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Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 30th, '13, 12:25
by b101
Hi,
I have decided it will be interesting to check which black teas do you use the gong fu style methood as opposed to using the usual western style.
I have found that in the black teas area the subject isn't very clear what is best (as opposed to preparing oolongs). I have found that many teas have better restults for me with the western style while many others teas have better results while gong fuing. imo, each tea usually have one methood that brings better results , and it chooses the methood it "likes" most.

By Gong Fu, I mean shorts steeps (up to 1 min), small brewing vessel, and high leaf to water ratio.

The tea that will have the lowest votes will be the black teas most people brew western style, and the ones with the higher scores will be the one people most gong fu them.

If you wish to add any tea to the poll, please add a comment.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 30th, '13, 16:57
by etorix
Sun Moon Lake is my preferred

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 30th, '13, 17:25
by b101
etorix wrote:Sun Moon Lake is my preferred
ok, i added it to the list. but remeber the poll is about not which tea is the most you like, but which tea from the list you prepare according to the gong fu methood.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 10:27
by MEversbergII
Define "high" leaf:water ratio for me, please.

M.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 11:36
by b101
MEversbergII wrote:Define "high" leaf:water ratio for me, please.

M.
5g/120ml and up... I think people who prepare in the gong fu style know they're preparing in this way (there is quite a differnet between a usuall western 6g/300ml 3-5 min to gong fu parameters)... imo the exact number doesn't really matter - in any case, you need to have enough leaves to have a satisfying cup in less than 1 min.

As there are many people on the web that states that certain black teas are better for gong fu and some teas are less suitable - I wanted to check what most people think.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 13:38
by William
Until now I tried it with some tea from India (Darjeeling), Kenya and Nepal.
However, I must specify that I use 2/3 grams w/ 100 ml @ 95/100 C° for 2 sessions (first session for 60/90 seconds, second for 10/15 seconds).

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 13:49
by MEversbergII
My vote's with Fujianese reds. There's a reason they're sometimes called gongfu hongcha :p

M.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 19:46
by shah82
Well, virtually all higher grade Chinese teas can be gongfu'ed with some success. All of Taiwanese teas do extremely well for gongfu.

It's hit or miss with subcontinent black teas, and Ceylon/African blacks are very bright acidic teas that probably would be tricky to brew well. Some Ceylon teas, like the ones from Tea Bank that Uptons used to sell, do quite well gongfu'ed.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Jul 31st, '13, 22:06
by debunix
None, really. I don't pack the pot/gaiwan/shibo for any of them. I have enjoyed a the developing flavors of multiple infusions of Yunnan gold and Taiwanese black ruby teas, but always a bit dilute compared to what I do with other teas.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 1st, '13, 01:51
by bambooforest
I've found that gong-fu-ing blacks doesn't bring out the best flavors usually, at least for my palate.

I prefer a more western approach with blacks: I enjoy the flavor better.

But also... for some reason, I generally only want to drink one steep of a black tea compared to that of a green or oolong.

There are probably exceptions to this rule for me, but generally this is the case.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 1st, '13, 04:30
by b101
Pretty interesting results - seems chinese/taiwanese teas are "desgined" for gong fu in mind...
I usually try both ways and then continue brewing with the one i most like. Right now, i have found oriental beauty to have better results (but i don't rinse it first like green oolongs - this may evolved into another question whether you rinse or not when gong fuing). though, i don't have a lot of experinece with blacks tea with gong fu, as i have only started practicing this methood in the last months.

I found on the internet a blog that deals with the topic's question, but seems more to focus on oolong rather than black.
http://gingkobay.blogspot.co.il/2010/03 ... ing-0.html

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 1st, '13, 05:05
by David R.
As mentioned before, I think it is more the quality which will be the key here. As for myself, I don't buy a lot of black teas, but when I do I try to choose the highest grades I could find, and I gong fu them all.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 1st, '13, 13:26
by wyardley
Technically, Oriental Beauty is an oolong, though it does often have fairly high oxidation.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 2nd, '13, 10:11
by MEversbergII
I think if I tried to gongfu Assam, my face would implode.

M.

Re: Which black (red) teas do you gong fu?

Posted: Aug 2nd, '13, 12:47
by whatsinaname
I use a gongfu method for all tea, including my black teas.

EoT has the best Sun Moon Lake tea that I've ever tried! Wicked good for gongfu, opening up and shape-shifting for several infusions.