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Maeda-en web site indicates 1 tbsp of leaves, brewed in 9-12 ounces of hot water (160 to 190), for 1 minute, but their packaging indicates 1 tsp of leaves, brewed in 8-12 ounces of hot water (160 to 190), for 1 minute. I veered towards a stronger brew.

Dry leaf: A mild sweet green aroma, with a deep green color. Leaves finely broken up.

1st Brew: 4 teaspoons tea leaf for 8 oz of water at 180, brewing 1.5 minutes. Tea Liquor is a cloudy yellow with mild green color. the aroma is sweet. Slightly pungent, mild flavor.

Infused Leaf: is finely broken and falls to bottom at a good rate.

2nd Brew: 6 oz of water at 180, brewing 2.5 minutes. Tea Liquor is a cloudy yellow with mild green color. the aroma is sweet. Mild flavor. At back of palate nice vegetal flavor lingers.

3rd Brew: 6 oz of water at 190, brewing 3.5 minutes. Tea Liquor is still cloudy yellow with mild green color. very slight sweet aroma. Flavor mildly earth. Slight astringency.

Note: Acceptable, very economical Fukamushi in a pinch, although not very exciting, deep or lively.

92 Rating: Awsome, really Green. Makes a good complex brew that lasts in the palate. Love this tea

Dry leaf; A complex grassy aroma. Color of leaf and stem is a beautiful grassy green.

1st Brew: 2 teaspoons tea leaf for 5 oz of water at 175, steeping 1-2 minutes. I love the complexity and depth of this tea. The brew is a beautiful green color. This tea comes in a Select & Premium version. I really look forward to trying the Premium next.

60 Rating: New Package Update, 2/8/2013
Wow, this tea is all of a sudden very bitter! What a let down, as this was a nice tea in the last package. Seems to have inconsistencies between batches.

A beautiful grassy aroma and deep grassy green color when dry, yet when brewed leaves me wanting. I do not read Japanese yet, so if anyone can, please post brewing instructions on package.

Dry leaf; Strong sweet grassy aroma. Color of leaf is a beautiful deep grassy green.

1st Brew: 2 teaspoons tea leaf for 8 oz of water at 180, brewing 3 minutes, then 5 minutes. It took many minutes of steeping to achieve deep flavor palate, yet it leaves me wanting more depth and complexity.

1st Brew #2 try: I bumped up the amount of tea to 2 1/2 teaspoons of tea leaf for 8 oz of water at 190, brewing 5 minutes, then 10 minutes. This tea tasted better letting it steep 10 minutes. A sweet mild taste, with very little astringency. Tea leaves take several minutes to drop to the bottom.

A high quality, very refined tea with many overtones. When I drink this tea I feel I am in communion with Mr Orita on his organic tea farm in Kagoshima looking out toward Satsuma Fuji mountain. The tea leaves are finely broken up, have a nice rich dark green color and grassy aroma. For me this tea is for special occasions (+-20 US dollars for 3.5 oz) so I save it for times when I can to stop and enjoy its special qualities.

1st Infusion: First pour is delicious with an exceptional vegetal aroma, green grassy flavor and roasted notes in the background. The flavor of leaves linger at the back of upper palate. Produces a rich deep green color tea and aroma.

2nd Infusion: 4 oz water at 180 for 1 1/2 minutes. Results spectacular; deep rich full green flavor palate with smokey green color tea. Sweat grassy aroma.

2nd Infusion (alt): Second pour is dependent on the 1st and how much water was used. In the past I’ve used 10 ounces of water at 170 for 1 1/2 minutes followed by 10 ounces at 180 for 2 minutes and the the 2nd brew results were not as spectacular. The flavor is reduced by 60% but the color was still deep green. I need to sit with this tea longer to more fully review the 2nd 3rd,4th infusions.

73 Rating: Mild flavor, warm almost oaky tones. When brewed, the tea is not bright green, it is more beige/ yellow with slight green. A little boring at first, but it is growing on me. This tea has some nice overtones, that are woody oaky yet not too bitter. Very slight bitter aftertaste if overstepped. Reasonable price +- 6.50 US dollar for 3.5 oz

1/08/2013
55 Rating: I now find this tea exceedingly neutral and lacking flavor so I’ve downgraded the rating.

I got two of these for my birthday this year, but so far find I only use this tea set occasionally. I use one glass to hold the stainless strainer and prepare subsequent brews and use the other for serving, so rotate between each. I use this tea set when I am making specialty teas and I’m only going to drink a 4-10 ounce tea followed by a 2nd,3rd,4th brew. The double-walled glass stays a manageable temperature to the touch, the lazer cut stainless steel filter is perfect for fine leaves as well as larger ones, the easy lift extension on the strainer is great for grabbing, and the lid functions as a cover and or saucer. A nicely designed tea set, well constructed and the fact that it has no plastic or rubber parts is a major plus. Very light and nice to handle as well.

This Eva Solo Tea Maker is my everyday tea brewer for 24-32 oz green and black teas. It is excellent, brews and filters perfectly, keeps the tea warm and is a perfect size for several cups. It also does not drip, at all! I love using this tea brewer every morning and actually look forward to getting up to fill it! Sounds crazy but its beautiful curvy shape and sexy zippered neoprene dress is quite alluring. The neoprene does keep the tea warm for an hour or so.

It is designed so you can either; let the loose tea leaves float in the glass vessel, which I love for green tea, insert the stainless filter and the leaves stay in the vessel when you pour. Or for teas that you want to brew for a shorter time frame you can spoon the leaves into the stainless filter instead, once brew time is chosen, fully depress the plunger to stop brewing and serve the tea, drip free.

I’ve read some other reviews on Amazon indicating that the plunger did not stop the tea from continuing to brew, this only happens to me if it takes me more than 1 hour to drink the carafe contents. When this occurs, I simply add a little warm water directly into my mug, no big deal. Like with any teapot each person needs to calibrate the amount of tea leaves to match their personal tea strength preferences. Cleaning it is very easy. My only reserve is the ABS rubber gasket that the tea has to pass through when using the plunger. I don’t like the idea of my tea going through a plastic even if safe. That being said, since I put my tea leaves into the glass vessel I find I don’t need to use the plunger at all. I love being able to carry my pet tea carafe around my home office and pour it into my mug with no spills or cleanup required. A great product, as are all the Eva Solo products I’ve purchased so far. They are very good Danish designers.

Rating 95, 10-29-2012 :
This was my Go To Everyday Tea. It is very reasonably priced for its rich flavor palate. +- 5.50 US dollar for 5.3 oz

1st Infusion: A rich green grassy aroma. The 1st brew is very satisfying, with a slightly woody upper palate. Tannin upper palate taste is also present. Delivers every time a rich, deep, complex palate.

2nd Brew: I use slightly hotter water +-190 and let it steep 5 minutes. A slightly milder taste but still complex, mossy green color.
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Update for December 2012 purchase:
I had rated this tea at 95, but unfortunately I bought two packages of this tea in December which were very disappointing. Possibly I got two very old dried out batches (although the package indicates best by 04Nov13. I may call the company to find out how to read the packaging date. This had been my go to everyday green tea. The last two batches were subpar not tasting green at all rather more like brown boring tea. I will try another package later in the Spring. Now I am on the prowl for other everyday sencha’s.

This is an excellent new crop tea. I wish I had more, highly recommended. I enjoy my green teas somewhat strong so steep longer than most. Also, for the past year I’ve chosen to enjoy almost exclusively quality Japanese Senchas.

1st Brew ; A light delicate very young green flavor. It has a mellow slightly earthy sweetness, with upper palate flavor and very slight bitter after taste (if brewed strong). Color of the brew is lime to mossy green depending on strength. The tea is very fine and young so leaves settles at the bottom of the vessel nicely.

2nd Brew; lighter but nicely green and sweet. Leaves a desire for greater depth, but has nice green after taste on upper palate. Sweetness in mouth. Still lime green color.