I hadn't had any for a while but just got some delivered.

It's is wonderful, the taste is perfect and it perks me up just nicely.

Such a lovely treat for me.

I always return to Mr. Itaru's tea, even while rotating through several green teas.  It is the perfect daily tea in my opinion!  Delicious, refreshing, just right . . I agree!

Once I learned to not steep it too long, it really became awesome.

Quoted from Victoria

I always return to Mr. Itaru's tea, even while rotating through several green teas.  It is the perfect daily tea in my opinion!  Delicious, refreshing, just right . . I agree!

Once I learned to not steep it too long, it really became awesome.

How long specifically do you steep this tea?

30 sec to 45 sec.. Or just under a minute at most..

do you use boiling water or do you let it sit for a while before you pour it, my Japeglish is a bit rusty lol

just found this

MAKING GREEN TEA:

When making green tea it is not necessary or desirable to use boiling water. Moderately warm to hot water is best. Tea leaves should be placed in the water for about 30 seconds (45 seconds at the longest) and removed. Superior quality green tea should look light green when prepared in this manner.

http://www.4yourtype.com/itaru.asp

I don't use a thermometer, but pour when the water is just short of boiling. Strongly steaming, water just starting to move, but not bubbling.  

45 seconds seems to be optimal, but those directions usually include a second steeping for a longer time.  I don't like to reuse tea leaves so I steep a little longer.  At present, a minute and a half - but that could change.  After 2 minutes of steeping, the taste is getting flat and I don't like it.  

I've worked my way down from 5 minutes, to 3 minutes, to 2 minutes and at a minute and a half the taste is definitely getting more clear and bright.

I may try and discipline myself to 45 seconds very soon!  

Is this the tea with the toasted rice in it?  The package I got isn't in English, so I don't know if it's Mr. Itaru's or not.

Quoted from Ribbit

Is this the tea with the toasted rice in it?  The package I got isn't in English, so I don't know if it's Mr. Itaru's or not.

Yes, it has toasted rice.....If it's from NAP, it's Mr. Itaru's.  Package is in Japanese.

You heard it here, folks:

If you speak with a heavy Japanese accent, "Itaru" is how you say "Italy".  

yep about 1 min steep time is pretty good

Good to know, PC!  

i don't know about this brand of tea but i strongly recommend ( and i'm really very fond of green tea) those from Ippodotea.jp, it's the best tea of the world in my opinion, senchas as gyokuros and of course matchas are utterly gorgeous!

We LOVE this tea.  The bag is almost empty and I will mourn its passing.  There is no substitute.