[akaalias]

Hm, I have to disagree with the steeping chart for green tea (after having been doing it that way for 12 years).

Recently, I got some medium/high quality Sencha at my favorite place Ten Ren down in Chinatown.

Lessons learned from their main man:

0. Never use boiling water, but instead around 80-85 degree Celsius (okay, that seems to be common sense) 1. If the quality of the tea is so-so, discharge the first steep after 1-2 seconds. High-grade tea needs no cleaning. This step gets rid of the dust and ensures a clear color. 2. First steeping for maximum 1 minute 30 seconds. 3. Second steeping for only about 40 (!) seconds. 4. Third steeping for about 50 seconds.

[sgoraya]

> my favorite place Ten Ren down in Chinatown.

Ten Ren is awesome - friendly folks who also educated me about how to prepare tea and let me know that you could steep it multiple times (which was news to me at the time since I only steeped once and then threw out the leaves).

Having since moved to Southern CA, I visit their store in Monterrey Park. Good folks still, but I miss the charm of the Chinatown store.

[akaalias]

Yes, agreed. They're very friendly and humble. The quality of their teas speaks for itself. I didn't know they had one in CA! A good tea dealer is worth so much win.

[akaalias]

Oh, for clarification: "after having been doing it that way for 12 years" means, I did it wrong for 12 years!

The above described method has proven itself to be superior to what I was doing before.