Comments on: The Top Seven Mistakes Tea Drinkers Make http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make Teaching the Beautiful and Simple Afternoon Tea Mon, 15 Mar 2010 06:38:46 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.2.1 By: Dave Lane http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-4196 Dave Lane Tue, 23 Feb 2010 23:38:33 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-4196 You are right on about the water temperature, but what is interesting is how complex this can get. I mainly drink black, Oolong, and pu-erh teas. The black and pu-erh can both take boiling water well, but with the Oolongs you really have to find the right temperature for each tea which can be anywhere from 170-190 degrees. I drink a lot of Chinese Oolongs and with some of them the first infusion tastes best with 170-180 degree water, but as I do subsequent infusions I raise the water temperature to get all the flavor out. By the four or fifth infusion the water might be 200 degrees to extract maximum flavor. My favorites are Eastern Beauty, DaHongPao, TiGuanYin, Dan Cong, Shui Xian, and Rou Gui. It is amazing that you can order these teas directly from China via eBay. The only thing I don't fully agree with is storage in glass jars. I keep my teas in my pantry that never gets any direct sunlight and I have teas that are 2 years old or more in mason jars that are perfectly fine. Also, for the pu-erh teas (especially the green ones) you have to store in an open container so that it will slowly oxidize over many years. Obviously you want it away from anything that has strong aroma, but it does need some air exchange to properly age. Great job and interesting read. Thanks. You are right on about the water temperature, but what is interesting is how complex this can get. I mainly drink black, Oolong, and pu-erh teas. The black and pu-erh can both take boiling water well, but with the Oolongs you really have to find the right temperature for each tea which can be anywhere from 170-190 degrees. I drink a lot of Chinese Oolongs and with some of them the first infusion tastes best with 170-180 degree water, but as I do subsequent infusions I raise the water temperature to get all the flavor out. By the four or fifth infusion the water might be 200 degrees to extract maximum flavor. My favorites are Eastern Beauty, DaHongPao, TiGuanYin, Dan Cong, Shui Xian, and Rou Gui. It is amazing that you can order these teas directly from China via eBay. The only thing I don’t fully agree with is storage in glass jars. I keep my teas in my pantry that never gets any direct sunlight and I have teas that are 2 years old or more in mason jars that are perfectly fine. Also, for the pu-erh teas (especially the green ones) you have to store in an open container so that it will slowly oxidize over many years. Obviously you want it away from anything that has strong aroma, but it does need some air exchange to properly age. Great job and interesting read. Thanks.

]]> By: Mike Prince http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-4163 Mike Prince Mon, 18 Jan 2010 21:46:08 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-4163 I agree with your list. A couple of things I do. 1.Buy gunpowder "tight-rolled" green tea. They say it stays fresher. 2.I brew my tea in a 12 cup coffee maker. This way fresh water doesn't boil, but is does steam across the leave in the copper filter I use. 3.And tea leaves can be used more than once, each time getting a melllower brew. I use 3 table spoons loose gun powder tea to a 12 cup coffee maker. I usually drink my cold, so 3-4 table spoons makes 2 gallons for me. :) I agree with your list. A couple of things I do.

1.Buy gunpowder “tight-rolled” green tea. They say it stays fresher.

2.I brew my tea in a 12 cup coffee maker. This way fresh water doesn’t boil, but is does steam across the leave in the copper filter I use.

3.And tea leaves can be used more than once, each time getting a melllower brew. I use 3 table spoons loose gun powder tea to a 12 cup coffee maker.

I usually drink my cold, so 3-4 table spoons makes 2 gallons for me. :)

]]> By: Lorne Campbell http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-3211 Lorne Campbell Wed, 03 Dec 2008 11:30:09 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-3211 Hi Jenny I would agree that storage is important, I keep mine in a nice tin. In England if you look around you can buy tea in an attractive tin, then when the tin is empty you can fill it with a tea that you like. Hi Jenny
I would agree that storage is important, I keep mine in a nice tin. In England if you look around you can buy tea in an attractive tin, then when the tin is empty you can fill it with a tea that you like.

]]> By: Mrs. U http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-3092 Mrs. U Wed, 12 Nov 2008 01:42:13 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-3092 Boy do I agree about filtering the water!! Well, at least, it depends on where you live. I grew up in Atlanta and we had "city water" and I never knew anything different. When I married my husband almost 10 years ago, I moved to a tiny town and we had (and still do have) well water. I had NO idea the taste of chlorine was so strong in city water!! Now I daily enjoy glasses of very clean and clear well water and BOY does my tea taste all the better for it!!! I just found your site today and I AM IN LOVE!!!! I love tea and I love reading and learning more!!! Keep up the great work! His, Mrs. U Boy do I agree about filtering the water!! Well, at least, it depends on where you live. I grew up in Atlanta and we had “city water” and I never knew anything different. When I married my husband almost 10 years ago, I moved to a tiny town and we had (and still do have) well water. I had NO idea the taste of chlorine was so strong in city water!! Now I daily enjoy glasses of very clean and clear well water and BOY does my tea taste all the better for it!!!

I just found your site today and I AM IN LOVE!!!! I love tea and I love reading and learning more!!! Keep up the great work!

His,
Mrs. U

]]> By: Clipper http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2906 Clipper Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:24:13 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2906 Fill kettle Boil Pour onto tea bag immediately Stir, stir, squeeze Enough milk so its khaki colour Now you have your nice cup of tea made the British way and are all ready for sit down. Preferably with a biscuit to dunk. Fill kettle
Boil
Pour onto tea bag immediately
Stir, stir, squeeze
Enough milk so its khaki colour
Now you have your nice cup of tea made the British way and are all ready for sit down. Preferably with a biscuit to dunk.

]]> By: Tiffany http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2884 Tiffany Sat, 20 Sep 2008 04:38:03 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2884 You've inspired me! I'm planning a tea for a group of mothers with all boys and was seriously thinking about serving coffee! I know...teribble! I'm off to find some good tea varieties tomorrow and just made myself a cup of tea to end the evening..... granted it is a Stash tea bag! =) I can't wait to try the "good stuff" tomorrow night! Thanks and your site has been a wealth of information as I'm just starting to plan! Thank you, thank you, thank you! You’ve inspired me! I’m planning a tea for a group of mothers with all boys and was seriously thinking about serving coffee! I know…teribble! I’m off to find some good tea varieties tomorrow and just made myself a cup of tea to end the evening….. granted it is a Stash tea bag! =) I can’t wait to try the “good stuff” tomorrow night! Thanks and your site has been a wealth of information as I’m just starting to plan! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

]]> By: Ann B. Pennewill http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2667 Ann B. Pennewill Sun, 03 Aug 2008 23:33:54 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2667 Regarding #7 of your do's and don't's, I bought individual 1 ounce glass jars (with screw-on metal lids) from the Container Store (they are noted for tea storage). I have about 25 different flavors. Are these really bad, as you said to use tin. Thanks. Regarding #7 of your do’s and don’t’s, I bought individual 1 ounce glass jars (with screw-on metal lids) from the Container Store (they are noted for tea storage). I have about 25 different flavors. Are these really bad, as you said to use tin. Thanks.

]]> By: Tim http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2499 Tim Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:57:03 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2499 These are always good reminders. I myself am guilty of using tap water, as my bachelor fridge is too small to keep a pitcher of filtered water inside along with the basics. Regarding #5: I have been reading recently about the tea-drinking culture in East Frisia the the northwestern part of Germany, and I have read they flavor their strong, black tea with rock sugar ("kluntjes") and a heavy cream rather than milk. I must admit this sounds good to me, given that I like milk in my black tea, and I'd be curious to taste it in the East Frisian manner. Perhaps their blend of black tea is strong enough to support the cream. I have read the tea is very strong. These are always good reminders. I myself am guilty of using tap water, as my bachelor fridge is too small to keep a pitcher of filtered water inside along with the basics. Regarding #5: I have been reading recently about the tea-drinking culture in East Frisia the the northwestern part of Germany, and I have read they flavor their strong, black tea with rock sugar (”kluntjes”) and a heavy cream rather than milk. I must admit this sounds good to me, given that I like milk in my black tea, and I’d be curious to taste it in the East Frisian manner. Perhaps their blend of black tea is strong enough to support the cream. I have read the tea is very strong.

]]> By: minnesota kathi http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2316 minnesota kathi Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:39:52 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2316 Thanks for all the wonderful tea tips! What a wonderful find :) Thanks for all the wonderful tea tips! What a wonderful find :)

]]> By: yolanda http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2255 yolanda Fri, 28 Mar 2008 23:20:19 +0000 http://www.teapartygirl.com/the-top-seven-mistakes-tea-drinkers-make#comment-2255 Believe it or not, I didn't know that about tea bags but your info sure clears up all of my frustration with them! I just haven't been able to find a tea I like at the grocery store in years. I must say that when I was growing up Tetley and Red Rose tea bags tasted way better than they do now. They must have gradually gotten worse over the years and all the while I thought my memory was just serving my badly. I'm going out to find some real tea leaves & brew them like my grandmother used to. Thank you very much! Believe it or not, I didn’t know that about tea bags but your info sure clears up all of my frustration with them! I just haven’t been able to find a tea I like at the grocery store in years. I must say that when I was growing up Tetley and Red Rose tea bags tasted way better than they do now. They must have gradually gotten worse over the years and all the while I thought my memory was just serving my badly. I’m going out to find some real tea leaves & brew them like my grandmother used to. Thank you very much!

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