Lu Mei Green

I am trying to brew this tea correctly, but it is really fighting back. My first steep (1 1/2 teaspoons, 190 degree water, 3 minutes) was awful. So so bitter, it totally overpowered any of the actual flavors of the tea. The second steep I dumped out half the leaves, lowered the water temp to 170, and steeped for only 2 minutes. And it tasted… like water. Well, the beginning of the sip was watery, then in the middle there’s some nice actual tea notes, then at the end… bitter! What the heck. It does say this is a “sharp” tea but it should NOT be bitter like that at only 170. Something here is going really wrong, so I am going to hold off on actually rating it until I get a gaiwan and can do some really short steeps.

Purchased on Fab.com during a foodie sale. I had Fab credits so got all five of their teas at a very good price. Basically paid shipping.
I am not in love with this tea although I would not toss it out.
I am going to give it more time, and a few more steeps before I decide on a rating for it.
I may give it a go with less leaf.
This steep however is leaving a lot to be desired.

Loose
Appearance: large, bicolored curled leaf, green tones
Aroma when Dry: nutty, fuzzy, hints of sweetness
After water is first poured: seaweed broth
At end of steep: sweetened seaweed broth
Tea liquor:
At end of steep: clear
Staple? Yes
Preferred time of day: Any
Taste:
At first?: bitter sea vegetal, salt, brothy chewy notes
As it cools?: first notes get a bit grassy, salt notes surface more upon close
Additives used (milk, honey, sugar etc)? No
Lingers? Yes, meaty, with sea salt notes

Second steep (5 min)
Salty, lightly brothy, very minor seaweed notes

first post in awhile! anyway, I actually like the bitterness in this tea. I prefer less vegetal green teas, so this one works for me. It doesn’t have a huge amount of flavor, but it is slightly vegetal, bitter, and punchy.

This is my go-to tea at my job – I drink it practically any day that I go to the gym before work and thus don’t have a chance to make a cup of coffee. I’m operating under less-than-stellar tea-making conditions there (just getting hot water from a water cooler), but this turns out consistently well for me – pleasantly slightly bitter, not too tannic, and overall pretty delicious. The fair trade, organic aspect (and the immensely reasonable price) are a welcome bonus.