What is in your cup?

[astra]

Originally Posted by rhadin

For those of you who like to drink tea and have the water at the correct temperature, I recommend the Cuisinart Variable Temperature Kettle (the link is to a review of the kettle). For tis past holiday season, I bought one for myself and one for my daughter.

I had read in numerous articles that the ideal water temperature for tea was generally less than boiling so that the leaves weren't "burnt" by the water. Having used this kettle now for the past 4 months, I agree that steeping at the correct temperature does make a difference in taste.

The list price is high, but I found it on sale and paid less than $100 for each kettle I bought.

I just read the product features and one of them confused me.
I was considering to purchase something like that some time. My assumption was that the kettle boils up water, then lets it cool down to the temperature you set up and it keeps the temp indefinitely. So, you can make a cup of green tea that requires 80°C once, then another cup in an hour, then another in 2 hours. The water is always there ready to be used instantaneously vs. boiling kettle each time you want a cup of tea and waiting each time until it cools down to the required temp.

30-minute keep warm

??? What is the point of this kettle then? I mean what is the difference between using this kettle it will boil up water, let it cool down to pre-set temp., and keep it like that for only 30 minutes vs. standard kettle that will boil up water, pour the necessary amount into a water jug put in a thermometer, the water cools down within 1-3 minutes to the needed temp.

[mldavis2]

I use the UtiliTea kettle with a thermostat. It was made for tea, obviously, but properly brewed coffee (my perference) is also best when the proper temperature of water is used. The kettle has a rheostat on the side which can be adjusted and then left in position to heat water to the desired temperature. Once you have it calibrated (using a separate thermometer), you can simply pour in fresh water and turn it on. It turns itself off when the set temperature is reached. The kettle is 1500W and heats quickly.

[astra]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

Once you have it calibrated (using a separate thermometer), you can simply pour in fresh water and turn it on. It turns itself off when the set temperature is reached

It turns itself off after the water boiled up then cooled down to the required temp? I am bit confused.

[mldavis2]

Originally Posted by astra

It turns itself off after the water boiled up then cooled down to the required temp? I am bit confused.

No. The rheostat controls the water temperature, so when you start with cold water, the kettle heats the water to the limit of the rheostat setting. The water will never come to a complete boil (i.e. 212F) if the setting is below 212F/100C. The reason for using an external thermometer is because there is no temperature reading on the kettle, just marked positions for the rheostat.

So, for example, my rheostat is set below a full boil because I brew my coffee at 195F. You can hear water on the bottom of the kettle where the heating elements are as it simmers (boiling in tiny bubbles), but as the steam rises, it heats cooler water above and circulates the water apparently passing a sensor in the kettle that turns the kettle off when the sensor recognizes the rheostat setting.

[pdurrant]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

No one is an individual.

Compulsory Life of Brian link:

[astra]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

No. The rheostat controls the water temperature, so when you start with cold water, the kettle heats the water to the limit of the rheostat setting. The water will never come to a complete boil (i.e. 212F) if the setting is below 212F/100C. The reason for using an external thermometer is because there is no temperature reading on the kettle, just marked positions for the rheostat.

I thought so, I just didn't want to believe it.

So, you are saying that you make tea, for example green tea needs 80C, with UNboiled water? In my book it is a No No territory. Tap water must be boiled in order to avoid stomach illnesses.

Water temperature burns tea, not the boiled water.

[GeoffC]

1. Black Coffee
2. Home made mini-Easter egg ....

[astra]

I am about to steep Pu-Erh aged from Tea House Emporium, Bath, UK.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by mldavis2

No. The rheostat controls the water temperature, so when you start with cold water, the kettle heats the water to the limit of the rheostat setting. The water will never come to a complete boil (i.e. 212F) if the setting is below 212F/100C.

That wouldn't work for my teas. I want the water to have come to a full boil first, then reduce to the required temperatures. I find 95 degrees seems to work (for my taste) with most of the teas I enjoy, but only if the water has first boiled. (Of course this is absolutely required when I am in Third World countries where one MUST boil the tap water before drinking.)


Stitchawl

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

That wouldn't work for my teas. I want the water to have come to a full boil first, then reduce to the required temperatures. I find 95 degrees seems to work (for my taste) with most of the teas I enjoy, but only if the water has first boiled. (Of course this is absolutely required when I am in Third World countries where one MUST boil the tap water before drinking.)

So, your kettle works the way I always assumed it should?

[beppe]

Originally Posted by astra

Could it be...mind you, speaking somebody who has no clue what he is talking about, could it be that the ways antioxidants are absorbed are different and it depends on the source?
I am going to attempt to explain myself. You are prescribed a medicine. Even the same medicine might be administered differently. For example, swallowing a tablet, putting a tablet behind your upper lip and let it dissolve there, dissolving a tablet in a glass of water, drinking syrup, injection, etc.

Maybe, some people concentrate on green tea benefits because that way antioxidants are better digested or digested in the more appropriate places?

Sorry if it sounds silly

The big enormous advantage of tea over the other antioxidants is that while those you have to go out and buy them bring them home and store them and turn them unless they go bad or pick them (repeat while if do endo then blah blah end if, I adore case ) or cook them and watch them and all that, with the tea, you just make your tea and drink it.

Also you can have an almost unlimited supply of it. And ... what you do not know about tea could be engraved on one of those gunpowder pellets.

Also there are no calories in tea, so you can drink as much of it as you like! Ah!

[astra]

Originally Posted by beppe

The big enormous advantage of tea over the other antioxidants is that while those you have to go out and buy them bring them home and store them and turn them unless they go bad or pick them (repeat while if do endo then blah blah end if, I adore case ) or cook them and watch them and all that, with the tea, you just make your tea and drink it.

Also you can have an almost unlimited supply of it. And ... what you do not know about tea could be engraved on one of those gunpowder pellets.

Also there are no calories in tea, so you can drink as much of it as you like! Ah!

I thought about all of these points except

And ... what you do not know about tea could be engraved on one of those gunpowder pellets

[beppe]

She wanted a Campari. I mixed it for her.
I wanted a ... what could I want ... I'll have a ... sparkling water on the rocks!
With a twist of lemon. (snug)

[astra]

A cup of Golden tip cooked Pu-Erh from Tea Smith

[Iridal]

Originally Posted by beppe

Also there are no calories in tea, so you can drink as much of it as you like! Ah!

Yes, but only if you don't add sugar.

In my cup: some kind of flavoured Rooibos ... I poured the tea in a little box and got rid of the package, and now I don't know which sample it is

I'm also celebrating a little with some chocolate, because: I got through the day!! 4hour meeting in English and a 2hour meeting in French today ...