Green tea taste

[Pookatropolis]

I tried the sencha overture that came with my adagio green tea sampler and I'm wondering, is it supposed to taste and smell like spinach?

[Pentox]

Hm. Not really, but maybe. The reference to spinach in green tea comes up quite often. I've personally never made that association. But at the same time I do get the vegetal taste from quite a few green teas. I've never been sure, but it may be that what I enjoy other people are finding as the spinach taste.

A lot of the time though I hear the spinach reference come up as an effect of oversteeping or overtemp brewing.

[Space Samurai]

A lot of the time though I hear the spinach reference come up as an effect of oversteeping or overtemp brewing.

Which would be an easy mistake. Can you tell us more about how you steeped it?

[Chip]

There is bad bitter spinach from overbrewing, and then there is pleasing spinach I have noticed in some light steamed sencha. I have Overture here, I will have to give it a try and report back tomorrow.

Keep in mind, Overture is a 2nd flush sencha and priced accordingly.

[Tea Noob]

I tried the sencha overture that came with my adagio green tea sampler and I'm wondering, is it supposed to taste and smell like spinach?

I know exactly what you mean! I got the sample too and am new to the realm of loose leaf tea.

Like Pentox said, The 'grassiness' may lessen if you lower the temperature and time. Adding some more leaf will keep it from being weak if you lower the time. It worked for me but by no means will I order this tea again. It may not become your favorite but you may through the tin. I suggest that you order some peppermint or something herbal so you can cover up the taste of any tea you dislike.

I started a post regarding the definition of vegetal that many use regarding the tastes of certain greens. I really just found out everyone has their own definition. If you want to check that out it is here. It won't help you get a universal description for the word, but it should help a little.

I still have my tea training wheels on, so my ability to help is limited. Good Luck, let me know if you find the secret!

[Space Samurai]

When it comes to describing the flavor of Japanese tea, I think we are all just throwing darts at a dart board, seeing how close we can get.

[Salsero]

When it comes to describing the flavor of Japanese tea, I think we are all just throwing darts at a dart board, seeing how close we can get.

I second the motion!

[Chip]

But we do still keep throwing these darts, to stop, we might as well drink Lipton.

[Pentox]

Flavor is a definite struggle. But all the more reason to strive to try to define and describe as best as possible.

[Chip]

When I "eat" used gyokuro leaves, they do remind me of spinach. Good thing I like spinach I guess. If someone does not like spinach and other veggies, greens can be problematic since I have had a green that has reminded me of almost every veggie.

[Love4TheLeaf]

Funny thing. I have always hated spinach but I agree there is a mild spinach character to many green teas and oddly enough, I love it. I don't think it's anyone's imagination. I let my mother and my sister smell my tea and they both said "spinach". But it's like a sweet spinach or something.

[Beidao]

Used sencha leaves have the same spinach taste. Very nice on a sandwich with hoummus!

[Chip]

Used sencha leaves have the same spinach taste. Very nice on a sandwich with hoummus!

I have not eaten used sencha leaves, only gyokuro. But hummus would be good with either.

[ErikaM]

I'm relieved to see other people nibble on used leaves. I'm new to loose-leaf tea and wondered whether I've been committing some type of tea sacrilege. I love the taste of used gyokuro leaves.

[Chip]

In Japan it is considered "wasteful" to simply throw away precious gyokuro leaves.