Impact of water hardness on Japanese green tea taste

[TokyoB]

Although I know this topic has been discussed somewhat previously, I did find this interesting. I will have to experiment with water again.

http://everyonestea.blogspot.com/2010/0 ... tea-3.html

[Chip]

I do think it can add some sweetness to Japanese tea, but I can also live w/o it apparently. 15 months ago I began using the GraviTea water purifier which has virtually eliminated scale and I guess hardness to a degree.

Tea may have been a bit sweeter, but I welcome the greatly diminished scale build up in our extremely hard water here (well water). And any decrease in sweetness has not adversely affected my enjoyment of japanese greens (obviously ).

[Oni]

If the water is soft, natural, from mountain springs, the tea is good, no matter the brand, I tried a few here, and the ones that were similar in hardness made the tea the same as my regular tea water, anything harder than 200 is not good for green tea, the water should have no taste, just purity, and wetness, the tea can build up nicely on it, so that you can only taste the tea, and no other minerals.

[Chip]

If the water is soft, natural, from mountain springs, the tea is good, no matter the brand, I tried a few here, and the ones that were similar in hardness made the tea the same as my regular tea water, anything harder than 200 is not good for green tea, the water should have no taste, just purity, and wetness, the tea can build up nicely on it, so that you can only taste the tea, and no other minerals.

... then why use Banko or Tetsubins which impart metals which alter flavor?

I think the naturally sweet (hard) well water we have in much of the USA can brew up excellent tea. It is a matter of finding balance.

Completely pure water such as distilled leaves tea tasting flat and lifeless.

[teepo]

is there any way to go about testing the hardness of water?

[Oni]

I use natural water, from spring, the brand I use (is the most popular here) has the water it has a dry residue at 180 C 76 mg/l , that makes it a soft water, anything under 200 is considered soft (or below 150 I do not remember).
http://www.apabucovina.ro/imbuteliere.p ... ntent=1050
Click on the 5 liter bottle and you`ll see the TUV analisis report.

[jpeizer]

Actually if you go to an aquarium supply store they sell testing equipment for hard water -- A pool supply store will probably also carry hardness testing products.