/jp/ - Otaku Culture

>>9963067

I own both of those pots (with the latter, the purple version). There are differences, yes. The Hohryu pours with less dripping, but because the Hagi ones are internally glazed, they are easier to clean. Unglazed kyusu have a tendency to take on an unpleasant, swampy smell with time, especially if you're brewing with hard water.

New harvest begins as early as February for a very small number of Chinese teas, and there are some remote southern Japanese islands (such as Tanegashima) that also have early harvests. Most new tea is available at the beginning of April, and if you're interested in Japanese tea, the tradition seems to be that just before the harvest, people enjoy last year's tea flavoured with dried sakura blossoms.

tl;dr Buy what you like now, because your tastebuds' hips will be moving on their own when you taste tea that a week ago was growing in the ground.

Don't know what your preferences are for tea, so it's hard to suggest things. Especially because I cannot find a single Chinese tea vendor I am satisfied with.

>>8781706

Turn upside down, shake out the big wet mass. Fill with water, put lid on, secure lid with fingers and shake the teapot, and pour out the remaining leaves. Repeat this until the inside is clean.

>>8781768

You might consider looking into Korean teaware. They're basically cups that have a strainer built in, so it's something like a hybrid between a cup and a teapot

.>>8782242

Good tea isn't bitter. If it is, chances are you either made it from lousy teabag grocery store tea or you made an error in the brewing.

One Anon suggested a 'beginners guide' to tea on Pastebin. I'm thinking that's not such a bad idea. If I make one, I'll post it in the OP of the next thread. There seem to be several questions that come up regularly.

>>8782338

Black tea isn't supposed to be bitter either, at least too bitter. Japanese black tea is very mellow. Chinese black tea has bitterness, but balanced with sweet, caramel-like flavours. Assam black tea is the same, but with a more honey-like flavour.