299854 Sun Feb 20 13:17:50 -0800 2005 7 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1663538 When I was doing my trip around the world I picked up lots of food related gifts for myself and others. All through Asia I ran across tea. I know a bit about tea... but not as much as I would like... I hate not having a deep knowledge on any food related subject. LOL In Japan, China, and Hong Kong I picked up many varities. Some look like round 1 inch balls that open in hot water into a flower like shape with a red flower blossom (China). Another type says "First pick leaves 2004 season" (Hong Kong), Another is, I think, some type of Gunpowder... each leaf is rolled into a very small ball/pellet (Japan). I have had good green teas before but am always getting the water temp, brewing time, and amount of tea to water wrong... what are the best ways to prepare these teas? WHat is the best in-depth book to read on tea, geen or black? Thanks Sun Feb 20 13:17:50 -0800 2005 0 The Rogue 1 1663552 Green teas are better off the boil - about 184F. I can recommend 2 good sources for tea info. First, Harold McGee does a really good job on teas (as well as anything else connected with food and cooking) in On Food and Cooking, The Science and Lore of the Kitchen - I have the revised 2004 edition. As far as explanations of process (green v brown v oolong, etc.), I haven't read anything more concise and readable. My brother gave me this book over the holidays and I just can't say enough about it. Alton Brown's playing with a junior chemistry set compared to this guy. But the second source is Upton Tea Imports - both as a source for great teas from around the world, and as a source of great info. Go to their site and browse the current info newsletter - gobs of info there. I can't seem to get there right now - may be down for maintenance - so I can't point to the newsletter - but they should be back up soon. Link: http://www.uptontea.com Sun Feb 20 20:29:15 -0800 2005 1663538 0 applehome 1 1663561 A good place to start is this page from the Grey & Seddon website. It provides some basic guidance plus some suggestions for further reading. Link: http://gray-seddon-tea.com/introgreen.shtml Sun Feb 20 23:57:29 -0800 2005 1663538 0 Gary Soup 2 1663562 And I forgot Todd & Holland's "Universitea". Link: http://www.todd-holland.com/universitea/index.asp Mon Feb 21 00:04:55 -0800 2005 1663561 0 Gary Soup 1 1663572 Apparently Nicholar Perricone (of the Perricone diet fame) says that drinking green tea instead of coffee for 2 weeks will result in weight loss due to the anti-inflammatory properties of the tea - anyone know if this is true? Mon Feb 21 11:28:25 -0800 2005 1663538 0 vidia 1 1663605 At the Tea Salon Emporium in Manhattan, I was instructed to use one teaspoon per cup of tea; with a water temp of 180 degrees and 3 minutes of steeping. This was for Sencha Gold green tea. You risk burning the leaves if the temp is much higher. Hazel Mon Feb 21 16:28:07 -0800 2005 1663538 0 Hazel 1 1663807 http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0762421509/qid=1109387517/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/104-6943748-0890356?v=glance&s=books Fri Feb 25 22:12:29 -0800 2005 1663538 0 teatime 2 1663821 tea lovers companion and tea lovers treasury by james norwood pratt Sat Feb 26 14:34:01 -0800 2005 1663807 0 teatime