Rinsing tea and multiple infusions

[Mary R]

Yeah, yunnan gold is really the only black I'll even bother to steep more than once. Flavored teas? Forget about it.

[Wesli]

Space is right. One could call the second infusion of black tea a "ghost" of it's former self.

[Monkey in China]

What do you do with the leaves between reinfusions? Leave them in the pot or store them somewhere (and if stored, using what method)?

[xine]

I tend to just leave my tea leaves in the infuser,if I haven't already poured more water in it for the second infusion. You shouldn't keep them out too long, and definitely don't stick them in the fridge or anything.

[Wesli]

Best is to do one infusion after the next after the next.

I don't have small enough of a teapot to do that, so I just let 'em sit in the pot.

[Monkey in China]

[...]and definitely don't stick them in the fridge or anything.

Wow, a tea shop owner told me to do it .

[scruffmcgruff]

I have heard ridiculous advice from people who work in tea shops, so take their advice with a pinch of salt.

I just let the leaves sit in the pot– it's not a big deal, really.

[hop_goblin]

In my experience black tea is rearely suitable for mutliple infusions. Even high quality black tea always tastes like a weak imitation to me.

Greens, whites, oolong, and pu er, however, are very suitable. It seems to me that sencha needs a first infusion just to get good and warmed up.

I agree with you Space. Mulitple black infusions seems to release the "uglies" of tea

[evilive]

I've been hesitant to do multiple infusions on anything except Pu-Erh, which you're supposed to use two or three times

Really?? Darn, as I just finished some Pu-erh and discarded the leaves, thinking they wouldn't be good for another infusion and it was such a nice cup as well.

Furthermore, I've never actually rinsed my leaves prior to infusing to drink...I suppose I will have to try it out in the afternoon

[Wesli]

Much to learn young pateawan.

[scruffmcgruff]

<nerd>padawan*</nerd>

[Wesli]

<clarity>paTEAwan</clarity>

[Mary R]

<exaggerated eyeroll>*goofballs*</exaggerated eyeroll>

[evilive]

Much to learn young pateawan.

Hahaha, I actually have a chance to correctly use an internet acronym as, believe me, I am laughing out loud

[Chip]

My personal exerience with blacks is that I tend to use English brewing parameters with them, 2.3 grams +/- per 6 oz. With this parameter, it is unlikely that I should expect much from a second let alone a third steep.

Also, I simply lose interest in resteeping black tea. I used to start every day with a black tea. After one steep, I was simply ready to move on since I suppose I enjoy greens and oolong more.

Having said this, I recently reopened my black tea drawer to get out one of many black teas that have sat for 1.5 years, untouched. I went with my normal English parameters and had a remarkable first steep of Golden Monkey Imperial from Upton. I was so enamored by the first steep, that I had to try for a second and much to my surprise, it was almost as flavorful as the first. As I smelled the infused leaves, I could tel that quality 3rd steep could have been had.

Be that as it may, I will still in all likelihood refrain from resteeping black tea for my original reason. After one steep, I am ready for green or oolong.