Thread: Tea anyone ??!!

Originally Posted by Nightblade

I'll bet that Oolong will be sweet ! Looks great!

What brewing temp should I use on the Oolong? I used 194F for the Saffron tea which was perfect for it.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

What brewing temp should I use on the Oolong? I used 194F for the Saffron tea which was perfect for it.

What a wonderful selection. Big Oolong fan. I like the mine about 180. The silver tips are also wonderful. Happy drinking those are some wonderful teas.

Originally Posted by Maximilian

What brewing temp should I use on the Oolong? I used 194F for the Saffron tea which was perfect for it.

A little cooler for the oolong I think, 185f should be good. Delicate teas need to be well below boiling. Later infusions can be slightly higher temp. Best way is just to try. Too warm is more damaging than too cold. Sounds like nice teas!

It's a little hard to say with out knowing more about the teas. But most Oolongs do better at a lower temp some can do well at 190 but I would start at 180. They also are interesting on the second steep. I love a Formosa Jade. Do you have more information on the teas.

Originally Posted by Don

It's a little hard to say with out knowing more about the teas. But most Oolongs do better at a lower temp some can do well at 190 but I would start at 180. They also are interesting on the second steep. I love a Formosa Jade. Do you have more information on the teas.

All I know is they all come from 'The East India Company' and except The Li Shan oolong which comes from Taiwan the others are all from Sri Lanka.

Also be careful on the silver tip. Depending on the varietal they are wonderful teas but can be delicate. Get it right and you wil be reward with a wonderful light cup.

Taiwan(Formosa) produces the best Oolongs IMO. Hard to tell by the pics but it looks like a Heavy-Baked Ti-Guan-Yin. Which would do better at 190 at about 4 minutes. Which would have toasty notes with a nice underlying sweetness. I prefer a lighter fermentation but should still be a wonderful cup.

Originally Posted by Don

Which would do better at 190 at about 4 minutes.

I found a link to the knotted tea in question and it says 90C / 4 minutes. That's in the low 190F. The link to the Li Shan doesn't specify anything but looking at one of the pictures it says 85C / 3 minutes which equals 185F.

Yes a knotted white tea will do well at 190. IMO it does not do well for a second steep. Enjoy the first cup

For the Oolong use the Gong fu method for steeping.