Hi group,

Although I'm not a tea drinker I have recently acquired a tetsubin¹, and
I guess it's time for me to acquire the taste of tea, too, but where do I
begin? I have hardly had any tea at all since my teen-age days, and so I
know next to nothing about the different teas available...

I consider myself a coffee drinker, and I enjoy a good cup of coffee in
the morning, and another after lunch time, but I think I can learn to
appreciate a cup of tea in the afternoon or in the evening - probably
accompanied by one or two Wasa crackers with cold butter and strong cheese
or a slice of salami.

For historical reasons I prefer my coffee sweet (for the past couple of
years I use Stevia leaves) and with milk, but I would like to start my tea
career with plain tea (or, perhaps, with a few drops of milk and/or a little
Stevia to smoothen the somewhat bitter taste of tea).

My tetsubin does have a builtin strainer, but I guess the tea leaves will
be able to unfold and circulate more freely if I put the leaves directly
into the pot, although this will probably narrow the selection of teas I
can use.

I do not mind paying for good quality tea (within reasonable range), but
I do not know where to start, and I do not wish to end up with ten or more
teas in my small kitchen. One or two teas will suffice.

Could you please suggest a few good "beginner's teas" that will help me
acquire the taste for tea?

Thanks for your kind help.

Cheers,

// Klaus


¹) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Blanu
--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Magnetic Ink, Copenhagen, Denmark
http://magnetic-ink.dk/

On Sun, 02 Oct 2005 12:25:05 +0000, Klaus Alexander Seistrup wrote:

Hi group,

Although I'm not a tea drinker I have recently acquired a tetsubin¹, and
I guess it's time for me to acquire the taste of tea, too, but where do I
begin? I have hardly had any tea at all since my teen-age days, and so I
know next to nothing about the different teas available...

I consider myself a coffee drinker, and I enjoy a good cup of coffee in
the morning, and another after lunch time, but I think I can learn to
appreciate a cup of tea in the afternoon or in the evening - probably
accompanied by one or two Wasa crackers with cold butter and strong cheese
or a slice of salami.

For historical reasons I prefer my coffee sweet (for the past couple of
years I use Stevia leaves) and with milk, but I would like to start my tea
career with plain tea (or, perhaps, with a few drops of milk and/or a
little Stevia to smoothen the somewhat bitter taste of tea).

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk to begin
with. After a while, drop the sugar. You may want to use Keemun or Oolongs
after that, without milk or sugar. If you are worried about bitterness in
tea do not use boiling water.

JB

For drinking with salami or strong cheese, I'd try the cheapest Assam
you can find, and drink it plain if possible. For afternoon drinking
with anything more delicate, I'd try Sencha, also plain. Sencha is the
"everyday" green tea of Japan. Toci
Klaus Alexander Seistrup wrote:
Hi group,

Although I'm not a tea drinker I have recently acquired a tetsubin=B9, and
I guess it's time for me to acquire the taste of tea, too, but where do I
begin? I have hardly had any tea at all since my teen-age days, and so I
know next to nothing about the different teas available...

I consider myself a coffee drinker, and I enjoy a good cup of coffee in
the morning, and another after lunch time, but I think I can learn to
appreciate a cup of tea in the afternoon or in the evening - probably
accompanied by one or two Wasa crackers with cold butter and strong cheese
or a slice of salami.

For historical reasons I prefer my coffee sweet (for the past couple of
years I use Stevia leaves) and with milk, but I would like to start my tea
career with plain tea (or, perhaps, with a few drops of milk and/or a lit=
tle
Stevia to smoothen the somewhat bitter taste of tea).

My tetsubin does have a builtin strainer, but I guess the tea leaves will
be able to unfold and circulate more freely if I put the leaves directly
into the pot, although this will probably narrow the selection of teas I
can use.

I do not mind paying for good quality tea (within reasonable range), but
I do not know where to start, and I do not wish to end up with ten or more
teas in my small kitchen. One or two teas will suffice.

Could you please suggest a few good "beginner's teas" that will help me
acquire the taste for tea?

Thanks for your kind help.

Cheers,

// Klaus


=B9) http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/User:Blanu
--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Magnetic Ink, Copenhagen, Denmark
http://magnetic-ink.dk/

"Klaus Alexander Seistrup" wrote in message
...

For historical reasons I prefer my coffee sweet (for the past couple of
years I use Stevia leaves) and with milk, but I would like to start my tea
career with plain tea (or, perhaps, with a few drops of milk and/or a
little
Stevia to smoothen the somewhat bitter taste of tea).

If you want to have tea plain (no milk and sugar), try Darjeeling 1st flush.
These have delicate floral flavor and will not be bitter if brewed for 2-3
minutes.

I buy mine from
http://www.silvertipstea.com/Merchan...ore_Code=STTRR
and there are lots of other sources. Let me know if you want more sites to
shop around ...
--
Aloke
----
to reply by e-mail remove 123 and change invalid to com

Danube wrote:

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk
to begin with.

Aloka wrote:

If you want to have tea plain (no milk and sugar), try Darjeeling
1st flush.

Toci wrote:

For drinking with salami or strong cheese, I'd try the cheapest
Assam you can find, and drink it plain if possible. For afternoon
drinking with anything more delicate, I'd try Sencha, also plain.

Thanks for your help. I went to Sweden today (there's a bridge connecting
Copenhagen, Denmark with Malmö, Sweden, and it takes slightly less than
40 minutes to reach Sweden by train) and came across a nice tea shop with
quite a selection of tetsubins and teas, and the lady was ever so helpful.

I ended up with three teas: a Darjeeling 1st flush ("Oaks", new harvest),
a stronger tea (I cannot read the lady's handwriting, but the label on the
bag might say "Waulagalla" or "Wanlagalla" - anyone?), and a Japanese
green tea (the label might read "Sencha" or "Bancha", I'm not sure).

I have never liked green tea before (but I had only tasted gunpowder until
now, so...), so I was quite keen on tasting the green tea first, and I
actually like it as is, without sweetener. I look forward to trying the
two black teas tomorrow.

Thanks for your kind help.

Cheers,

--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://streetkids.dk/

"Klaus Alexander Seistrup" wrote in message
...
Danube wrote:

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk
to begin with.

Aloka wrote:

If you want to have tea plain (no milk and sugar), try Darjeeling
1st flush.

Toci wrote:


I ended up with three teas: a Darjeeling 1st flush ("Oaks", new harvest),
a stronger tea (I cannot read the lady's handwriting, but the label on the
bag might say "Waulagalla" or "Wanlagalla" - anyone?), and a Japanese
green tea (the label might read "Sencha" or "Bancha", I'm not sure).

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2 minutes to
begin with, longer if you like it stronger. Have it without milk or sugar
(I never thought I'd say that: being from India originally ..). Over
steeping 1st flush makes it bitter. And you'll get the light floral aroma
without milk+sugar.

For 2nd and 3rd flush (or blends) Darjeelings, it's Ok to brew a little
longer (3 - 3.5 min) and add milk+sugar.
--
Aloke
----
to reply by e-mail remove 123 and change invalid to com

Aloke Prasad wrote:

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2
minutes to begin with, longer if you like it stronger.

Oh, I'm glad you say that. Of course I couldn't wait, and I made myself
a cup of the Darjeeling I bought earlier today. I let it steep for five
minutes, and it was much too bitter-ish to my taste. I'll follow your
advice and let it steep for two minutes next time. Thanks.

Have it without milk or sugar

Yes, I'm trying to acquire the taste of plain tea without milk or sugar.
It might take a while because I'm used to drinking sweet coffee, but I
think it's worth it in the long run. Besides, drinking tea with sugar
in it gives me a peculiar (and unpleasant) "sour" taste in my mouth. Is
that a known effect?

Cheers,

--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
PNX · http://pnx.dk/

I don't recognize Wanlagalla, but suspect it is an Assam estate I
haven't heard of. Estate teas are usually upscale from the blends. If
an Assam (or other tea) is too strong, try some combination of less
leaf, brewed a shorter time, at a lower temperature. You got a Sencha
if it smells grassy and a Bancha if it smells of some other herb, I
believe. Both are good. Toci
Klaus Alexander Seistrup wrote:
Danube wrote:

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk
to begin with.

Aloka wrote:

If you want to have tea plain (no milk and sugar), try Darjeeling
1st flush.

Toci wrote:

For drinking with salami or strong cheese, I'd try the cheapest
Assam you can find, and drink it plain if possible. For afternoon
drinking with anything more delicate, I'd try Sencha, also plain.

Thanks for your help. I went to Sweden today (there's a bridge connecting
Copenhagen, Denmark with Malm=F6, Sweden, and it takes slightly less than
40 minutes to reach Sweden by train) and came across a nice tea shop with
quite a selection of tetsubins and teas, and the lady was ever so helpful.

I ended up with three teas: a Darjeeling 1st flush ("Oaks", new harvest),
a stronger tea (I cannot read the lady's handwriting, but the label on the
bag might say "Waulagalla" or "Wanlagalla" - anyone?), and a Japanese
green tea (the label might read "Sencha" or "Bancha", I'm not sure).

I have never liked green tea before (but I had only tasted gunpowder until
now, so...), so I was quite keen on tasting the green tea first, and I
actually like it as is, without sweetener. I look forward to trying the
two black teas tomorrow.

Thanks for your kind help.

Cheers,

--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://streetkids.dk/

On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 22:08:35 +0000, Klaus Alexander Seistrup wrote:

Aloke Prasad wrote:

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2 minutes
to begin with, longer if you like it stronger.

Oh, I'm glad you say that. Of course I couldn't wait, and I made myself a
cup of the Darjeeling I bought earlier today. I let it steep for five
minutes, and it was much too bitter-ish to my taste. I'll follow your
advice and let it steep for two minutes next time. Thanks.


Darjeeling teas should be treated much like green teas, IMO. Don't use
boiling water, use 80 deg C, and steep for about 2 minutes.

JB

Toci wrote:

I don't recognize Wanlagalla, but suspect it is an Assam estate
I haven't heard of.

That makes sense. The lady did talk about Assam, but then I thought
she changed her mind and decided to give me this Wa(u|n)lagalla instead
(I haven't been to Sweden for a while, so my ears aren't accustomed to
the Swedish language).

Estate teas are usually upscale from the blends. If an Assam (or
other tea) is too strong, try some combination of less leaf, brewed
a shorter time, at a lower temperature.

Thanks for the hint, I look forward to trying the tea.

You got a Sencha if it smells grassy and a Bancha if it smells of
some other herb, I believe. Both are good.

I believe it's a Sencha then, it smells somewhat like when my mom mows
her lawn. To my surprise I quite like the taste of this green tea,
although I still have to experiment with the dosage and steeping time.

Cheers,

--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://seistrup.dk/

Danube skrev:

Darjeeling teas should be treated much like green teas, IMO. Don't
use boiling water, use 80 deg C, and steep for about 2 minutes.

Thanks!

--
Klaus Alexander Seistrup
Copenhagen, Denmark
http://seistrup.dk/

Aloke /6/05



"Klaus Alexander Seistrup" wrote in message
...
Danube wrote:

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk
to begin with.

Aloka wrote:

If you want to have tea plain (no milk and sugar), try Darjeeling
1st flush.

Toci wrote:


I ended up with three teas: a Darjeeling 1st flush ("Oaks", new harvest),
a stronger tea (I cannot read the lady's handwriting, but the label on the
bag might say "Waulagalla" or "Wanlagalla" - anyone?), and a Japanese
green tea (the label might read "Sencha" or "Bancha", I'm not sure).

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2 minutes to
begin with, longer if you like it stronger. Have it without milk or sugar
(I never thought I'd say that: being from India originally ..). Over
steeping 1st flush makes it bitter. And you'll get the light floral aroma
without milk+sugar.

For 2nd and 3rd flush (or blends) Darjeelings, it's Ok to brew a little
longer (3 - 3.5 min) and add milk+sugar.

Hi,

With due respect to my friend and colleague Aloke, I differ with him on this
boiling water for two minutes issue. In my opinion, a fine first flush can
be *very* delicate, and you can boil the life right out of it. Lew Perin has
suggested an almost gung-fu style using short steeps and lots of leaf. I
would add that experimentation with lower temperatures is appropriate too.
The floral aroma might survive boiling water, but the soft cereal-like
quality of the freshest of the fresh will be quickly lost.

Experiment around.

Michael

Michael

10/7/05


On Thu, 06 Oct 2005 22:08:35 +0000, Klaus Alexander Seistrup wrote:

Aloke Prasad wrote:

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2 minutes
to begin with, longer if you like it stronger.

Oh, I'm glad you say that. Of course I couldn't wait, and I made myself a
cup of the Darjeeling I bought earlier today. I let it steep for five
minutes, and it was much too bitter-ish to my taste. I'll follow your
advice and let it steep for two minutes next time. Thanks.


Darjeeling teas should be treated much like green teas, IMO. Don't use
boiling water, use 80 deg C, and steep for about 2 minutes.

JB



Wouldn't the steep time depend on the amount of leaf? I recommend more leaf
and less time. I think that brings out more nuance. This is, if I recall,
the Perin Peram.

"Michael Plant" wrote in message
...
Aloke /6/05



"Klaus Alexander Seistrup" wrote in message
...
Danube wrote:

Try a strong Assam or English Breakfast tea, with sugar and milk
to begin with.

Aloka wrote:

Remember for the Darjeeling: Use boiling water and steep for 2 minutes to
begin with, longer if you like it stronger. Have it without milk or
sugar
(I never thought I'd say that: being from India originally ..). Over
steeping 1st flush makes it bitter. And you'll get the light floral
aroma
without milk+sugar.

For 2nd and 3rd flush (or blends) Darjeelings, it's Ok to brew a little
longer (3 - 3.5 min) and add milk+sugar.

Hi,

With due respect to my friend and colleague Aloke, I differ with him on
this
boiling water for two minutes issue. In my opinion, a fine first flush can
be *very* delicate, and you can boil the life right out of it. Lew Perin
has
suggested an almost gung-fu style using short steeps and lots of leaf. I
would add that experimentation with lower temperatures is appropriate too.
The floral aroma might survive boiling water, but the soft cereal-like
quality of the freshest of the fresh will be quickly lost.

I meant using boiling water to begin with (pour over leaves in a pot or
container) and let it soak for 2 minutes.

Boiling Darjeeling for 2 minutes will be blasphemy :-)

From my experience, using boiling water to begin with works well for
Darjeeling black tea (remember the adage: bring the pot to the kettle and
not the kettle to the pot?). Using a little less than boiling water works
better for oolong and white teas.

Neither type of tea should be boiled for any length of time .. well except
the Assamese gunpowder that is used at the road-side tea stalls in India.
Those kettles are left simmering all day, with small amounts of tea being
added to it as needed!!
--
Aloke
----
to reply by e-mail remove 123 and change invalid to com

I meant using boiling water to begin with (pour over leaves in a pot or
container) and let it soak for 2 minutes.

Yes, I understood what you meant, but I had written badly.

Boiling Darjeeling for 2 minutes will be blasphemy :-)

Of course, of course.

From my experience, using boiling water to begin with works well for
Darjeeling black tea (remember the adage: bring the pot to the kettle and
not the kettle to the pot?). Using a little less than boiling water works
better for oolong and white teas.

I still stand by my experience that somewhat less than boiling water -- who
recommended 180F (or was it 80C)? -- is needed for a fine first flush
Darjeeling.

Neither type of tea should be boiled for any length of time .. well except
the Assamese gunpowder that is used at the road-side tea stalls in India.
Those kettles are left simmering all day, with small amounts of tea being
added to it as needed!!

Again, steep length needs to be correlated to the amount of leaf used. More
leaf, less steep. There is a lot to play with here. Anyway, these are my
thoughts on the matter.

By the way, in my experience, nearly all first flushes are quite "green," no
matter what we call them. I understand that the earlier tradition was to
produce a fully oxidized Darjeeling. At that time, pouring boiling water
over the leaves would most likely have been appropriate. Could this perhaps
be part of the source of our difference of opinion?

Michael