The Green Tea News 3

______________________________________________

Tea of the Day: Fukamushi Sencha

Distributor: Marayuma

______________________________________________

Brewing temperatures vary between tea drinkers because the taste of tea is a subjective feeling. The taste and the smell are both characteristics that tea drinkers judge to define the quality of the tea itself. Though we cannot come to a conclusion that may work with everyone, one is able to provide some sort of base-line with descriptions to give a neophyte tea drinker a place to start at.

At this point it may be wise to have a thermometer if you haven’t brewed before. In fact, the brewing temperature parameter is meaningless if you don’t have one, so grab one! However, there are four parameters that are important to know in brewing:

1. Amount of water
2. Amount of tea (this does NOT change after first infusion)
3. Temperature of water
4. Steeping Time

Of course the type of tea matters; think about it as the subject that changes these parameters values.

Therefore with Fukamushi Sencha, I find myself very content with the following brewing parameters:

First Infusion:

• Temp: 170.8F
• Amount of Tea: 1 tsp (level)
• Water Amount: 5 oz
• Steep Time: 30 seconds
• Comment: Light vegetation flavor with smooth tongue roll off. Mild astringency at roll off but blends in well with the smoothness of the tea.

Second Infusion:

• Temp: 170.1F
• Water Amount: 5 oz
• Steep Time: 15 seconds
• Comment: Similar experience to the first steep except that the flavor is richer than before. The veggie flavor is more apparent, but appealing.

Third Infusion:

• Temp: 163.3F
• Water Amount: 5 oz
• Steep Time: 90 seconds
• Comments: This was a little bit more astringent than the first and second, but overall had a similar flavor to the first as well. I could reduce the steep time to around 60-70 seconds and probably reach the same flavor as the first steep.

Therefore, other than the common occurrence of the second infusion tasting more flavorful and richer, these are the parameters that provide the most consistent tea drinking experience, with it only getting better with the second steep. I recommend it for someone who hasn’t yet brewed their first cup of Fukamushi Sencha.

Happy Tea Drinking!

~ by Bryan P on July 22, 2008.