When I first got into green tea money was tight so I couldn't take the advice here to start off with Japanese green tea. Time drifted after that, but the other day I ordered a "beginners starter kit" from O-cha.
I ordered some Sakura Sencha, a "Swing" teapot and one of their special canisters.
I'm excited.
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Good stuff! Post some pics of the set-up once you get it. And enjoy!
Feb 21st, '13, 22:31
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Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Enjoy the Sakura "kukicha" ... very enjoyable and not cloyingly sakura since it has no added "flavors" ... just really nice.
The swing screen is just about the only screen I have not tried ... maybe one day.
The swing screen is just about the only screen I have not tried ... maybe one day.
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
I got my custom built O-Cha green tea starter kit this morning:
16489 Sakura Sencha $6.38
16362 "Swing" Teapot $24.53
162672 Green Tea Canister $6.87
16489 Sakura Sencha $6.38
16362 "Swing" Teapot $24.53
162672 Green Tea Canister $6.87
Last edited by beforewisdom on Feb 27th, '13, 17:16, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
I will not have a chance to try it until tomorrow, but I have to say that is the lushest green tea I have ever seen.
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Enjoy! But you might just find yourself tumbling down the rabbit hole! 
Feb 28th, '13, 02:10
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Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
You made good choices for both the tea and the teapot. You can make any type of green tea with that teapot, and the sakura sencha is a very nice introduction to green tea. Now you just have to focus on brewing it correctly.
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Good choice!beforewisdom wrote:I got my custom built O-Cha green tea starter kit this morning:
16489 Sakura Sencha $6.38
16362 "Swing" Teapot $24.53
162672 Green Tea Canister $6.87
This has been my first kyusu as well - I still like it very much - brews an excellent tea. Great design and the "swing" variant is helpful.
Enjoy your tea.
Marco
Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Okay, I tried my beginners kit for the first time today.
I think a need I different thermometer. I used one similar to the one in the picture. The water got up to a rolling boil before it registered the required 175F ( 79C )
I also made the tea too strong. I'm still waiting on O-cha to get back to me on an approximate volume measurement for the required 0.6g per ounce.
The pot I ordered ( picture further up in this thread ) barely held 8 ounces. There was a bit of a mess. Yes, I know, the Japanese drink tea out of little cups. I might try getting some glass gaiwans ( I enjoy seeing the tea ).
Will a different thermometer or a Japanese "tea" spoon make any substantive difference at this point?
All in all, even with these first time fumblings I could taste the difference with getting a better quality green tea and one prepared the Japanese way. I can't articulate what, but there was something appealing about the taste that was not lost though I made it too strong. I also liked that the tea stayed more green than yellow as it sat in my cup.
Is rinsing the pot out with water adequate as far as cleaning goes?
I think a need I different thermometer. I used one similar to the one in the picture. The water got up to a rolling boil before it registered the required 175F ( 79C )
I also made the tea too strong. I'm still waiting on O-cha to get back to me on an approximate volume measurement for the required 0.6g per ounce.
The pot I ordered ( picture further up in this thread ) barely held 8 ounces. There was a bit of a mess. Yes, I know, the Japanese drink tea out of little cups. I might try getting some glass gaiwans ( I enjoy seeing the tea ).
Will a different thermometer or a Japanese "tea" spoon make any substantive difference at this point?
All in all, even with these first time fumblings I could taste the difference with getting a better quality green tea and one prepared the Japanese way. I can't articulate what, but there was something appealing about the taste that was not lost though I made it too strong. I also liked that the tea stayed more green than yellow as it sat in my cup.
Is rinsing the pot out with water adequate as far as cleaning goes?
Mar 5th, '13, 11:40
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Re: Sent away for my O-cha Starter Kit
Rinse with very hot water a few times so the clay is HOT in order to speed up the initial drying. Then fully air dry for at least a day with the lid off. If you use it again before that time is up, that is fine too. But you do not want any water/moisture hanging around under that screen!!!
I would suggest a thermometer ... but this topic is a big can of worms on TeaChat. Very polarized opinions.
I personally do not mind using a thermometer ... I like digital ones. The super cheap Taylor digital ones are crap and slow! Ironically, I am using a 9.99 USD digital purchased at Walmart that is very fast a seems accurate. Even has an adjusting screw.
I usually use one for the first and second steeps of Japanese greens ... the two most critical steeps.
Perhaps with time you will grow out of using the thermometer ... but for me it is part of my routine with Japanese greens. Others find them annoying. I can brew without one, but find I get better and more consistant results using one. YMMV.
I would suggest a thermometer ... but this topic is a big can of worms on TeaChat. Very polarized opinions.
I personally do not mind using a thermometer ... I like digital ones. The super cheap Taylor digital ones are crap and slow! Ironically, I am using a 9.99 USD digital purchased at Walmart that is very fast a seems accurate. Even has an adjusting screw.I usually use one for the first and second steeps of Japanese greens ... the two most critical steeps.
Perhaps with time you will grow out of using the thermometer ... but for me it is part of my routine with Japanese greens. Others find them annoying. I can brew without one, but find I get better and more consistant results using one. YMMV.