Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Boring ol' pot of Impra Ceylon Earl Grey in the Persian glass and Polish pottery teapot "Old Poland Mosquito pattern".................

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

Let us know how many you get out it today.

I am enjoying the 9th brew right now, and I won't be making any more. I did 3 sec infusions the first 4 steepings, then 8, 15, 25, 45 and 3 minutes. The last 3 infusions the tea has changed quite a bit, not as thick, and providing a gentler, milder taste. Interestingly, in this last infusion I am even getting a hint of tannins, that's unusual in ripe puerh. I did increase steeping temperature a bit for the last 3, that probably is the reason.

All in all, an interesting tea.

Originally Posted by Nightblade

Now that's funny ! All jokin aside though . Drinking Puer isn't Blasphemy. To each his own for sure. and if you like it then that's cool . But ...........Bleeeeaaahhh !

It's in my top 5 for sure!

Originally Posted by str8fencer

I am enjoying the 9th brew right now, and I won't be making any more. I did 3 sec infusions the first 4 steepings, then 8, 15, 25, 45 and 3 minutes. The last 3 infusions the tea has changed quite a bit, not as thick, and providing a gentler, milder taste. Interestingly, in this last infusion I am even getting a hint of tannins, that's unusual in ripe puerh. I did increase steeping temperature a bit for the last 3, that probably is the reason.

All in all, an interesting tea.

I'm still figuring this out. My initial steepings are too long. Then the latter ones fall short because the leaves are spent after 5. Next go around will be better. This stuff packs such a wallop that it only needs a couple seconds. I need to throttle it down some.

Has anyone ever tried one of the various automatic tea kettle infusers such as the Krups FL700D51 Electric Kettle or the Cuisinart PerfecTemp Programmable Tea Steeper? There are various ones out there. Breville makes one also but it is a little expensive. Just curious if anyone has had any luck with these. Amazon has many reviews but for every good review, it seams there is a bad one.

Haven't tried either of those, I use only a waterboiler and a simple thermometer to control the water temp. I know you can get water boilers that you can pre-set to desired temp, but I don't have one of those either. It is true tho, that many teas should be steeped at other temperatures than 100c, green teas perhaps as low as 70c/160f. If I had unlimited space, perhaps I would consider one

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Haven't tried either of those, I use only a waterboiler and a simple thermometer to control the water temp. I know you can get water boilers that you can pre-set to desired temp, but I don't have one of those either. It is true tho, that many teas should be steeped at other temperatures than 100c, green teas perhaps as low as 70c/160f. If I had unlimited space, perhaps I would consider one

I do the same method. I use a thermometer to get an idea of the temp. I don't even have coffee maker any longer, just a French press. I save the counter space for an espresso machine since I haven't found a simpler yet satisfactory way to make it otherwise.

Originally Posted by str8tlkr

Has anyone ever tried one of the various automatic tea kettle infusers such as the Krups FL700D51 Electric Kettle or the Cuisinart PerfecTemp Programmable Tea Steeper? There are various ones out there. Breville makes one also but it is a little expensive. Just curious if anyone has had any luck with these. Amazon has many reviews but for every good review, it seams there is a bad one.

Never heard of them ? But then again, I'm not too high tech when it comes to tea. I do use an electric water boiler at home fairly often though as it gets my water up and runnin faster than my stove n kettle. And my good ol Beehive teapot has never let me down.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Haven't tried either of those, I use only a waterboiler and a simple thermometer to control the water temp. I know you can get water boilers that you can pre-set to desired temp, but I don't have one of those either. It is true tho, that many teas should be steeped at other temperatures than 100c, green teas perhaps as low as 70c/160f. If I had unlimited space, perhaps I would consider one

Basically it's true that certain teas brew better at different temps but, I've always gone with the basic boiling for black,just before boiling for green method and 3-5 min brew for blacks, 2-3 for greens and 1-2 minutes steep for white tea. Oolongs about 3-4 for me.There are of course plenty of individual opinions on that matter.

Tonight's quiet contemplation is: Iron Goddess Oolong sweetend with sugar infused with Lemon Verbena from my own Herb Garden......