Any Green Tea Connoisseurs Out There?

8-17-09 | WackySam

[WackySam]

I recently tried green tea for the first time and immediately became addicted to it. I must be drinking 10 cups a day and would probably drink more if I didn't care about sleeping at night.

Being new to green tea I know little of the different types, quality, preparation, etc.. and was hoping some knowledgeable Freepers could point me in the right direction by recommending some of the better teas and/or links to any good web resources.

Currently I've only tried two- both bought in regular Supermarkets so I'm guessing they are not higher quality teas. One of the teas I like very much (Good Earth Lemongrass blend) and the other tasted like the box it came in (Bigelow Organic).

Any help would be greatly appreciated by this new green tea addict.

[madison10]

Cold, Arizona Green Tea...mmmmmm

[buccaneer81]

Canada Dry makes a ginger ale-green tea mix. It’s awesome.

[Ikemeister]

Actually, the Lipton bottled diet Green Tea is excellent. They have non-carbonated citrus and raspberry and two carbonated flavors.
Twinings English Green Tea is very good hot tea.

[krb]

I got hooked a year ago. Welcome to the club.

Are you solely hot tea, or have you discovered cold yet?

[VisualizeSmallerGovernment]

Try a Chinese grocery store, or a specialty shop like Teavana.

Personally, I prefer Oolong to green tea.

Some of the really good tea, you can steep several times. So even though the tea itself is nominally more expensive, the cost of a glass (or gallon) might be cheaper and it's also better tasting.

[jcsjcm]

Also have to go with the Arizona Green tea Cold - not to be confused with Diet Arizona Green tea. We’ve tried many in this house and keep going back to it.

[WackySam]

Are you solely hot tea, or have you discovered cold yet?

I love it both ways.

[3D-JOY]

Salada green tea brewed hot and long is OK.
I do not prefer my tea green so It must be made in a pot and this is my favorite brand.

Many green teas are flavored since the delicate taste does not find American coffee lovers able to appreciate the delicate green tea flavor.

Now if you want to talk about white teas or even red.......but nothing beats Black or orange pekoe!

[mnehring]

Try Japanese Matcha. It is a powdered green tea (not powdered like Lipton instant)..

My favorite tea is Lapsang Souchong. The tea leaves are smoked over oak fires and it has a wonderful, deep smokey flavor. I use it in cooking as well.

This is my favorite resource:
http://www.hibiki-an.com/

[alecqss]

Best loose tea brand available reasonably widely - Rishi Tea (you can try Jade Cloud, or various Sencha, Bancha or Hojicha types of green tea).

Best tea bag brands are Mighty Leaf (#1), Numi (#2).

[redhead]

You haven't tasted green tea until you have tried Japanese green tea. My personal favorite is Genmai Cha. For less exotic drinking, try Stash Tea's "Fusion." It is a blend of white and green tea and is delicate and very satisfying. I drink numerous cups a day.

[OnTheDress]

Tazo

DAMN

[txroadkill]

I must be drinking 10 cups a day...

You must stay...um....Busy

[Revolting cat!]

[anonsquared]

The Republic of Tea’s Double Green Matcha Tea

[Quix]

PING.

[AmericanInTokyo]

Kuro (black) oolong cha 黒烏龍茶　 if you REALLY want to melt the fat off in pounds in one fell swoop (well, actually, give it 8 weeks but that will transpire quickly) !

[smokingfrog]

Who needs to sleep at night?

[sushiman]

Some of the best tasting greee tea in the world is made in Saga prefecture which is right next door to me in Kumamoto . If you’d like to try some let me know . Postage would be just a couple of bucks for a package or two .

[m4629]

Japanese green tea are the best, but they are not cheap.

[sushiman]

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/fl20010527a9.html

[BunnySlippers]

I buy most of my green tea from here:

http://www.imperialtea.com/Green-C63.aspx

I’ve tried and enjoyed the following green teas:
Tai Ping Monkey King
Cui Feng
Bi Lou Chun
Dai Fang

I also like http://www.uptontea.com

[VanShuyten]

Shizuoka Prefecture in Japan supplies the best green tea. Go to an Asian market and look for it. Other parts of Japan also have very good green tea. This is not going to be like the green teas mentioned in some of the other replies. This is the real stuff. Many Americans don’t like it because of its strong grassy flavor, but it’s very good.

[Ronin]

I live in Japan and drink the stuff regularly, but I don’t fuss too much about different brands. It’s like coffee or black tea. Find a good brand you like and stick with it. Don’t waste money on the really expensive stuff. It’s not that much better.

My personal favorite is a type blended with roasted barley. This gives it a much more robust flavor in my opinion.

I am also a bit of a pervert. All Japanese and most green tea fans will tell you that there is only one way to drink it. Hot and straight. But I personally like a strong cup in the morning with a slug of honey.

Believe me, that will get you moving in short order.

[jongaltsr]

Have been drinking green tea for 8 or so years now. I learned to not stick with any one brand but try all the variations. Some are not as good as others but they are still better than the yuppie teas and the old black tea (with the exception of Earl Grey and ginger as a morning wake up;-)

Try them all and often. You can’t go wrong in my opinion.
Change is good for your system and Psyche.

[jongaltsr]

- and for gods sake, don’t ever become a green tea snob.

[Catphish]

I only like green tea with honey or sugar otherwise it’s too “grassy” for me. So I don’t drink it too often because I like to drink my tea (usually Earl Grey) day in and day out without sweetener.

[krb]

Ok, when you are ready to learn how to brew your own big batches of high quality cold green tea, let me know.

[krb]

Ironic, dude...because I hope there is plenty of green tea available at the gulch!

[grey_whiskers]

Where can I buy some in the States?

Do you happen to have a brand name, or a website which will mail it?

Cheers!

[Nachum]

Wow, you have hit on my favorite beverage. I drink a great deal of green tea also and I cannot say for sure, but I seem to get sick a lot less than I used to. Japanese teas are tend to drink most.

Absolute all time favorite: Gyokoru

Less expensive but very tasty- Sencha

[Bellflower]

How much do two cost and how much is in a package?

[AmericanInTokyo]

Probably some Asian market(s) somewhere back there. This is what it looks like here in Japan: "http://www.suntory.co.jp/softdrink/kuro-oolong/product/index.html"

Put out by Suntory.

[Tainan]

Taiwan Green Tea
Start here. Arguably the finest green teas in the world.
If you have a Trader Joes close to you I remember them as usually having a very good selection of green teas.
Its easy to get "into" the whole tea serving ceremony...can be fun with friends...but its also a bit tricky.
I hate pouring out the '1st pour'...part of the ceremony. Its claimed to be too bitter.
But the whole thing is an evolved social event.
From what I've found there are many different green teas and it takes a quite experienced palate to taste and appreciate the subtle differences.
Start with drinking as many different ones as you find and then narrow it down to ones that especially appeal to you.
Hot..Cold...Lukewarm...with sugar...whatever you like is what counts.

If you live near a city with an "Asian"section, you will find a tea shop. Visit and chat with them. Tea drinking is about sociability as much as anything.
Oh, and hold onto your hat when you see some of the prices...LOL!

[tflabo]

Check out an asian store as there are tons of green tea varieties. One can choose tea bags or loose which I prefer. Jasmine is real good but others too. I drink it cold in the summer and hot in the winter. One can add honey, lime or ginger — I don’t like it too sweet. Here in hot Tx I will set it outside in a bottle and let the sun do it’s work. I leave the leaves in the bottle so I can either refill or put in a blender for a 2nd round and strain. Healthy and cost effective beverage. For me coffee in AM, green tea in the afternoons and beer/wine at night with meals.

[sushiman]

” How much do two cost and how much is in a package? “

Will you be drinking the tea hot or cold ? They have special teas for each . I’m sure they have a variety of sizes re: packages . My good friend Morita san works for the Chamber Of Commerce in Ureshino . I’ll find out .

S

[rawhide]

Celestial Seasonings has a decaf version of green tea. I drink it at night before bed. I also drink their caffeinated version in the morning and throughout the day.

You might be interested in reading the following interesting link posted here on FR last week: White Tea Could Keep You Healthy And Looking Young

[Mandingo Conservative]

Hi am a crunchy conservative. Try the Japanese green matcha tea - expensive but worth it. Its comes in powder and a little goes a long way. The tea used in green tea ice cream and in the tea ceremony. You can drink it hot or cold and dilute it. It has many health giving properties. Look for it in the natural foods stores or Whole Foods or mail order. About 15 to 20 dollars for a small tin. Teavana in some malls has it.

[Tex_GOP_Cruz]

I've been really pleased with the tea selection at Adagio Teas. You can read other customers' reviews to help you decide. Black, green, white, red, flavored -- they have it all. I'd also recommend that you buy loose tea: it's totally worth the higher cost.

[Liz]

WEGMAN’S health food section has prepared quart containers of Tazo brand Matcha Green tea (with hint of honeydew melon, tropical fruit).

LABEL says it’s ceremonial green tea of Japan made from freshly picked green tea leaves ground into fine powder; mixed with water in traditional fashion, then packaged. With guidance from ancient scrolls and a haiku or two, Tazo adds hints of honeydew melon and tropical fruits to create combo; equally inspiring served hot or iced.

WAYS TO SERVE

Excellent poured straight from fridge, with non-dairy “Almond Breeze” vanilla almond milk added.

HOT TEA LATTE Use half Tazo Green Tea, half milk (or milk substitute). Heat in micro, steamer, stovetop, or open fire pit.

ICED Mix equal parts Tazo with milk (or milk substitute), pour over ice.

[Daaave]

One of my favorite flavor, type and brand of teas. Loose leaf is best.

Bags are much more convenient

[grame]

I prefer Ahmad Earl Grey Green Tea. I like the Ahmad brand. I have to buy it mail order. Someone brought me some from England and I was hooked.

[grame]

oops. I’m there.

[retrocon]

I get my macha from them as well. Always fresh, always within a week. Great stuff.

[Artemis Webb]

I'm not sure if you are wanting green tea hot or iced. If you want it hot though go to any specialty store and buy a green tea called “Gunpowder”. The tea is rolled up into tiny balls and it has a really nice flavor and aroma. You'll need an infuser if you don't have one.

[alecqss]

;-)

[NTHockey]

I once worked for a company that did a lot of research on Green Tea. We found that loose leaf tea is best. Green tea has a natural ingredient that is destroyed when making tea bags or iced tea.

I personally like the Gunpowder tea from China. No aftertaste at all. I drink about 10 cups a day.

[Joya]

Hello !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love all kinds of tea.

I drink hot tea all year round.

I buy green tea at Sam’s Club: Member’s Mark Premium Bigelow green tea, 160 teabags per box (it’s a big box).

[Joya]

Wow, I missed this ping. Hmmmm, thank you. You know me well.