HELP PLEASE SENCHA STEEPS!!

[Katmandu]

Hi! I am having a hard time getting a 'sweet' second steep and third etc out of my sencha...the first steep is fabulous but the others are bitter...my water is at 160 and my times are 1 min, 30 sec, 45 sec...what do u think is happening?

[olivierco]

Hi! I am having a hard time getting a 'sweet' second steep and third etc out of my sencha...the first steep is fabulous but the others are bitter...my water is at 160 and my times are 1 min, 30 sec, 45 sec...what do u think is happening?

Did you let some water in the teapot? All water should be drained.
You might try to shorten the second steep.

[Chip]

Which sencha?

I would not expect it to be bitter, but I usually go a little shorter for the 2nd, 20-30 seconds and up to a minute for the 3rd ... increasing temp each time.

One thing can make it more bitter, if you did not completely drain the first steep.

But first things first, identify the sencha for us.

Edit, Olivier beat me to it.

[Katmandu]

its actually a Rishi sencha I picked up at the grocery store while I wait for Dens..of course not as good quality...hmmmm maybe I didnt drain it all, thats interesting...I just did a 4th steep and it came out nice and sweet again

[Chip]

Yeah, water left in the pot can continue to steep the leaves.

[Katmandu]

thanks, I didnt pay close attention but thats what happened I bet...

[Oni]

What steeping time did you use for second steeping? I would suggest instant pour with fukamushi sencha, and the third pour should be 30 seconds.

[greenisgood]

yeah about the water in the pot thing, dont be afraid to be nerdy and try to get all the little drops out, and sometimes leaves blocking the filter block some of the water, what i usually do is look in the pot after i pour and tilt it to see if there's any tea left, they say the last drops are the best too.

[Wesli]

Just do a flash infusion for the second steep. Pour the right temperature water in, put the lid on, pour back out. Should be around 10 seconds total steep time.

[Chip]

Good idea!

[Salsero]

However odd it seems, I learned from the TeaChat sencha gurus to do a longish first infusion followed by two short infusions. It seems to work great.

[inspectoring]

I would recommend this
1st infusion 1 min.
Wash the leaves with hot water......discard it then try the 2nd infusion...

I never go for more than 2 infusions with my all time favorite ones.

[Ed]

ONLY TWO STEEPS?