Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

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Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. How do you decide whether or not to continue resteeping the same leaves? Share your "secret" here! 8 votes

I just know
10
23%
I brew regardless, hindsight is 20/20
5
11%
5 steeps and done kind of thing, just the way it is
2
5%
Smell the leaves in the pot
9
20%
Looking at the leaves
3
7%
The leaves speak to me
2
5%
Guess
3
7%
I never know
1
2%
Other
9
20%
 
Total votes: 44

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May 19th, '11, 00:12
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Re: Wednesday TeaDay 5/18/11 Resteep clues?

by Chip » May 19th, '11, 00:12

Great TD continued with Kurogi from Umami-Chaya ... unfortunately the last tea of the day.

Currently SLT into the night!

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Re: Wednesday TeaDay 5/18/11 Resteep clues?

by Chip » May 19th, '11, 00:48

... and yesterday's TeaDay carries over into Thursday.

Please share what is in your cup throughout the day, discuss the topic, and talk about ... whatever!

Bonus topic ... how many steeps will Thursday bring for you?

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May 19th, '11, 01:55
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by FlyedPiper » May 19th, '11, 01:55

I plan on drinking chinese green directly from a gaiwan all day tomorrow. Not sure how many steeps that counts as. It is a very satisfying way to enjoy chinese greens to me. Takes a bit of practice though. It helps if you like bitter tea, or a combination of sweet and bitter. The tea keeps changing until the leaf is exhausted. I love it 8) .

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Re: Wednesday TeaDay 5/18/11 Resteep clues?

by Drax » May 19th, '11, 06:41

debunix wrote:But I didn't have room for one more steep in me.
Heh, I think I give out before the tea does in the majority of cases when it comes to pu'erh.... :D

I should be able to get in a morning session and an afternoon session today at work... so probably about 8 steeps total. The evening is going to be busy w/ music rehearsal, so I probably won't have time to enjoy anything at home.

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May 19th, '11, 07:50
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by Nenugal » May 19th, '11, 07:50

I usually resteep until the taste is no longer interesting or strong enough to continue. Today I'm drinking Da Hong Pao.

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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by Spoonvonstup » May 19th, '11, 10:22

For most of my teas, I just keep steeping until the flavors seem to have peter-out (with no interesting changes coming) or, in the case of many of my pu'ers, until I just can't drink tea anymore! Seriously, there are times when the day runs out before the tea has been steeped out, and you just wish there were a few more hours in the day.

No tea yet today, but I'm probably going to make myself a nice cup of spring Lao Shan green tea when I get to work this morning.

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May 19th, '11, 10:38
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by debunix » May 19th, '11, 10:38

Today, starting with some Huang Shan Mao Feng, a tea I just came to good terms with last night. Now consolidating the tea love with another series of infusions. I predict this session will be at least 5 steeps, because I'm drinking and enjoying it so dilute. There will likely be another session of green tea before the afternoon thermos, perhaps another 6 steeps; the afternoon thermos will probably require at least 8 to be filled up with something; and then, anticipating a long paperwork session, another dozen or more in the evening. So...30 steeps for the day is probably undercounting.

Right now, at 3 steeps.

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May 19th, '11, 11:18
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by Chip » May 19th, '11, 11:18

Shooting for 15 steeps today (plus SLT steeps tonight ... so I guess 18 steeps), time permitting. And hopefully matcha which should "count" for 5 more. :mrgreen:

Began the TD with 5 steeps of Yutaka Midori for the 3rd consecutive day, YM LE from O-Cha ... this stuff is bangin' even though it is still 2010 vintage. This was very well cared for to taste and smell this exceptional more than 1 full year after harvest. I virtually never begin a TD with the same tea of 2 consecutive days ... let alone 3.

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May 19th, '11, 11:48
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by tortoise » May 19th, '11, 11:48

So far this morning, 3 steeps of Kame-Jiru Shi Gyokuro from O-C.

Probably good for another two steeps at least with lots of flavor. After that, it's anyone's guess when I'll toss it.

Been composting my tea leaves in the back yard. Gyokuro leaves turn black very quickly.

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May 19th, '11, 11:56
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by Drax » May 19th, '11, 11:56

Currently on my 3rd steep of the Shou-Un gyokuro from o-cha.

Unfortunately the vendor doesn't explain what "shou-un" means, and I don't recall there being any kanji on the package... apparently it could mean 'the fortunes of business,' which to me is not all that wonderful of a name. But fortunately (?), Japanese is full of homophones, so "shou" can also mean "small," so I will go with "small luck." Or "un" could also be "cloud," so "small cloud" is kind of nice, as the gyokuro seems to match that better.

Mmmmm, more cloud, please!

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May 19th, '11, 15:32
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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by teaisme » May 19th, '11, 15:32

I go a lot by smell in pot (though this can be deceiving sometimes with good teas) and the taste of previous infusion (factoring in rough time of previous infusion too)

With most japanese greens I find there is a distinctive 'done' smell as well.
How much the tea has opened also gives some hints.
And of course your previous experiences with the tea should give you a good idea of how far it will go.

I am totally out of japanese greens :cry: Holding out till next week when what I want arrives in stock at yuuki.

Some 98 8582 this morning. Delicious. 1999/3 Xia Guan Jia-Ji Toucha last night. Yum. Thank you houde!
Now some light roast dong dong at work.

Come on where my darjeeling at!

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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by gargoylekitty » May 19th, '11, 17:25

A variety of things though I tend to rely on the last brew and prior experience the most.

Having some shincha Kinari. Using a different kyusu than the mini for the first time since the mini arrived and surprised by how big and heavy the other pot feels despite it being the one I typically use the most. :lol:

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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by Chip » May 19th, '11, 20:08

tortoise wrote:... Kame ...

Been composting my tea leaves in the back yard. Gyokuro leaves turn black very quickly.
You should be eating the Kame leaves after you are done steeping. They are pretty tender and tasty. Simply add some Asian sauce in moderation or even add to food including pasta.
TD continued with ... Gyokuro. Fujitsubo from the O-C. Will be eating these leaves shortly.

Is it too late for a third tea. Only 10 steeps of tea today, was shooting for 15-18.

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Re: Wednesday/Thursday TeaDay 5/18-19/11 Resteep clues?

by tortoise » May 20th, '11, 11:54

Chip wrote:
tortoise wrote:... Kame ...

Been composting my tea leaves in the back yard. Gyokuro leaves turn black very quickly.
You should be eating the Kame leaves after you are done steeping. They are pretty tender and tasty. Simply add some Asian sauce in moderation or even add to food including pasta.
TD continued with ... Gyokuro. Fujitsubo from the O-C. Will be eating these leaves shortly.

Is it too late for a third tea. Only 10 steeps of tea today, was shooting for 15-18.
I tried them. They are edible. I think they'd be good with a meal, maybe with rice and sesame. By themselves, ok.

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