE IT! 'EG' is a typical Chinese high quality Green; Sweet, with lots of fruit notes. For such a Japanophile, I'm really fond of most Japanese Greens...too "grassy" for me;>!
Old Favs- 'Superior Pi Lo Chun' Green, 'Snowy Mountain Jian' Green, Litchee Jasmine Green, and Osmanthus Green...all from Enjoying Tea. Of the "plain" I like 'SMJ' the best. Of the flavored the LJ, though the Osmanthus is incredible. Just not as;>.
All these are loose-leaf Tea that are brewed with Water below Boiling. A good indicator that it's ready is that wisps of steam are just beginning to come off the Water and you can stick a finger in it without injury.
Oolongs are slightly different because the leaves must 1st be rinsed with the Water(just pour some over them to get them all damp is enough, the elaborate methods you'll read for are showmanship;>)then Steeped. Both for no more than 3 minutes. Longer and you can get the Astringent brew that using Boiling Water causes and why many folks don't like Green Tea(unless they also like biting into unripe Persimmons;>)...
Cheers,
Pat
no subject
Date: 2012-01-07 09:12 pm (UTC)My preferred brew method is the fine mesh strainers that hold the leaves that set into the top of the cup. When brew time is done, you just lift them, and the leaves, out. Finum Goldton Filters, Blue and Green
no subject
Date: 2012-01-08 11:56 am (UTC)White Tea I love but tend to be too expensive. I'd love to try a good Pueh Tea but they are WAY out of my budget. Originally, I HATED Green Tea until I actually read how to brew them and realized that my use of the Temp normally used for Black Tea caused too much Tannin to be released...making the brew bitter and "puckery". No problems nowadays!
In general I'm not a big fan of flavored Teas since they're usually how you move inferior product. There are a few vendors with a few products I do like(as seen in post;>)but mostly I prefer the real deal un-fukked with.
Cheers,
Pat