Need help with Nilgiri Green

[geeber1]

I just got some Nilgiri Green (Glenmorgan Estate Special Chunmee Leaf) and need some suggestions for preparing it correctly.

I used 1 tsp. of leaves to 6 to 7 oz. of water.

The label says to steep 3 minutes at 170 degrees. I tried that and oh man, was it bitter! The next steep I tried 150 degrees for 2 minutes. Still bitter. Should I have dumped the leaves and started again?

I have absolutely no experience with green teas, so any helpful hints would be very much appreciated!

[Wesli]

When I'm steeping green teas, I never go longer than 1.5 minutes.

[geeber1]

Sorry, did I use the wrong term? What do you say instead of steep?

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

Geeber--First of all, you should have dumped that batch of leaves. Try again and use slighltly more leaf (around 1.5 tsp./6oz water) and try a temperature of 160 F. With a lot of teas you really just need to experiment with what works for you. Also, try brewing for a little less time (roughly 1.5-2 mins) and see if you dont get a better cup! *As far as calling it steeping....some calle it steeping, others call it brewing, personally I feel it is one in the same. To steep literally means "to soak in water or other liquid" and brew literally means "to make or prepare a beverage by mixing, or steeping...etc". So, I frankly dont see much difference! Anyway, I hope this helps! Welcome to the forum!

-Nick (TaiPing)

[geeber1]

Thanks, Nick. I'll try again tomorrow with your suggested temperature/leaf/time suggestions. Are green teas much more temperamental than blacks?

As far as steep vs. brew, I just wanted to be sure I was using the correct term. I always just think of it as "making tea" and not whether I'm steeping or brewing.

[edkrueger]

Are you welcoming thoose with more posts than you?

[geeber1]

Are you welcoming thoose with more posts than you?

Huh??

[edkrueger]

The end of Monkey Kings post.

[geeber1]

Oh, I see now. Maybe he meant to the green tea forum since I've never been here. I'm usually on the "Dark Side." I figured it was time to expand my horizon a bit.

[PolyhymnianMuse]

Supposedly high quality green teas become less and less resistant, in a sense, to bitterness.

[Salsero]

I usually start a new green with a one minute steep at 160° and 3.75 gr leaf to 6 oz water.

• 
  (Also, I often ignore some of Wesli's more cryptic formulations as I believe the
  volume of his UNGTSS sometimes affects the acuity of his communications.)

[geeber1]

Thanks, Salsero. I'll try that and also keep your other comment in mind.

[geeber1]

Nick & Salsero ... thanks for the advice on preparing this green tea.

I finally got around to trying it again tonight and used about 1 tsp. (I don't have a scale yet ... it's on its way!) to 6 oz. of water at 160 degrees, for 1 minute.

It was SO much better than before! It was a little more on the astringent side than I usually like, but still very drinkable.