Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Originally Posted by str8fencer

At what temperature did you steep it? Usually if my tea is bitter, i find a cooler temperature helps a lot. Most of my green teas i steep at around 70-80c, oolongs just a little above. I find temperature to be vital to bitterness, more so than steeping time.

According to the FLUKE here at work my Keurig heats the water to 197 F , I then let it cool for a minute and add the tea and filter and let it steep for about 2 minutes. The teas I have been trying out are samples , and the taste is equal to the aroma when opening the foil pouches.

For the Oolongs , they go in the strainer and the hot water is dispersed straight on top of them. And I find myself going back to the Milk Oolong more than any other tea. It's just a really smooth and pleasant tea to me.

~Gary

Perhaps try them a little cooler and see if you like that? The other day you posted about a west lake long jin, I did not comment because I read it commuting to work and then forgot about it - it is delicious and one of my all time favourite teas. I brew that one at around 160f only, increasing towards 180 at the last brewing. I usually brew that one at least 5 times. I do the same with other teas, starting on the lower end and increase a little as you go. I find if you start higher, the tea will go bitter sooner, and if the first cup is bitter, the rest of the session will be. Not vice versa, if the first cup is mellow, too high a temperature can still ruin the next steeping.

Anyways, enough rambling. Oh, and tea pics would be appreciated

Today a 2008 Long Yun Hao ripe pu erh. Mild, round and flavourful, with a lingering sweet aftertaste. I tried this same tea a year ago, the extra year of storing has done it a lot of good. Still think it can improve though.

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Today a 2008 Long Yun Hao ripe pu erh. Mild, round and flavourful, with a lingering sweet aftertaste. I tried this same tea a year ago, the extra year of storing has done it a lot of good. Still think it can improve though.

That looks like a delicious tea. I'm wondering, though: is pu-erh tea similar to black tea at all? I've never tried it before, but I've always wanted to since I first heard about it.

Originally Posted by Senomaros

That looks like a delicious tea. I'm wondering, though: is pu-erh tea similar to black tea at all? I've never tried it before, but I've always wanted to since I first heard about it.

It Depends on who you talk to. Some of us really love Pu-erh and some of us not so much. I am of the not so much camp and liken it to fish water and fresh soil. Bleeeech. I would also say it doesn't taste like black tea but.... what do I know. To be fair however, you must try it for yourself and decide. Most good tea purveyors carry it but since I am not an expert on Pu-erh I cannot back up the quality.

Originally Posted by Nightblade

It Depends on who you talk to. Some of us really love Pu-erh and some of us not so much. I am of the not so much camp and liken it to fish water and fresh soil. Bleeeech. I would also say it doesn't taste like black tea but.... what do I know. To be fair however, you must try it for yourself and decide. Most good tea purveyors carry it but since I am not an expert on Pu-erh I cannot back up the quality.

Yeah that's true, taste is highly subjective and personal. I asked if it was like black tea because those are my favourite types of teas and lately I've really been in the mood for them. (Tangent: Do you guys find your tea preferences vary somewhat seasonally?) Well, I guess I know where I'll be making a trip to tomorrow, then. I love any excuse to take a trip to the tea shop

Originally Posted by Senomaros

Yeah that's true, taste is highly subjective and personal. I asked if it was like black tea because those are my favourite types of teas and lately I've really been in the mood for them. (Tangent: Do you guys find your tea preferences vary somewhat seasonally?) Well, I guess I know where I'll be making a trip to tomorrow, then. I love any excuse to take a trip to the tea shop

Blacks are my go to as well...although I'll always break for a good Oolong. I drink what the Russians here drink. Impra brand. It's a Ceylon tea from Sri Lanka where good Ceylon comes from mostly. They have loose and bag, mostly all good. Current favorites are Royal Elixir which is an Earl Grey with lemon and their Black currant which is a very tasty Black tea with fruit flavor that's not artificial tasting at all. Tastes like the real deal and is excellent iced . Having some right now as we speak.

I was going to add....I have on occasion been seasonal with my teas. Summer I will do infusions like Barley tea(very nice) and sometimes when it's real gnarley outside or fall I like a nice Chai or a milky builders tea. Used to drink milky tea all the time way back when as I was brought up by a Glasgow man. I have since though gone black with sugar due a lot in part to my Rus and Slavic interests.

Originally Posted by Senomaros

That looks like a delicious tea. I'm wondering, though: is pu-erh tea similar to black tea at all?

Your eyes do not decieve you - it is a delicious tea indeed

Your question is harder to answer. Do you mean taste wise, or do you mean is it produced the same way? I guess you compare it to black tea in some ways, in the cup pu erh often is robust and flavourful as some black teas are as well. One of the main differences, in the cup, is the distinct lack of acidity. It has a very different flavor profile. Also, pu erh is a production method rather than finished product, and pu erh will mature over many years. The taste changes significantly with time, so trying one cup gives no basis for deciding wether you do or do not like pu erh. Personally, I think of them as red wines. Huge differences across the board, but still recognizeable as a family. Also, pu erh is stored, for several years. If the ventilation was lacking, a certain batch from a certain warehouse might develop an off smell that should be aired out.

On the production of pu erh, I think wikipedia has a good article.

To sum it up - pu erh is a hugely different group of teas. Some are almost green tea like, light and refeshing, others are dark and flavorful. Best thing to do is try out samples, good tea vendors often have these for sale.

Best of luck, and have fun!

Originally Posted by Nightblade

I am of the not so much camp and liken it to fish water and fresh soil. Bleeeech.

That sort of reminds me of the first time I had real Japanese green I used to drink Chinese green tea and liked it. The first cup of Japanese green felt like I had a musk rat on my tongue, but now I love it and can't drink the regular Chinese one. I still make an exception for green Chinese tea with rose buds.