I think I'm doing something wrong.

[Ilumi]

Hi!

I'm a pretty big tea newbie, wanting to get into green tea. It seems to me, however, that whenever I do make it, the taste comes out very fishy and unpleasant (this is a green tea from Yunnan). I thought that I was just doing something wrong - to test out my theory, I steeped some tea in boiling water for 10 minutes, and then in much cooler water for two minutes. The only thing I noticed was that the former had a stronger fishy taste than the latter. As I've read that green tea goes bitter easily, this surprised me. The former's taste wasn't bitter at all, even when I completely disregarded the instructions.

So now I ask you, TeaChat, is there something wrong with my temperature perception? The label on my tea says to brew it at 170 F for two minutes. I think I did that - certainly, it wasn't hotter than 170. If not that, then what? Could it just be that tea from Yunnan isn't for me, and if so, why didn't the tea's taste change much when I brewed it for so long?

I'm aware that these may seem like very stupid questions. I've been searching the internet for answers, but all everything tells me is the usual brewing instructions, which I did follow. I thought it'd be best to ask some of you fine people here.

[Chip]

How much tea are you using, what tea is it, etc. More info will help us to help you. A link would help.

There are many green teas even from Yunnan, have you tried more than one with the same results? Yunnan green can be different.

I would suggest getting some other greens from other regions/countries to see if it is the tea or you ... per se.

Welcome to TeaChat.

[Ilumi]

Ah, my apologies. The tea itself is bought from a Finnish place; it's called Jade Dragon. The reason why I didn't say that was because the information probably wouldn't be of any use to most people here.

I used around two teaspoons of it for my mug that holds 12 ounces, which is the recommended amount. I'm certain that I didn't go over that, as the leaves themselves are quite large and it's a bit hard to get a full teaspoonful of them, so to speak.

I have tried other green teas that I think are from Yunnan. They did have the same fishy taste. The reason why I think this fishy taste is a bad sign is because I accidentally oversteeped some white tea and it had almost the exact same taste, except less powerful.

[Chip]

Although there are certainly decent greens from Yunnan, Yunnan is not particularly notable for greens. Therefore, try some from other regions/countries and compare.

If this store is near you, ask them to brew you a cup of the Yunnan, and ask for them to brew you a cup of some other greens if they are willing. (unfortunately teashops are not usually the best places to buy greens, though there are exceptions!)

Greens should not taste fishy, though sometimes a newer brewer of greens may perceive a fishiness. So, it could be the tea, or it could be your perception of a tea that is quite defferent from other teas you have been drinking.

However, if I had a fishy green, I might guess it was from Yunnan.

Is the fishy possibly marine (sans fish), and not fishy?

[Chip]

Actually, 2 teaspoons in 12 ounces is not much leaf at all.

I think you are struggling with a mediocre green tea ...

[rabbit]

^ I would have to agree with that above statement... BUT my guess is it's largly the water, try using bottled water... and try some different greens, there are MANY flavors you can get from the different teas.

[Chip]

Green tea is particularly apt to pick up surrounding flavors and aromas. You have heard of the deer jerky tasting Long Jing?

[tenuki]

Although there are certainly decent greens from Yunnan, Yunnan is not particularly notable for greens.

I agree with this statement, but this weekend I had an truly amazing green tea from Yunnan. A friend's uncle makes it for their family use - soooo good.

[debunix]

I've really enjoyed the Yunnan greens I've gotten from Norbu and Yunnan Sourcing. All good, and a couple are now favorites. They do have a bit of a fruity/floral/camphor taste that I really enjoy, distinct from the Anxi and Taiwanese and Japanese greens I've had, which I attribute to different tea plant varieties. And the lesser ones have certainly got potential to be bitter, but I've never had a fishy flavor in any of them.

At last count, I think I've had about 6 different greens from Yunnan, plus several yunnan white teas.

[iannon]

Green tea is particularly apt to pick up surrounding flavors and aromas. You have heard of the deer jerky tasting Long Jing?

yes!! why yes I have!!

[SlientSipper]

Sometimes things like this are an acquired taste.
meaning you'll have to let it grow on you first.
or maybe its just not the tea for you.

[Chip]

Green tea is particularly apt to pick up surrounding flavors and aromas. You have heard of the deer jerky tasting Long Jing?

yes!! why yes I have!!

[AlexZorach]

I agree with others who have said that Yunnan green teas can be more than a bit strange. If you're a newbie with respect to green tea, they're probably not the best teas to start with. Personally? I love Yunnan greens.

Although though, I wouldn't generalize about Yunnan greens just on the basis of this one tea. I've found that Yunnan green teas tend to be more diverse than green teas from a number of other regions.