Loose Leaf Green Tea Recommendations?

[harmony_bites]

Hiya, I'm new to the group and new to tea

Comments

[music_l0ver]

I'm not big on Green teas myself. I haven't had many. I know you said you'd like to stay away from flavored teas, but I just had a Green tea from MightyLeaf.com that was called Green Tea Tropical and it is flavored but I don't think it was overpowering. Just a suggestion.

Also, if you don't get a big response here, I'd check out Steepster.com. They have message boards and tea ratings for all sorts of teas. That may help you do some research on the teas you're looking into. And you could always go on the message boards. There are a lot of people there well versed in all sorts of teas.

[harmony_bites]

My aunt lives with me and I like sharing the teas with her and she really doesn't like flavored teas. Also, being new to teas, I want to try the different varieties unadulterated by other flavors--at least at first. I appreciate the suggestions though for both Steepster and its message boards. Simply googling didn't give me a good sense of where to go with my questions.

[music_l0ver]

That's cool. Tea sharing can be addicting.

I love Steepster. It's a great place and when I first got into tea, it helped me expand my horizons and check out other places to shop and what not. I consider it a great resource because the people there are friendly and honest with their tea ratings and opinions. It's helpful to separate what's good from what looks good.
Good luck!

[1_2_suckerpunch]

I would try the Darjeeling green and a small sample each of Precious Eyebrows, Jade Sprout, and Pi lo chun.

[harmony_bites]

TeaSource doesn't offer samples FWIW. The smallest possible orders are 2 ounces. But their prices are so reasonable it makes more sense than ordering the sample sizes at Adagio. So Precious Eyebrows, Jade Sprout and Pi Lo Chun don't taste like waters boiled in spinach? Are there any above I should definitely eliminate?

I love Darjeeling as a Black Tea, and it did occur to me I couldn't go wrong trying the green version. Thanks!

[harmony_bites]

It's considered a flavored tea so no, not on my list. Genmaicha is actually a favorite of the friend that corrupted converted me into a tea fiend--about the only Green Tea she does like--so I did think I'll try it someday. Your description of it really makes me think I might love it!

[vince_moon]

I don't really have any good advice, I'm more of a black tea and Earl Grey person. I just wanted to say that I love your icon. :) Sorry.

[harmony_bites]

LOL! This one? That's OK. I'm finding actually I'm more a Black Tea (and before this Earl Grey) person. My friend gifted me with a lot of them and I loved the Darjeeling and Assam. I'm just hoping I can find some Greens to love too, for variety and because I hear they have great health benefits.

[vince_moon]

Yeah, every green tea I've tried tastes funny. Good luck with your search!

Still giggling over that icon. :D

[netbug009]

You're going to find that Japanese teas are more vegetal and chinese are less, but green tea without flavoring is on the more vegetal side in general.

Kinda a bummer you're not interested in flavored teas, because a floral green tea can have a nice sweet note without being very vegetal. If you reconsider, you may like jasmine or cherry blossom flavored teas. :)

[harmony_bites]

I'm not interested in the flavored teas--for now--as I'm just getting to know the different teas and I don't want that hidden with a mix of other things. But one of the samples my friend passed on was a Pomegranate Green from TeaSource with Roses and a Sencha based. Which is why I thought I'd like Sencha, because I did like that tea--and you're right, the mix does militate the vegetal flavor. On the other hand, she also included a White Tea Sampler pack from Adagio that included a Silver Needle Jasmine--and I found it undrinkable--to me it tasted like perfume. But I'll take your suggestion about maybe trying a Green with Cherry Blossom flavor in mind.