Recipes / Food - Drink

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by Ea

If the powder dissolves completely, then it's instant tea.

that's the way I would interpret it, too - although in the spoon it looks like matcha ... I've browsed through wiki looking at the japanese symbols used, but have not made a match ...

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

that's the way I would interpret it, too - although in the spoon it looks like matcha ... I've browsed through wiki looking at the japanese symbols used, but have not made a match ...

If you post a photo of the package, I can probably tell you what it is.

[GeoffC]

The package on the left contains powder and leaves a residue, whilst the one on the right is more crystalline and does dissolve instantly.

[FlorenceArt]

I am rather confused

The name on the first package translates, according to Jim Breen's online dictionary, to catechin, which doesn't sound right in this case.

The other one is called "o-cha" (just "tea"), that would be ordinary green tea. But it also says that there is matcha in it.

I have no idea what these are supposed to be! I'll try again when I get home...

[GeoffC]

you mean we could be drinking anything ! :gulps:

[FlorenceArt]

Not really... they both have the word "cha", so there is some tea in there

[FlorenceArt]

Actually, I've seen the second one in stores before, but never bought it because it looked like instant tea.

I had a closer look at that second one. The vertical texts on the left say:

さらさら - sarasara - an onomatopeia meaning a rustling murmuring sound
抹茶入り - matcha iri - contains matcha
緑茶 - ryokucha - green tea

And the small round text on top of the cup in the upper right corner says it's good with cold or hot water (I think - kind of hard to read), so it must be instant tea.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Ea

I don't like green tea - it's too light for my taste. Black tea, plain English Breakfast in the morning, or with a strong lemon flavour is nice - brewed with a generous amount of leaves. Or roiboos (though that's not real tea). Hibiscus and rose-hip infusion is great served iced.

I carry all sort of teas. When friends visit I let them choose what they want. Short of the cerimony I can give them whatever. I really like all of them. I prefer it with nothing in it. And strong, with beginning of the tannin film. Black is best for me.. Plenty of leaves. Fresh boiled water, hot teapot, china cups, the works.

I developed a taste for green tea in the office, water is too flat, espresso is too tight, no more than a couple a day. Green tea goes down like nobody business, mug after mug. And they say it is good.for health. As if I cared.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

Actually, I've seen the second one in stores before, but never bought it because it looked like instant tea.

I had a closer look at that second one. The vertical texts on the left say:

さらさら - sarasara - an onomatopeia meaning a rustling murmuring sound
抹茶抹茶 - matcha iri - contains matcha
緑茶 - ryokucha - green tea

And the small round text on top of the cup in the upper right corner says it's good with cold or hot water (I think - kind of hard to read), so it must be instant tea.

You are useful

[FlorenceArt]

OK, I think I solved the catechin mystery. It looks like it's another one of these molecules that someone suddenly decided is good for you - like antioxydants - I mean, we wouldn't want to rust, now would we?

So, anyway, there is apparently catechin in tea, and it has become a selling point, hence the prominent presence of the word on the first product. So there you are, Geoff, we don't know exactly what it is but it is definitely good for you

[FlorenceArt]

I can't resist - some fun with Google Translate

Original Japanese text:

緑茶に含まれる成分の代表―カテキン
日本人にとってお茶を飲む習慣は欠かせないもの。普段何気なく飲んでいる緑茶には実にさまざまな栄養が含ま れている。
その代表が「カテキン」。一般的にはタンニンとも総称され、あの緑茶独特の渋みのもとになっているものだ。 カテキンはお茶にしか含まれていない成分であるのと同時に、お茶に含まれている成分のなかではいちばん含有 率が高く、緑茶の8～15％程度を占めているのである。
このカテキンこそが緑茶の薬効の大黒柱なのだ。

Google translation:

Representatives of the ingredients contained in green tea - catechin
For the Japanese custom of drinking tea essential. Casually drinking green tea usually contains a wide variety of nutrients.
Representatives of "catechin". In general, tannins are also generic, it is a green tea that under the peculiar bitterness. At the same time the catechin components of green tea not only contains, among the ingredients contained in most tea has high concentrations of 8 - Green tea accounts for 15% of that level.
It's a mainstay of the efficacy of green tea catechin what this is.

[GeoffC]

okay me you thanks and karma gives.....

[kindlekitten]

glad you got that sorted. looked like my Miso Soup packets

[FlorenceArt]

Originally Posted by kindlekitten

glad you got that sorted. looked like my Miso Soup packets

But do they have catechin?

[kindlekitten]

Originally Posted by FlorenceArt

But do they have catechin?

got me!