Raw Tea Leaves

[eidahl]

I found what looks to be a tea plant behind my house - it almost has this minty smell to it ... so, uhm, I'm trying to brew it at this moment.

I couldn't find anything about brewing "raw tea leaves" ANYWHERE, why is that?

[Poohblah]

Probably because the raw leaves tend to have an unpalatable bitter taste, or so I've heard.

[wyardley]

http://www.myteastories.com/2009/01/app ... dized.html

[eidahl]

It wasn't bitter at all. The tea had a very light green color to it (probably should've used more leaves..) and sort of a sweet taste to it, huhmm.. this could use some experimentation.

EDIT: Oooh, ".. strange, green and vegetal, but also very natural and "sweet" in the sense of its purity. .. " - that's exactly how I would describe it.

[SlientSipper]

that's quite odd. You must live in a special place to have a wild tea leaf growing in your backyard.
I really don't know what to make of that.

[eidahl]

Sac, California -is- pretty special, I suppose.

[jhole]

It's really unlikely that it is a wild tea tree if you are not in Asia. But hey, if it taste good, go for it!