| Japanese green tea, when brewed correctly, is quite | | | | but generally speaking, no more than 2 minutes. |
| delicious. However, if you have ever tried to brew it, | | | | You used too much tea. This is where you have |
| there is a good chance it didn't turn out like you may | | | | more room for adjustment. Again, it depends on the |
| have wanted it to. Perhaps it may have been too | | | | variety, but for normal sencha, about one teaspoon |
| bitter, or not really as "green" as you had anticipaged. | | | | to 8-10 ounces of water. For one type of tea, you |
| I've put together a top ten list explaining why this | | | | may have to use an even level teaspoon, and for |
| may have occured. | | | | another a heaping teaspoon; it will vary from tea to |
| You brewed it too hot. If you brew it too hot, it will | | | | tea. |
| become bitter. This is probably the most common of | | | | You didn't use enough tea. For gyokuro, you won't |
| all mistakes, and one which has the most influence | | | | get good results unless you use double the amount |
| over the taste. Depending of the variety of green | | | | used for sencha. |
| tea, it should be brewed around 175 degrees F, give | | | | You didn't start out with good water.You need good |
| or take 5 degrees. | | | | water. |
| You started off with old green tea. Green tea, "when | | | | You tried to use a tea ball or paper filter. Green tea |
| properly packaged", has a shelf life of about 6 | | | | is compact. Once you brew, it really expands and |
| months. Once opened, you have about 2-3 months | | | | needs plenty of space to open up. |
| to use it. That's for properly packaged (vacuum | | | | You tried to use a 2 liter English Teapot. If you really |
| packed or nitrogen packaged) tea - If your green tea | | | | know what you are doing, it is possible to use a |
| wasn't packaged properly and is exposed to any | | | | Western teapot to brew green tea. However, you |
| amount of air, it probably was never good to begin | | | | would be way better off using one designed for |
| with. | | | | green tea. |
| Your green tea was from a late harvest. It's no big | | | | You started of with low quality tea. Even in Japan, |
| secret - the best green tea comes from the first | | | | the quality levels of green tea vary considerably. Just |
| harvest in late April, early May. You can get this | | | | because it's from Japan doesn't necessarily mean it's |
| throughout the year, however. | | | | good. |
| You brewed it too long. This depends on the variety, | | | | |
