What is in your cup?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

Here is a link to their steeping chart.

Thanks for putting that up. It was interesting. I don't follow their steeping times for most teas, but it was nice to see what they suggest.

Originally Posted by beppe

A bag of Prince of Wales was what started me on this recent tea adventure!

Me too! Prior to that I had paid no attention to what tea was being served. I thought Prince of Wales was a real wake-up call! I found myself buying most of the line of Twining teas (albeit in tea bags) and drinking them regularly until I discovered that loose leaf teas tasted even better!

BTW I am going to karma you for your nice post.

Thank you! A bit of Karma can always help... so long as one's karma doesn't run over one's dogma!

Stitchawl

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Thank you! A bit of Karma can always help... so long as one's karma doesn't run over one's dogma!

Stitchawl

A sore dogma can be a pain in the ... neck. Did you see the movie? It demonstrates how a sore dogma can cut your wings like nobody's business, for good (and for worst also).

Platitudes make life bearable.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

Puerh Tea - #1

Somehow I am surprised. Pleasantly. But you, British subjects can be uscrutable ...

[GeoffC]

Originally Posted by astra

A cup of Assam Khongea


WOW!
You drink teas? Moreover, Pu-erh!!!
WOW!
What do you think about it?
What kind of Pu-Erh?
Where do you purchase it?

Originally Posted by beppe

Somehow I am surprised. Pleasantly. But you, British subjects can be uscrutable ...

You know I drink Green Tea (Japanese Powdered) !?

The Pu'erh was noticed in our herbal shop this week and I gave into temptation . Very pleasantly flavoured... It's In Nature (innteas.com) Organic, 5 years old.
We have no pot, so all I've been doing is placing the tea block in a sieve and pouring water through that into the cup.

[Poppaea]

Originally Posted by beppe

Very useful post. Personally, I find those high steeping times for black teas too much for my taste. I like tea as it is, without sugar or milk or any flavoring added.

The steeping for longer than 3 min has the purpose of waiting for the polyphenols to come into play. They change the tannin to be water insoluble and thus to be less agitating. The longer the brewing the less tannin/coffein is your body able to use from your tea.

This is one of the reasons why certain teas are recommended for breakfast and some for evening.

Most breakfast blends are made from broken teas. Steeping times are further depending on what kind of tea you are using. A broken tea will give its contents faster away than a whole leaf tea due to the higher surface rate.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

You know I drink Green Tea (Japanese Powdered) !?

I knew that. I remember the exchange we had with the big absent from this thread. She is not big physically but mentally a giant.
Anyhow. She might pop in some time. Let's see.

Yeah.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by Poppaea

The steeping for longer than 3 min has the purpose of waiting for the polyphenols to come into play. They change the tannin to be water insoluble and thus to be less agitating.

I find that longer steeping usually results in a more bitter tasting tea, by releasing MORE tannins. At least to my taste buds. I can actually 'see' the results if I don't wash the tea cup between brews. I wonder if insoluble tannins taste more bitter than soluble ones?


Stitchawl

[GeoffC]

That seems to be the danger, in some ways, with tea, that it is easy to overdo the steeping. One advantage of powdered green tea is that it doesn't have any leaves (as such) to steep.

[Latinandgreek]

I'm off to make some Earl Grey tea (Ahmad). I, too, find that over-steeping makes my tea bitter.

[pdurrant]

Coke Zero #1

[fruiter]

Green tea! with muffins.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by GeoffC

That seems to be the danger, in some ways, with tea, that it is easy to overdo the steeping. One advantage of powdered green tea is that it doesn't have any leaves (as such) to steep.

There is a large Kaitenzushi (the sushi places with the conveyor belts) around the corner from my house, and I go there often because it's so convenient. Usually these places have spouts at each seat to self-dispense tea to the customers, but this place dispense only hot water. The tea is in tea bowls and is a powdered tea. Normally, I don't care for these, but this particular tea is really quite good. At least, it's good while eating sushi. I don't think I would want to drink it as a pick-me-up in the middle of the afternoon, or even as a breakfast wake-up tea. But along side a stack of empty sushi plates, it really hits the spot!

Stitchawl

[desertblues]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

............
Happy Sunday, everyone. English Breakfast tea, compliments of the kind folks at Taylors of Harrogate, along with freshly baked biscuits and a plate of Country style breakfast sausages! What a wonderful way to greet a new week!................Stitchawl

A good sunday to you as well, whatever your time is. Here it's 12.50 midday. I slept in (or 'out' as we say).

Originally Posted by beppe

I knew that. I remember the exchange we had with the big absent from this thread. She is not big physically but mentally a giant. Anyhow. She might pop in some time. Let's see.....Yeah.

I'll drink to the health, with my cup full of cold Arabica-coffee, to dear and absent friends.

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by fruiter

Green tea! with muffins.

Oooh, I would love some chocolate muffins. I made a big mistake while I was sick. I ate a piece of chocolate, because that's my comfort food. And now my sweet tooth, which I painstakingly deactivated 4 weeks ago (stupid diet), has come back with a vengance It's hard to resist ...

Originally Posted by desertblues

A good sunday to you as well, whatever your time is. Here it's 12.50 midday. I slept in (or 'out' as we say).

I actually had to think about that for a couple of minutes. What's the Dutch/Flemish word for sleeping in again ? Oh, now I remember! Time to spend less time on international forums and reading more Dutch books

Green tea Mandarine and orange.

[beppe]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I find that longer steeping usually results in a more bitter tasting tea, by releasing MORE tannins. At least to my taste buds. I can actually 'see' the results if I don't wash the tea cup between brews. I wonder if insoluble tannins taste more bitter than soluble ones?


Stitchawl

Tea chemistry escapes my undergraduate chemical competence. I will try the steeping tables for black teas that Poppaea put out. Although I already stumbled in an steeping issue with the prof about finding flavor in Darjeeling.

Mention is made of temptations and punishments (mostly devils)

Spoiler:

Bitterness and astringency, i do not care for those. I like soft, smooth, and ... what am I talking about? Beppe, watch out or you will end up in a very bad dark place with horny devils having fun with you ... Being a Catholic that is the thing that I am risking. Better indulge in Taoist thoughts. The fulness of the void. Fullness. what the heck. Again those thoughts. The void. Dark and deep, velvety. OK it's enough.

Oolong ooom as the prof chants.