How do i infuse genmaicha?

Question:

so my mother in law got me this genmaicha tea, and its all in japanese... i put one teaspoon for 1l and it tasted pretty strong... any help??

Answer:

There is an art to making Asian and English tea. For Asian:
You don't want a boiling water for your tea. Heat your water to the point it will almost boil - but do not let it boil. If it boil just let it cool for 5 minutes or add 10 % cold water.

Pour about 1/4 cup of hot water in the cup to to warm the cup, and dispose of the water.

If you have a tea infuser use it:
http://www.crateandbarrel.com/kitchen-an…

Put a teaspoon of tea in the infuser.
Fill cup with hot water.
Put tea infuser with tea in it and stir. Remove it in 20 second and discard the liquid.
Fill the cup again with the hot water, and put the tea infuser again. Let it sit for 2 minutes (3 minutes for stronger 1 1/2 minutes for less).
Take the tea infuser out, and your tea is ready.

If you don't have an infuser, use a large cup (about 1 1/2 larger than the cup you are going to use).
Warm it up with the hot water, and discard it.
Put tea in the large cup and put some hot water; then discard the as much liquid you can after 20 - 30 seconds - carefully not to spill the tea out.
Fill it up again with the hot water, and serve it after 2 minutes or however strong (longer than 2 minutes) you want your tea or weak.

If the tea is still strong for your taste, use less - adjusting it till you find the perfect tea for you.

I know it seem a pain but, you can learn to differentiate good tea or just have them like most Westeners (and there is nothing wrong with that - it is just a matter of taste.) Once you become good at it, you will be able to taste the differences.

Now if you just want something simple. Just put less or more for your taste, and let it steep in hot water (not boiling) longer and less for your taste.

Next time you make some tea, try to take it with something sweet (preferably chocolate in candy or cake form) to enhance the flavor (the roasted brown rice flavor will truly be enhanced) of the tea and the tea will enhance that sweet something.-- Like wine with cheese principal.