Green tea: the answer to all of your problems?

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  Posted by gailp Tue Apr 1, 2008 6:45am PDT

  I drink my green tea with honey every morning.

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  Posted by blonds Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:13am PDT

  I take green tea extact capsules. They are natural, you can smell the tea in them and work wonders!

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  Posted by ninner Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:28am PDT

  i like green tea it is good and good for you

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  Posted by Auntie Jane Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:46am PDT

  Mix whatever tea you do like and mix the green tea into it. One bag of yours with one bag of green tea. I did this for my mother who also does not like the flavor, but I steep the green tea for a minute longer in the water than her mint tea, and I do make two cups rather than one (her punishment for the extra effort, I tease her). Both are decaf teas so I don't worry about her getting too much caffeine from the extra effort either. I also make a pot of tea for her and I sometimes with loose tea, mixing half of my white or peach teas with half green tea, and she likes that sometimes too.

  Adding honeys, sugars, creamers, etc. adds calories or sugars, so I try to play with the teas themselves rather than add stuff we don't want. Mom is diabetic and I am losing weight, so not adding extras helps us both - and I think that the cup of tea a day is helping my weight loss as well (though this may be wishful thinking!)

  Auntie

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  Posted by Ali Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:53am PDT

  I like Bigelow green tea with lemon. It's very good.

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  Posted by J.A. Tue Apr 1, 2008 7:54am PDT

  A big key to making green tea that tastes good is to use water that is not at boiling temperature-wise. If you use a lower temp water and steep the tea, you'll get a better flavor and more of the wonderful antioxidants will be extracted from the tea leaves. Looks like 110-160 degree Fahrenheit seems to work the best.

  From the greentealovers.com site:

  The Role of Temperature - Only 20% of tannin and 40% of amino acids are extracted with hot tea brewing and only 25% of a tea leaf is extracted.

  The higher the water temperature, the more bitter and astringent the tea taste becomes because amino acids, the flavor element dissolves at 60 °C (140°F). Tannin, causing astringency, dissolves at 80°C (176°F).

  Adjusting the temperature and brewing time coordinates flavor, sweetness, and astringency. When brewing premium Sencha, the higher the temperature and the longer the brewing time, the greater the ratio of tannin there will be. Temperature has a greater impact than time. If water is hotter than 80°C (176°F), the ratio of tannin increases dramatically, which makes tea very astringent. This is why high-end teas taste better when brewed at lower temperatures. High-quality teas taste best when there is a balance of bitterness, astringency, and flavor.

  Higher temperature water should be used for lower quality tea to more easily extract the most substance from the tea leaves. Standard Sencha, Bancha, and Hojicha contain lower amounts of tannin and thus less possibility of developing astringent taste because of high temperature boiling. These teas contain very little amino acids, thus less sweetness and tastiness as well. Therefore these teas should be brewed in higher temperature boiling water for shorter periods of time. This will bring out a refreshing balance of taste and astringency.

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  Posted by Leah L Tue Apr 1, 2008 8:08am PDT

  I agree with fallscreekroad that it could just be the variety that you are trying. Upton Tea company allows you to buy very small quantities. You can buy a bunch and try several. I'm a big fan of the Dragon Well.

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  Posted by Tzeitel n Paul W Tue Apr 1, 2008 8:45am PDT

  I really like Yogi Tea - Green Tea Pomegranate (if I don't have any of that lying around I use Biglow ORGANIC green tea). Both these are clean & fresh in flavor. If I want a nice cold green tea, I like the Teas' Tea Lemongrass Green. It has a wonderfully lemony taste without adding any calories, carbs or sweeteners.

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  Posted by Cindy Tue Apr 1, 2008 8:53am PDT

  drink it iced...i don't care for any warm drink unless it's loaded with chocolate. make just like warm tea and put on ice or use one of those ice tea makers w/ 6-8 tea bags. i now prefer this over regular iced tea.

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  Posted by Danita Tue Apr 1, 2008 8:59am PDT

  I just found green tea and, luckily, I like it. I have found though that if I add some citrus zest, it kicks it up a bit without adding any calories.

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