TeaChat

This morning I received my first order from Tea Habitat:

85g of Honey Orchid commercial grade
30g of 2008 Gold Medalist Honey Orchid (the most expensive tea I have bought)

Should I brew both of them the same way? Brewing suggestions from experienced Dan Cong brewers are welcomed (I use a 120ml gaiwan).
Thanks.

ummaya wrote:This morning I received my first order from Tea Habitat:

85g of Honey Orchid commercial grade
30g of 2008 Gold Medalist Honey Orchid (the most expensive tea I have bought)

Should I brew both of them the same way? Brewing suggestions from experienced Dan Cong brewers are welcomed (I use a 120ml gaiwan).
Thanks.

I would, but, remember to use the same hand.

I have to be more careful with the Medallist Dan Cong version than I did with the Honey Orchid commercial grade, because the Medallist can be more astringent if I am careless. Shorter and cooler infusions to start, then working up to hotter/longer.

The 2008 Gold Medalist Honey Orchid Dan Cong has been one of the best - if not the very best - tea I ever had.

Lowering the temperature as suggested debunix is definitively a good idea to reduce bitterness, although I do not remember any problems with this one. A little astringency is something you can appreciate in the long run. I find it enhances aftertaste.

I used 5g in a 10 cl gaiwan, beginning 15" fore the single bush. Didn't try the other one.

If you are not used to brew dan cong, I suggest you train with the commercial grade. Play a bit with temperature and time. As these teas have a great endurance, if a brew is not satisfying, you'll learn what for the next one to be better.

I just tried a new DC from Imen, sadly the camera batteries had failed, they are in the charger now.

I also used 5gm in 100ml CZ pot (but it was quite a struggle to get them in without breaking them. The kettle came to the boil, I let it rest for 30 seconds then did a 5 second wash, picked up the kettle without reheating and did a 12 second infusion - the fragrance was astounding.

2nd Infusion let the kettle come to the boil and let it rest for 30 seconds before a 17 second infusion a stronger brew with a tiny tingle creeping in, but good fragrance and some spicier notes coming forth

3rd and 4th done on the run - into 2 fair cups
kettle to the boil - rest 40 seconds 18 seconds, and without pausing from the same kettle 25 seconds into the 2nd pitcher

all were good on the 4th the water had possibly cooled too much

will go back to near boiling water from now on.

Great! Thank you very much for the tips.

Too bad that I have no Chao Zhou teapot. I do not want to buy a cheap one and the one sold by Imen are quite expensive for me right now. I'll save and get one in the future. Until then I will use my Gaiwan: so for me it will be more aroma but less taste

I don't think you'll have less taste using a gaiwan. It is not the same result with a teapot, but not worst nor better, just different. It depends on your taste and the very tea used.

HB, maybe the pot helps with bitterness which enables you to use hotter water ?

David R. wrote:
HB, maybe the pot helps with bitterness which enables you to use hotter water ?

I [unlike many others] have not had any problems with bitterness in the past

Just one tea from Dragon Tea House which gave me a very big tangy feeling - which I rather enjoyed for the buzz

Teas from Hou De, Teacuppa, all my other DCs from DTH and of course all mine from Tea Habitat I have been more than happy with. DC is MY FAVOURITE tea.

I like body and texture (though not at the expense of) more than fragrance!

I prefer aroma through the back of the throat rather than the front of the nose [many nasal injuries through playing rugby for 25 years]

Until recently I have always used a kamjove kettle with temperature control, and set it to the middle of oolong temperatures for DC.
.

Now I have a new Brass Kamjove which only goes to the boil, and because of a few warnings about thin walled CZ pots cracking - I decided not to give it the full boil treatment!

ummaya wrote:Great! Thank you very much for the tips.

Too bad that I have no Chao Zhou teapot. I do not want to buy a cheap one and the one sold by Imen are quite expensive for me right now. I'll save and get one in the future. Until then I will use my Gaiwan: so for me it will be more aroma but less taste

Don't worry, you'll have plenty of enjoyment in the gaiwan.

I was thinking about trying the honey orchid from TH, I really like the one I had from jkteashop, but based on the price difference I'm assuming teahabitats is probably a bit better quality.