Sencha: How Many Steeps Do You Do?

[edkrueger]

This question appeared in two other threads, but I was interested in making it a poll question. I am interested in how often most people steep.

Edit: Most people probably vary the number of steeps, so please put how many you usually do.

[Chip]

I expect the norm to be around 3, but I am certainly abnormal!

I voted 5, but often exceed this ... saving the pot of leaves for the evening and low caffeine tea.

[debunix]

Can often get a 5th, but usually I run out of time in the morning after 4.

[NOESIS]

My standard for greens (except Gyokuro), 3 steeps.

[togei]

I steep twice for Japanese gyokuro, using about 5 grams. Only 2 steeps seems to be very few judging from the poll.
Dave

[sebpassion]

i usually steep 4 times.
my little gyokko kyusu holds 120ml and my hot-water-kyusu holds about 500 ml.

so that fits exactly.

[gargoylekitty]

I don't really keep track and it varies, but definitely in the higher end, likely around 5 times on average.

[Marco]

5 is the norm.
Sometimes up to 7 steeps - but with to long times sometimes just 3.

Oh and or depends on the Sencha - I had one that always gave me just 4. But it has been a good quality.

[tortoise]

I've gotten up to 3 good steeps now. I've been trying to get better at stretching it out. Using more leaf than I normally do has helped me get another steeping. The first two are always the best though, and for me, the most significant taste deterioration occurs after the second steep no matter how good the 3rd one is.

[entropyembrace]

Usually 3 steeps...some lower grade senchas only 2. A few higher grade senchas I will make more steeps...sencha steeps record held by Fuga Super Premium which I generally get 6 steeps from.

[Oni]

I use 3 infusions, of most of the green teas I drink, only if I get something of very high quality, that I use max 4, 5 infusions are for gyokuro only, generally I respect strong teas, that are full of chi, great gan, good mouthfeel, captivating taste, that is obvious from the first sip, generally a good tea has these properties.

[edkrueger]

Tried some new parameters with Ippodo's Hosen and got about 4 steeps:
15g to 8oz.
1st steep: 140F for 2min
2nd steep: 140F for 2min
3rd steep: 160F for 2 min
4th steep: 160F for 2 min
I'm considering that I might be using too little leaf / too much water for the temperature and brew times.

[Stentor]

I usually do (and voted) 4. The fifth just doesn't give me enough flavor, although I sometimes do a fifth if I haven't had enough by that point and feel like I wan't to have something hot to drink (as by that time I'll go with 90 degrees C or so).
If I'm very picky that day and strictly want that full sencha taste, I'll only do 3.

I've found that the second steep is the most important one when it comes to making sure you get multiple infusions.
If you mess up the second one by brewing it too hot or too long, the ones after that won't be good.
If you don't go too much hotter than the first infusion and go very short (about 5-15 seconds, I don't time this exactly) you'll get 4 nice infusions with good quality sencha.
Also, the third infusion doesn't necessarily need to be longer than the second to my experience, although I usually give it a few additional seconds just because it seems logical. However, I've had good results with doing 15 seconds for the third steep and 30-40 seconds for the fourth and then doing a fifth for a little over a minute.

[nickE]

Generally 3-4 infusions. Sometimes a 5th if I'm in the mood for MOAR TEA.

[britt]

For sencha three is the norm for me unless I'm too lazy too empty the kyusu and add new leaves.

I usually do four with Chinese green teas brewed the conventional way.