Is Green Tea an acquired taste?

BrunetteRunner87

So, in the interests of full disclosure, I own an online tea business, but I am here on MFP struggling with my own weight issues.

I can't tell you how many people have told me how they think they should drink green tea because it's supposed to be good for them, but they can't stand the taste. I have two comments I would like to make regarding this.

First: most of the time, people who hate green tea do NOT know how to properly prepare it. If you use boiling water or steep the tea for longer than three minutes before removing it from the hot water, you have ruined your tea. Green tea is very delicate and you have to use water that is hot but not boiling (About 160-180 degrees F) and steep it for about 2-3 minutes only. Otherwise it will taste BITTER and yucky.

Secondly: I can't count the number of times people have come to me and asked me something like, "Do you have any teas that will cure my tennis elbow/halitosis/terminal disease/excessive flatulence and/or make me look like a model? What are the health benefits of your teas?" (I actually have this posted in the FAQs page on my website, and my answer is as follows): "Listen, you can read about the health benefits of tea elsewhere. I mean there are scads of studies and tons of information out there, but you're not going to find me promoting the health benefits of our teas--which is not to say that they aren't every bit as healthy as other teas out there. I just think entirely too much has been made of this aspect of this amazing beverage. Disreputable individuals are making outrageous claims and laughing all the way to the bank with your money. I'm not a snake oil salesman and for that reason, I refuse to even participate in the idea of marketing the health benefits of tea. Call it a personal pet peeve. I just won't do it. So why, you might ask, do certain teas carry the mystique of being some sort of ancient medicine? Glad you asked. My personal opinion goes something like this: Long ago, you had a couple of options for beverages: you could drink water or tea. Early civilizations did not have the sanitation and plumbing systems that we have today and water supplies were easily contaminated. Tea required the water to be boiled (aka sterilized). Over time, people started noticing that tea drinkers seemed healthier and lived longer than people who drank water. And then someone started selling tea as a cure for everything and the disreputable marketing practices have continued to this day. Just my opinion." I just want to offer that tidbit to anyone who thinks green tea is going to save their life.

I do think tea is great for dieting. We make a lot of dessert teas, and they essentially have no calories, so they can be a fun way to assuage a sweet tooth without cheating, but don't expect them to make you melt away pounds without other effort on your part. If that was true, I'd be a beanpole. I drink tea every day.

I know you're not supposed to solicit in the forums...but I'm curious what your webiste is?

frankhorbelt

So, in the interests of full disclosure, I own an online tea business, but I am here on MFP struggling with my own weight issues.

I can't tell you how many people have told me how they think they should drink green tea because it's supposed to be good for them, but they can't stand the taste. I have two comments I would like to make regarding this.

First: most of the time, people who hate green tea do NOT know how to properly prepare it. If you use boiling water or steep the tea for longer than three minutes before removing it from the hot water, you have ruined your tea. Green tea is very delicate and you have to use water that is hot but not boiling (About 160-180 degrees F) and steep it for about 2-3 minutes only. Otherwise it will taste BITTER and yucky.

Secondly: I can't count the number of times people have come to me and asked me something like, "Do you have any teas that will cure my tennis elbow/halitosis/terminal disease/excessive flatulence and/or make me look like a model? What are the health benefits of your teas?" (I actually have this posted in the FAQs page on my website, and my answer is as follows): "Listen, you can read about the health benefits of tea elsewhere. I mean there are scads of studies and tons of information out there, but you're not going to find me promoting the health benefits of our teas--which is not to say that they aren't every bit as healthy as other teas out there. I just think entirely too much has been made of this aspect of this amazing beverage. Disreputable individuals are making outrageous claims and laughing all the way to the bank with your money. I'm not a snake oil salesman and for that reason, I refuse to even participate in the idea of marketing the health benefits of tea. Call it a personal pet peeve. I just won't do it. So why, you might ask, do certain teas carry the mystique of being some sort of ancient medicine? Glad you asked. My personal opinion goes something like this: Long ago, you had a couple of options for beverages: you could drink water or tea. Early civilizations did not have the sanitation and plumbing systems that we have today and water supplies were easily contaminated. Tea required the water to be boiled (aka sterilized). Over time, people started noticing that tea drinkers seemed healthier and lived longer than people who drank water. And then someone started selling tea as a cure for everything and the disreputable marketing practices have continued to this day. Just my opinion." I just want to offer that tidbit to anyone who thinks green tea is going to save their life.

I do think tea is great for dieting. We make a lot of dessert teas, and they essentially have no calories, so they can be a fun way to assuage a sweet tooth without cheating, but don't expect them to make you melt away pounds without other effort on your part. If that was true, I'd be a beanpole. I drink tea every day.

I know you're not supposed to solicit in the forums...but I'm curious what your webiste is?

I really wasn't trying to peddle my teas, but since you asked:
zoomdweebies (dot) com is our main site.

BrendaLee

I hated green tea with a passion, and then I didn't. Definitely an acquired taste. I'd recommend raspberry white tea, too, or any fruit-infused white/green teas.

JuantonBliss

Some things are an acquired taste for people and others just never like things. You should try other flavored teas.. There are other green teas too like the abover person has mentioned.

birdsitter1

Not for me. Every do often I try it, but still don't like it. Hot or cold, I pretty much hate it

Fairymo

I don't like "normal" tea but here in the UK I drink tetley green tea with lemon, as long as I don't leave the bag in too long it's not too bad.

StripedSmoker

Oh my I love green tea, it's my tea of choice! I grew up drinking black tea and some herbal teas, but when I tasted green tea the first time I hated it. Then I tasted again and kind of liked the bitterness, aaaand now it's my favourite tea ever. So yes, it did grow on me.

tlou5

For me it depends on the type of green tea; I like Republic of Tea brand and especially their Honey Ginsing, Orange Spice and Blueberry Acai flavors. Experiment with brands and flavors.

RunningSwede

The Afghans steep/drink their green tea infused with whole cardamom pods, and that’s how I’m now drinking it. Cheers!

horrorstory

try refresh tea from starbucks. its a mix of mint and green tea. so good.

gr8xpectationz

First, make sure you make it right. I'm pretty sure that when you're making hot green tea, it's only supposed to steep for like 90 seconds or something. If you leave it in too long, it gets bitter.

Secondly, there's no need to make it too strong. It's okay if it tastes like water with just a little bit of flavor.

Third, there are all kinds of flavored green teas, so you can try ginger green tea, or pomegranate green tea, or spicy chai green tea, or whatever. I tend to mix and match.

Lastly, I rarely drink hot tea at all. Every evening, I put six mix-and-matched tea bags in a gallon pitcher of tapwater and stick it in the fridge and let it cold-steep overnight. I've done some research to ensure that it still has all the benefits that hot green tea has, and it does. I think it's much better as a refreshing cold drink.

Now the only time I drink it hot is if I'm doing a "breathe deep" tea to help my lungs feel less congested...because it helps to inhale the steam as I sip (I quit smoking three weeks ago, and I have allergies, so sometimes my chest feels tight or gunky.)

Anyway, I hope something in here helps. Good luck with it!

Piratefifi

I love tea, but green tea has always had a fishy aftertaste to me. Just can't get past it.

CAS317

I love green tea (and Ruby Red Chai from Trader Joe's) with a little Stevia added to it.

knot2thin

try different green teas my favorite is Tazo Zen. It has a hint of lemon grass and mint vey smooth. I also like the Jasmine green teas as they smell really nice.

LeanneGoingThin

Try white tea, it's better than green tea. And I found that the taste did grow on me.

nyssa1231

i don't think so. i've always loved the flavor of green tea. i don't add anything to it, and i hate it if it's combined with some other flavor, like "jasmine green tea' or "blueberry green tea".

MelsAuntie

I hate it. I hate it hot, I hate it iced, it tastes like boiled lawn clippings. Never going to like it. Give me COFFEE!

princessnik7

I add lemon and raw honey to mine. Love it that way. I buy the plain, sometimes I buy the ones with a little flavor as well. I have had some brands that I will never purchase again because they were so bitter. I typically stick with lipton or celestial seasonings these days.

CookNLift

By acquired taste, I hope you mean acquiring as much as possible into my belly.

Because yes, It is definitely acquired

water_coloured

I love green tea! I drink it plain. I think it may be an acquired taste because all of my friends hate it. I grew up drinking it, so that may be why I love the taste so much.