Gyokuro Green Tea
Gyokuro Green Tea is a shade-grown superior quality green tea. This variety spends 20 days out of the sun to allow the rich green leaves to darken. This is done by spreading bamboo leaves over the tops of the plant as it approaches harvest time. This has the effect of making the leaves produce more chlorophyll, in turn making the leaves a rich green color, a trademark of this type of tea.
In Japan this type of tea is known as “sencha” but Gyokuro Green Tea is slightly different to the regular sencha which is grown in full sun and consequently to prepare it correctly, there are different parameters regarding the brew temperature, the ratio of water to tea, and the amount of time the brew takes to form. The temperature in particular plays a large part in determining the flavor of the resulting tea.
To be brewed correctly, the water must only be raised to a maximum of 155°F, that’s just over 60°C. If the tea is brewed at a higher temperature it may still be an acceptable beverage, but to truly enjoy the full flavor of this delicately balanced tea, it is recommended to stick to the guidelines.
Because this tea is brewed at such a low temperature in comparison to other teas, it is also prudent to preheat teapot and drinking vessels so that once poured it does not become tepid due to heat loss.
The Japanese follow this method;
They boil a kettle, allow it to cool slightly for a couple of minutes and then pour the hot water into a teapot which will warm the pot. They then take several cups, fill two of them from the teapot to heat them, then using the same water again and an empty cup, they pour the water backwards and forwards between the cups until they are all warm. This process also adds oxygen to the water which will improve the taste of the resulting brew. The water can now be returned to the teapot and Gyokuro Green Tea leaves added. The teapot can now be left to brew for 2-3 minutes without being stirred or disturbed. This delightful tea will now be ready to drink. The leaves can be infused a further time for approximately 30 seconds and another brew made.
Gyokuro Green Tea has a very rich history in Japan and is revered among tea house ceremonial preparers and has now become a favorite amongst the drinkers worldwide especially those who prefer to drink green tea.
You can get Gyokuro from Teavana.
review
history, methods, review
If you’ve never heard of the terms: “Fish Eyes” and “Old Mans Water” then may I enlighten you to an ingenious way of determining the temperature of your boiling water.
Shrimp Eyes – This is in reference to the size of the bubbles in the water. If they’re small – like that of a shrimps eye balls – then you’re at a temperature of 60-70C.
Fish Eyes – Bigger bubbles like fish eyes are a sign of 75-85C.
Old Mans Water – This is when the water has lost all its oxygen and ‘rolls’ in the kettle. When you get this you’ve hit 100C.
For the vast majority of uses fish eyes is the best to brew with. 
methods
methods, tea brewing
With the ongoing reports in the news about green living and reminders to save water, electricity, fuel, heat, etc. I thoguht I’d shout a quick tip to tea drinkers to help with that.
It’s often said you should use fresh water for every cup. Now this is due to the water loosing oxygenation after boiling and its true. However! Its very hard to use exactly the right amount of water for each cup or pot so there’s always some left over which gets thrown away next time round.
That’s not necessary – adding a little fresh water to top up the ‘old’ water helps to re-oxygenate that water and no falvour is lost at all – so next time you want a fresh cup just add a bit to recharge the water and save the planet.
health
method, methods
I hate to sound like a tea Nazi but the kitchen sink is definitely not a place for spent tea bags. Now before you jump in and accuse me of facism let me put it this way: Would you place the Mona Lisa in the toilet? Would you place a Michaelangalo sculpture in your compost heap?
Of course not!
And that is my point – a tea bag is a work of art. The tea, the process, love, time and effort gone into bringing it to your life is miraculous and so to discard it so callously and in such an open fashion on the kitchen sink is utterly reprehensible! Alas I’ve found myself doing it at times and so I thought I’d post an image of my indiscretion. It was only for a miniute until I realised what I’d done and it was quickly whisked into the rubbish.
Okay?
No? Well okay – its in the rubbish I know. I know what you’re thinking – it’s art, etc how can you do that? Well I never said don’t bin it. I just meant give it some dignity because the magnificent tea bag doesn’t look entirely pleasant after its been spent so to keep its final time on this planet dignified and proud it is best kept away form sight in the bin. Not on the sink in all its soggy, limp glory so to speak.
[UPDATE: The solution is the tea bag bin]
methods
methods, products
If your going to drink green tea then never, NEVER get it in bag form. The only exceptions are when its Jasmine or Lemon & green tea.
Reason? I’ve tried numerous different green teas (Clipper, Twinnings, Whittards, etc) and NONE of them taste of green tea!! They normally taste of BAG! Tea bag that is. No matter which you get. No matter how long you brew them for. They always taste of bag. I reckon this is because green tea has a much lighter taste and so the paper of the bag can easily overpower it.
Your much better with leaves. Granted, it can be more awkward as you end up with leaves in the bottom and sometimes swallowing them – unless of course you use a strainer but I can never be bothered with that malarky.
Now WHICH green tea is best? Well I’m going to have to come across as pretentious here and say genuine Chinese green tea……..from China. I’ve currently got two which I use. One lot I got as two big bags from a friend who brought them over from China. The freshest most crisp tasting green tea I’ve ever tried. The Chinese really know how to do green tea well.
The other came in a little box from a Chinese supermarket in Nottingham. Gunpowder tea its called and it the leaves seem to be all curled up. Not sure why. The tea seems darker and ‘dirtier’ too with more bits. But don’t let this put you off as it tastes fantastic. In large doses it takes on a smoky taste which leads me to believe it may well be lightly smoked green tea.
Anyway enough about green tea.
life, methods
green tea, methods
