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Green tea - the good, bad and plain ugly

LittleGreyCat

Well-Known Member
Retired Moderator
Just to note, as I regularly see people going <UGH!> about green tea.

Not all green teas are the same.

When I am going to be around the house for a while I make a pot of green tea using loose leaf tea - currently using Clipper green tea leaves and a funky glass Bodum tea pot.

When I only have time for one cup, I use a tea bag. My favourite is (again) Clipper which is O.K. but not nearly as nice as the loose leaf tea.

Ran out of tea bags and bought a box of Lord Nelson tea bags from Lidl.
I don't think these are very nice - they certainly have very little flavour - so I wouldn't blame anyone for trying these and then deciding that green tea was the work of the devil :twisted: .

In all cases I add some lemon juice to the tea which IMHO transforms it.

So I would recommend that those trying green tea make sure that they have tried a reliable brand, and if possible have tried a loose leaf tea instead of a tea bag, and try it with some squirty (or real) lemon.

Cheers

LGC
 
I'd add that if you find green tea too bitter, just don't leave it in the hot water too long, i personally never let it brew for longer than 1 minute, and a slice of lemon helps loads. If I use loose leaf tea then you need about half the quantity you would use for a black tea with milk.


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TBH I've tried Clipper Green Tea and didn't like it at all LittleGreyCat, the brand I use is from Holland & Barrett called Double Dragon and has 20 tea bags per box.

I appreciate green tea is not for everyone and some may say it tastes horrible, I wasn't keen when I first started drinking it but now I prefer it above all else, it's refreshing and good for you too!!!
 
i drink green tea all day everyday, i have about 10- 15 cups a day, i prefer lemon or cranberry flavours, i have tetley at work or twinnings (i think its called that) at home, i leave the bag in the cup until its drunk, i love it! I've tried all the other flavours but these are the only ones i like, i don't like plain green tea without the flavouring, if anyone is gonna say tetly or twinnings isn't really green tea...shhhhhhh
 
the Asian jasmine green tea is nice too, I use about 1/3 of the amount of green tea than if it was black, unlike black, I think it's better weak
 
I bought some green tea about 2 years ago. I can't remember the brand but I really didn't like it at all. I'm not really a tea drinker because I find it has a funny aftertaste ... Is it the tannin? I have to have it weak and without milk. I drink a lot when in turkey. Green tea seems to have that aftertaste but ten fold!
My friend in Turkey also brews tea from various leaves in the garden.

I may give the green tea another try especially with the lemon.

I've always enjoyed peppermint tea and it has benefits for digestion. Costa have a lovely mint humbug tea ... Delicious!



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I drink clipper green tea (bags) usually. I leave the bag in the cup and add a few thin slices of fresh root ginger which I find very refreshing.
 
The green tea in Holland & Barrett is on buy one get one half price, just stocked today
 
I also have a similar feeling. I didn't like the taste of green tea when I started but now it is my favorite drink and I have started to experiment other types as well; and I have tried halmari oolong tea, chamomile tea, masala tea etc. And YES, I did like the taste of lemon in my green tea!
 
On my box of green tea, in the instructions it says "Green tea does not like boiling water" just very hot as it will turn bitter and not to steep for more than a minute. Like the idea of slices of ginger in it! Trying to wean myself off so much coffee and green tea is my go to for that. Have a cuppa for me! Cheers/L
 
jack412 said:
the Asian jasmine green tea is nice too, I use about 1/3 of the amount of green tea than if it was black, unlike black, I think it's better weak
Click to expand...
I love that. I buy loose leaves from a Chinese supermarket and only use a small pinch in a massive mug, you don’t need much, I’ve found!
 
Nice to see an old thread revived - four years old!
Made me realise that I don't drink that much green tea at the moment because I am only slowly working my way through the tea bags in the larder.
Still, had a cup today so that is a coincidence.
 
I agree. I used to hate that fishy aftertaste until I read about the brewing temperature. I now drink it regularly.

"Traditionally Japanese green teas and spring teas are brewed at lower temperatures (160°F to 170°F) and standard Chinese green teas at higher temperatures (170°F to 180°F)."

https://www.thekitchn.com/how-to-brew-green-tea-cooking-lessons-from-the-kitchn-203091
 
I did a tea tasting course with a master blender and he said people don't like green tea because they make it wrong. Always use cooler water or instead of milk put a splash of cold water then the boiling water from kettle. It then will not scorch and leave the bitter taste. Works every time. So fragrant and delicate I love it...
 
I drink green tea everyday. According to my experience every normal person should drink at least one cup of green tea daily.
 

I love green tea and I have wondered sometimes about the bitter edge. Thanks for sharing that!
 
I can't drink any sort of tea these days - and I used to work for Allied Lyons - previously Lyons Tetley.
My my sense of taste was altered after taking Metformin and a Statin. Everything tasted strange, but although I can now taste most flavours some are still not back - I can smell strawberries but not taste them, tea still has the strange taste.
 
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