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Source: (consider it)
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Thread: a decent cup of tea
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Adeodatus
Shipmate
# 4992
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Posted
A few months ago, a friend noticed that I never quite finish a cup of tea. It's because of a childhood spent without teabags, and leaving a little tea in the bottom of the cup so you don't get a mouthful of leaves! (The little ones that get through a strainer.) I'd never noticed this habit myself, but even now that I have noticed it, I still do it.
A question about cardamom: what's the recipe here? Ordinary black tea, a cardamom pod or some ground cardamom seeds, no milk, no sugar? I'm going to try this - I love the scent of cardamom.
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"What is broken, repair with gold."
Posts: 9779 | From: Manchester | Registered: Sep 2003
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Crazy Cat Lady
Shipmate
# 17616
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Posted
I have seen recyclable tea bags made of cotton. Have no idea how you are supposed to wash them without you next cup tasting of washing powder. Or if you don't wash them, I imagine they look unplesantly stained and taste of stale tea before long.
Bad idea, pot and loose leaves for me - its all part of the ritual
Posts: 52 | From: Suffolk | Registered: Mar 2013
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Baptist Trainfan
Shipmate
# 15128
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ad Orientem:
I'd like to know, what are peoples objection to tea bags (as I've seen some on this thread poke their nose up at them)? Personally, when I take a sip I don't want tea leaves going in my mouth at the same time as it spoils the experience. For the same reason we use filters when making coffee.
You can of course buy little metal perforated thingies which you unscrew, put tea leaves in, do up and then dunk in the hot water. There are also teapots with built-in strainers: this kind of thing. .
These give you the best of both worlds.
Posts: 9750 | From: The other side of the Severn | Registered: Sep 2009
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Nenya
Shipmate
# 16427
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
By the way, how many of you watched Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea this week? I don't think that anyone has mentioned it.
I fell asleep during the first episode and missed the second one, but I do plan to watch it.
Nen - TV Catch Up's friend.
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They told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn.
Posts: 1289 | Registered: May 2011
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Moo
Ship's tough old bird
# 107
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Crazy Cat Lady:
I have seen recyclable tea bags made of cotton. Have no idea how you are supposed to wash them without you next cup tasting of washing powder. Or if you don't wash them, I imagine they look unplesantly stained and taste of stale tea before long.
I think it would be enough to rinse them thoroughly after each use. They would probably end up discolored, but that shouldn't affect the taste.
Moo
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Kerygmania host
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See you later, alligator.
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Sioni Sais
Shipmate
# 5713
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Nenya:
quote:
Originally posted by Baptist Trainfan:
By the way, how many of you watched Victoria Wood's Nice Cup of Tea this week? I don't think that anyone has mentioned it.
I fell asleep during the first episode and missed the second one, but I do plan to watch it.
Nen - TV Catch Up's friend.
Nodding off. Isn't that what tea is for?
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"He isn't Doctor Who, he's The Doctor"
(Paul Sinha, BBC)
Posts: 24276 | From: Newport, Wales | Registered: Apr 2004
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Heavenly Anarchist
Shipmate
# 13313
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Moo:
quote:
Originally posted by Crazy Cat Lady:
I have seen recyclable tea bags made of cotton. Have no idea how you are supposed to wash them without you next cup tasting of washing powder. Or if you don't wash them, I imagine they look unplesantly stained and taste of stale tea before long.
I think it would be enough to rinse them thoroughly after each use. They would probably end up discolored, but that shouldn't affect the taste.
Moo
I'm tempted to try this , I use homemade calico bread bags at home and could quickly run up some mini ones in muslin. The staining wouldn't bother me at all, I've often purposely tea stained cotton.
[ 13. April 2013, 09:21: Message edited by: Heavenly Anarchist ]
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'I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.' Douglas Adams
Dog Activity Monitor
My shop
Posts: 2831 | From: Trumpington | Registered: Jan 2008
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Anna B
Shipmate
# 1439
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Posted
What a lovely thread!
I like to make tea in a kettle that I got at the Korean grocery store, H Mart. The kettle has a mesh strainer inside, so you just put in the leaves when the water is ready.
I'm also quite fond of the electric samovar that my husband got me for a birthday present one year---nice to have for parties and the tea that results is delicious.
I was sorely disappointed when Twinings discontinued loose-leaf Russian Caravan and Blackcurrant a number of years back. Don't know how I would have made it through college without those two. Twinings---bring back loose-leaf Blackcurrant!
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Bad Christian (TM)
Posts: 3069 | From: near a lot of fish | Registered: Oct 2001
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The Midge
Shipmate
# 2398
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
quote:
Originally posted by Ad Orientem:
I'd like to know, what are peoples objection to tea bags (as I've seen some on this thread poke their nose up at them)? Personally, when I take a sip I don't want tea leaves going in my mouth at the same time as it spoils the experience. For the same reason we use filters when making coffee.
1) Less good quality tea.
2) Sometimes you get the taste of paper.
3) The really interesting teas don't usually come in teabags.
4) You don't have to have tea leaves going in your mouth if you use a tea strainer when pouring your tea out of your teapot.
5) The element of convenience, cheapness and cut-corners generally which tends to be associated with a reduction in quality.
And worst of all:
6)Tea bag dunked in mug ![[Projectile]](graemlins/puke2.gif) (I'm dairy free now but when milk was poured on top of tea made in mug )
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Some days you are the fly.
On other days you are the windscreen.
Posts: 1085 | Registered: Feb 2002
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fletcher christian
Mutinous Seadog
# 13919
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Posted
Reviving this thread to mention a little delight I was given a sample of recently. I doubt that I could afford it normally, but if you can get your hands on high grade Bao Zhong, boy is it worth it. Quite hard to explain just how good it is; a bit of a cross between good Jasmine pearls and that weird orchid fragrance you get from good Gwan Yin. The colour is fairly astonishing too, and its oddly refreshing...very refreshing. Four hours after drinking one cup, having brushed my teeth and settled into bed, I could still taste it lingering in my mouth. I don't think I've ever had something linger that long, but it was very pleasant.
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'God is love insaturable, love impossible to describe'
Staretz Silouan
Posts: 5235 | From: a prefecture | Registered: Jul 2008
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
I am currently seasoning a Yixing teapot. They make really great tea, and look wonderful to boot.
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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jedijudy
Organist of the Jedi Temple
# 333
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Athrawes:
I am currently seasoning a Yixing teapot. They make really great tea, and look wonderful to boot.
I had to look that up, Athrawes. What a neat way to prepare a special pot to prepare amazing tea! Thanks for bringing Yixing teapots to my attention!
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Jasmine, little cat with a big heart.
Posts: 18017 | From: 'Twixt the 'Glades and the Gulf | Registered: Aug 2001
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
You're welcome ![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif) They don't seem to be very common over here - I love mine, even though it is quite small.
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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fletcher christian
Mutinous Seadog
# 13919
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Posted
It takes a few years to build up a yixing, but it's definitely worth it.
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'God is love insaturable, love impossible to describe'
Staretz Silouan
Posts: 5235 | From: a prefecture | Registered: Jul 2008
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Cara
Shipmate
# 16966
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Posted
I love tea.
When I lived in the States, I had the same problems as Tea mentions upthread. First is finding an electric kettle--luckily I found a Russell and Hobbs (online I think) and it has lasted for decades. It is so strange that an electric kettle is still an unusual thing to have in the US.
Then, the problem that in restaurants etc no-one has a clue about how the water needs to be boiling.
But tea is becoming more popular and appreciated there, (or perhaps it always has been in new England, as mentioned above?) and for those living in the States there is a great mail-order company based in Connecticut, Harney's. All sorts of wonderful teas available. It's through this company that I really started getting into tea, because strangely, although I grew up in England, we didn't drink it in our household.
Now I'm in France, I like Mariage Frères, especially their French Breakfast blend, as well as Poètes Solitaires (such a lovely name!).
I also like Assam, and several Chinese blends, especially the golden Monkey type.
For leaf tea I use a metal fine-mesh filter thing (made by Bodum I think and bought here in France, also marketed in the US by Harney's among others) that just sits in the pot, suspended at the rim by a lip--you don't need to fiddle with opening or closing it. Re-usable of course--It lasts for ages. It has a separate lid. Can also sit in a mug for individual brewings. Then you just tip the leaves out into the rubbish or compost bin in one easy movement. I really hate the hassle of scooping loose leaves out of a pot if you just use the leaves-in-pot-and-pour-through-strainer method.
But I do sometimes use teabags, out of laziness really. Never as satisfied with the result, though.
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Pondering.
Posts: 898 | Registered: Feb 2012
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Percy B
Shipmate
# 17238
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Tea:
Given my name, how could I not chip in here?
I'm British, not a connoisseur, but drink mugs and mugs of the stuff every day. These days I live in the USA. Like so many of my compatriots here, I've had to grapple with tea problems:
1) Finding an acceptable and affordable builder's tea.
Nobody should have to drink the dreadful Lipton's, while a cuppa brewed from a US supermarket generic teabag should probably count as a cruel and unusual punishment. I've finally settled on Tetley's British Blend, but even that is hard to find once you're away from bigger cities.
Very useful Tea! I have been wanting to get a stronger flavoured everyday blend.
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Mary, a priest??
Posts: 582 | From: Nudrug | Registered: Jul 2012
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The Midge
Shipmate
# 2398
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Percy B:
quote:
Originally posted by Tea:
Given my name, how could I not chip in here?
I'm British, not a connoisseur, but drink mugs and mugs of the stuff every day. These days I live in the USA. Like so many of my compatriots here, I've had to grapple with tea problems:
1) Finding an acceptable and affordable builder's tea.
Nobody should have to drink the dreadful Lipton's, while a cuppa brewed from a US supermarket generic teabag should probably count as a cruel and unusual punishment. I've finally settled on Tetley's British Blend, but even that is hard to find once you're away from bigger cities.
Very useful Tea! I have been wanting to get a stronger flavoured everyday blend.
Surely this should not be such a problem in the age of internet shopping?
20 years ago I found some Twinings tea while on exchange in Baton Rouge. Unfortunately only about a month from the end of the second semester. My girl friend used to post me a few tea bags in with the weekly letter. She is now Mrs Midge.
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Some days you are the fly.
On other days you are the windscreen.
Posts: 1085 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Ariel
Shipmate
# 58
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Cara:
I really hate the hassle of scooping loose leaves out of a pot if you just use the leaves-in-pot-and-pour-through-strainer method.
You don't have to scoop them out. When you get to the stage of cleaning out the pot, just fill it with cold water, swirl it and toss the whole lot into a strainer, or better still, as we used to do, take it into the garden and dump the contents over the base of any plants that look as if they might need a bit of extra compost and/or watering. This will get rid of almost all the tea leaves in one go, the tiny few that remain in the pot can be rinsed down the sink, and it's good for the garden.
[ 27. April 2013, 07:20: Message edited by: Ariel ]
Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001
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Percy B
Shipmate
# 17238
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Posted
We dont use leaf tea, Ariel, but when we did thats exactly what we did with the pot.
Once we got a pot where the leaves were separated, like an infuser in the pot. It never quite caught on with us.
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Mary, a priest??
Posts: 582 | From: Nudrug | Registered: Jul 2012
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fletcher christian
Mutinous Seadog
# 13919
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Posted
posted by Cara:
quote:
When I lived in the States, I had the same problems as Tea mentions upthread. First is finding an electric kettle--luckily I found a Russell and Hobbs (online I think) and it has lasted for decades. It is so strange that an electric kettle is still an unusual thing to have in the US.
The Sates don't have electric kettles? Really? So what do you use? Stove tops?
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'God is love insaturable, love impossible to describe'
Staretz Silouan
Posts: 5235 | From: a prefecture | Registered: Jul 2008
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Leorning Cniht
Shipmate
# 17564
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
The Sates don't have electric kettles? Really? So what do you use? Stove tops?
Most Americans of my acquaintance who own kettles have stove-top ones - but they are still the minority. Many people don't own a kettle at all - just an electric coffee pot.
To be fair, US electric kettles are lower power devices - drawing 1.5 kW or so rather than the roughly 3kW drawn by a UK kettle, which means that a UK kettle boils twice as fast.
Posts: 5026 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2013
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jedijudy
Organist of the Jedi Temple
# 333
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Posted
I Have an electric kettle. So does Daughter-Unit and my BFF. They used to not be available, and I looked for them for years (and asked for them, too.) Finally, one of my favorite stores started carrying them!!
We love them! My daughter tried mine and immediately let it be known that she wanted one for Christmas...which she got! They're much safer than boiling on the stove, which was always the method of getting tea water. And faster, too. Granted, not as fast as the kettles we used across the pond, but we're happy with what we have.
BTW, I purchased a bag of full leaf, organic Pu-Erh and have really enjoyed it! It will probably become one of my favorites. ![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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Jasmine, little cat with a big heart.
Posts: 18017 | From: 'Twixt the 'Glades and the Gulf | Registered: Aug 2001
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Leorning Cniht
Shipmate
# 17564
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by jedijudy:
They're much safer than boiling on the stove, which was always the method of getting tea water.
I couldn't live without mine, because in the distracted chaos that is Cniht Towers, I tend to put the kettle on for a cup of tea, then something happens. If the kettle didn't shut itself off, I'd have burned the house down by now.
Posts: 5026 | From: USA | Registered: Feb 2013
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Eutychus
From the edge
# 3081
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Posted
I tried to start a tea thread a long time ago, in the days when hosts were stern, to ask a question that still bugs me: how is it that tea can taste so different in different mugs?
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Let's remember that we are to build the Kingdom of God, not drive people away - pastor Frank Pomeroy
Posts: 17944 | From: 528491 | Registered: Jul 2002
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la vie en rouge
Parisienne
# 10688
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Posted
Me! Me! I know this one!
It's (at least partly) because of the way the shape of the top of the mug affects your perception of the smell.
(The smell is one of the most important elements in the enjoyment of a good cup of tea.)
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Rent my holiday home in the South of France
Posts: 3696 | Registered: Nov 2005
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jedijudy
Organist of the Jedi Temple
# 333
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Eutychus:
in the days when hosts were stern
Heaven Hosts were stern? ![[Confused]](confused.gif) We obviously needed a tea thread, then! (Said the third person from the Paris meet last year! We just need Gracie to post!)
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Jasmine, little cat with a big heart.
Posts: 18017 | From: 'Twixt the 'Glades and the Gulf | Registered: Aug 2001
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Cara
Shipmate
# 16966
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Ariel:
quote:
Originally posted by Cara:
I really hate the hassle of scooping loose leaves out of a pot if you just use the leaves-in-pot-and-pour-through-strainer method.
You don't have to scoop them out. When you get to the stage of cleaning out the pot, just fill it with cold water, swirl it and toss the whole lot into a strainer, or better still, as we used to do, take it into the garden and dump the contents over the base of any plants that look as if they might need a bit of extra compost and/or watering. This will get rid of almost all the tea leaves in one go, the tiny few that remain in the pot can be rinsed down the sink, and it's good for the garden.
Ah yes, Ariel, thanks, I feel a bit silly as obviously the swirl-and-toss-in-strainer method is easier than scooping out. And the dump in garden method would be best of all, if we still had a garden.
But I still love my mesh infuser basket thing.
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Pondering.
Posts: 898 | Registered: Feb 2012
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Cara
Shipmate
# 16966
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Leorning Cniht:
quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
The Sates don't have electric kettles? Really? So what do you use? Stove tops?
Most Americans of my acquaintance who own kettles have stove-top ones - but they are still the minority. Many people don't own a kettle at all - just an electric coffee pot.
To be fair, US electric kettles are lower power devices - drawing 1.5 kW or so rather than the roughly 3kW drawn by a UK kettle, which means that a UK kettle boils twice as fast.
Exactly: a stove-top "kettle," often with a whistle, is the most popular US way of boiling water for tea.
Cniht, interesting point about the power source, I had't thought about that before---although always so impressed during my years in the US when I returned to UK and kettles boiled so fast!
I guess in US boiling on stovetop, especially gas flame, is almost as quick as in an electric kettle....
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Pondering.
Posts: 898 | Registered: Feb 2012
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Cara
Shipmate
# 16966
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by la vie en rouge:
Me! Me! I know this one!
It's (at least partly) because of the way the shape of the top of the mug affects your perception of the smell.
(The smell is one of the most important elements in the enjoyment of a good cup of tea.)
Absolutely! The bouquet. LIke wine.
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Pondering.
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ken
Ship's Roundhead
# 2460
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Posted
I think I'll have a cup of tea.
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Ken
L’amor che move il sole e l’altre stelle.
Posts: 39579 | From: London | Registered: Mar 2002
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Crazy Cat Lady
Shipmate
# 17616
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Posted
A few weeks away and I return to find people talking about 'Anglican Coffee'. er....what? I thought we had established it's all about the tea! In my book if you want coffee, you'll find the stake and firewood outside.
Anyway, am soon to be offering a vintage tea party at our church and have planned to offer various black teas. These are Assam (India), Golden Monkey (China), Orange Peckoe (Ceylon) and for flavoured teas - Premium Ear Grey (proper bergamot oil, not 'flavouring'), Vanilla Chai and one called 'Ocean of Calm' - has things like red currants in it and actually tastes quite good Under the table I have Pu-erh and my Yixing teapot - but only for those who know what it is.
I also have a vintage tea dress, a pinny and a hair snood - oh and some clumpy vintage shoes. I have a red check table cloth and proper tea cups and saucers - no mugs.
Further ideas are welcome!
Posts: 52 | From: Suffolk | Registered: Mar 2013
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Cara
Shipmate
# 16966
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Crazy Cat Lady:
A few weeks away and I return to find people talking about 'Anglican Coffee'. er....what? I thought we had established it's all about the tea! In my book if you want coffee, you'll find the stake and firewood outside.
Anyway, am soon to be offering a vintage tea party at our church and have planned to offer various black teas. These are Assam (India), Golden Monkey (China), Orange Peckoe (Ceylon) and for flavoured teas - Premium Ear Grey (proper bergamot oil, not 'flavouring'), Vanilla Chai and one called 'Ocean of Calm' - has things like red currants in it and actually tastes quite good Under the table I have Pu-erh and my Yixing teapot - but only for those who know what it is.
I also have a vintage tea dress, a pinny and a hair snood - oh and some clumpy vintage shoes. I have a red check table cloth and proper tea cups and saucers - no mugs.
Further ideas are welcome!
Good thing we know what that flavoursome tea "Ear Grey" is......!
(Hmmm...giving me some ideas for our Circus Thread where we change a book title by dropping last letter.....)
This sounds like a lovely event.
Nice little milk-jug? Lump sugar? Slice of lemon for the
"Ear Grey" ?
Not sure about the pinny, unless you wear it only when serving, and take it off when you sit down to drink your own tea! Or perhaps you won't have time for that....
Good luck, hope it is very much appreciated by the attendees!
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Pondering.
Posts: 898 | Registered: Feb 2012
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Crazy Cat Lady
Shipmate
# 17616
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Posted
My keyboard suffers from biscuit crumbs! My L key is a bit crunchy!!
It's sort of a half pinny - the type you tie round your waist - I'll need a session in front of the mirror to decide if I like it or not
I did think about lemon, I'll procure one for those inclined to such adultery
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'They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me!"
Nathaniel Lee
Posts: 52 | From: Suffolk | Registered: Mar 2013
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Hedgehog
Ship's Shortstop
# 14125
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Posted
I have just tried something called "Tsar Nicholas" tea.
It is a smokey tea, reminiscent of Lapsang Souchang, but not quite as tarry. Allegedly it has some white tea mixed in with the smokey black tea but (as would seem obvious considering how delicate a flavor white tea has) you really can't taste it because of the burnt wood smell/flavor. It also claims to have "low tannins" but I have to say that, IMHO, a few extra tannins wouldn't hurt it any.
I will give it another chance to appeal to me, but my first impression is that, if this is what Tsar Nicholas was serving people, the Bolsheviks were absolutely in the right...
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"We must regain the conviction that we need one another, that we have a shared responsibility for others and the world, and that being good and decent are worth it."--Pope Francis, Laudato Si'
Posts: 2740 | From: Delaware, USA | Registered: Sep 2008
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Sandemaniac
Shipmate
# 12829
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Posted
Having just come back from a long weekend in the Netherlands, I feel qualified to say that the Dutch make a fecking awful cup of tea*. Sorry, LeRoc, that's just the way it is.
The relief when I stopped at a greasy spoon van on the A12 and got a plastic cup of something I could stand a spoon in was palpable.
AG
*Except mint tea - their version of which is great. Pity about the caffeine.
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"It becomes soon pleasantly apparent that change-ringing is by no means merely an excuse for beer" Charles Dickens gets it wrong, 1869
Posts: 3574 | From: The wardrobe of my soul | Registered: Jul 2007
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Ariston
Insane Unicorn
# 10894
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Hedgehog:
I have just tried something called "Tsar Nicholas" tea.
It is a smokey tea, reminiscent of Lapsang Souchang, but not quite as tarry.
Sounds like Russian Caravan—which, nowadays, does have some Lapsang mixed in with some of the basic China black. Used to be it was all black Chinese tea, but being carried across country via horseback and kept next to the campfires gave it just a hint of smoke...
I don't know how much I believe this story, but that's what I've heard. It's an explanation for a milder, less smoky tea.
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“Therefore, let it be explained that nowhere are the proprieties quite so strictly enforced as in men’s colleges that invite young women guests, especially over-night visitors in the fraternity houses.” Emily Post, 1937.
Posts: 6849 | From: The People's Republic of Balcones | Registered: Jan 2006
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Crazy Cat Lady
Shipmate
# 17616
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Posted
I had a friend who claimed Russian Caravan must have been picked out of the horses hooves. - oh well!
Tea on the A12 is not bad, am quite often on that road.
The vintage tea event went down a storm, I did over 60 cups of tea. Most favourite was Golden Monkey, followed by Oasis of Peace
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'They called me mad, and I called them mad, and damn them, they outvoted me!"
Nathaniel Lee
Posts: 52 | From: Suffolk | Registered: Mar 2013
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The Midge
Shipmate
# 2398
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Posted
A new advance in tea-snobbery!
Mrs Midge just baught a new kettle which has diffferent temperature settings for different teas/ infusions. Now all I need to know is the correct temperature for various types.
FB/ Twitter have drawn a blank, but the Ship is known for its expert knowledge base in all subjects. Any recommendations?
Settings are 70, 80, 90 and 100 Degrees Celcius. I know that 100 Degrees for black teas. 80 seems to be good for gunpowder green tea.
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Some days you are the fly.
On other days you are the windscreen.
Posts: 1085 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
I also have one of those kettles. The recommendations are: 80 deg, green teas; 85 deg, white teas; 90 deg, oolong; 95 deg, coffee and 100 deg, black teas. I also use the 90 deg setting for mixtures of green and black teas. Does that help?
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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Lyda*Rose
Ship's broken porthole
# 4544
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Posted
Wow. And I was impressed when a friend got me a kettle that would boil water quickly.
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"Dear God, whose name I do not know - thank you for my life. I forgot how BIG... thank you. Thank you for my life." ~from Joe Vs the Volcano
Posts: 21377 | From: CA | Registered: May 2003
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fletcher christian
Mutinous Seadog
# 13919
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Posted
What you really want is a cast iron tetsubin - it changes the taste of the water. Very good for Japanese teas.
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'God is love insaturable, love impossible to describe'
Staretz Silouan
Posts: 5235 | From: a prefecture | Registered: Jul 2008
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The Midge
Shipmate
# 2398
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by Athrawes:
I also have one of those kettles. The recommendations are: 80 deg, green teas; 85 deg, white teas; 90 deg, oolong; 95 deg, coffee and 100 deg, black teas. I also use the 90 deg setting for mixtures of green and black teas. Does that help?
Thanks. Now I need to obtain some oolong to make use of the 90 deg setting ![[Biased]](wink.gif)
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Some days you are the fly.
On other days you are the windscreen.
Posts: 1085 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
I would love one of these, but can't afford one! They are available in our nearest rural centre, and I've been coveting them for a while now.
As for changing the taste of the water - I wish! We're on bore water here, I filter all my drinking water, but it's not any good for delicate flavours.
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
Sorry, cross posted. I was replying to Fletcher Christian. Glad the temp guide was helpful, though.
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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The Midge
Shipmate
# 2398
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Posted
quote:
Originally posted by fletcher christian:
What you really want is a cast iron tetsubin - it changes the taste of the water. Very good for Japanese teas.
I was going to say that and a 43 Yixing tea pot; but when I googled to find out what a yixing actually was I discovered that I already own one. I picked it up in Hong Kong when I visited dad because I liked the decoration. I thought it was too small to use ![[Hot and Hormonal]](icon_redface.gif)
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Some days you are the fly.
On other days you are the windscreen.
Posts: 1085 | Registered: Feb 2002
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Athrawes
Ship's parrot
# 9594
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Posted
I have two Yixing teapots - one mass produced and one hand made. I use them for black tea, though. They are beautiful, and make a lovely pot of tea, even with my water.
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Explaining why is going to need a moment, since along the way we must take in the Ancient Greeks, the study of birds, witchcraft, 19thC Vaudeville and the history of baseball. Michael Quinion.
Posts: 2966 | From: somewhere with a book shop | Registered: Jun 2005
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Pomona
Shipmate
# 17175
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Posted
At Selly Oak Methodist Church, myself and some other SCM (Student Christian Movement) members enjoyed a lovely South Indian meal, which ended with some homemade chai, done in the traditional way by brewing the tea and spices in milk with sugar and then pouring from a height. Delicious!
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Consider the work of God: Who is able to straighten what he has bent? [Ecclesiastes 7:13]
Posts: 5319 | From: UK | Registered: Jun 2012
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MrsBeaky
Shipmate
# 17663
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Posted
When we arrived here in Kenya last year I was a coffee drinker who liked a cup of "builders" tea to start the day and at afternoon tea time. I'd also always choose tea over vile coffee if I was visiting somewhere.
We are now happily drinking Kenyan chai, either plain or with sugar and spices (I wouldn't normally take sugar at all) where the leaves are boiled in a big pan of milk and water and I love it.
When we can get to a coffee shop we indulge ourselves with real coffee again...bliss!
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"It is better to be kind than right."
http://davidandlizacooke.wordpress.com
Posts: 693 | From: UK/ Kenya | Registered: Apr 2013
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