Reading Tea Leaves discussion

Please use this thread to discuss part 3 of this selection.

This was an interesting section, learning about all the different teas and how to brew them. It was interesting for me to note that he says brew time for green tea is about a minute. I have read instructions on tea tins for green tea to brew for 3 minutes, and as a result found the tea much too bitter. I once had a discussion with a local tea seller about brew times for green tea and she suggested an even shorter brewing time: 30 seconds! Following those methods I find that I like green teas much more. My usual cup is black tea with milk (the English way) and learning to appreciate greens and oolongs has definitely been an experience. I have many of those in my cupboard but find that I mainly stick to my black tea as my morning cup. I tried matcha for the first time yesterday, and after fiddling with the ratio of tea to water, found it enjoyable.

I agree with MFK Fisher's assessment of his writing being a "combination of learning and pure love," his enthusiasm and pure love of tea dances off the pages. I really enjoyed this book!

For sencha, I've been using 1t in 3 oz of water for 40 sec with success.

Even as a reasonably experienced tea drinker, this section was fun to read, but it could use a general warning: your mileage may vary. He’s a bit absolutist about how the preparations “should” be done, but we all know that there is plenty of variation depending on type of tea and one’s own taste buds. But here, as with the rest of the book, the delight is not so much in the information as in the way it’s presented: relaxed, conversational, friendly. A thorough delight to read, and I learned some things along the way. I just wish there was an index so I could easily go back and find the valuable bits again. Oh well, I guess I’ll have to read it all again, won’t I?