Several Steepings?

[JH225]

I see people saying that they are getting several steepings from one portion of leaves.

Once the leaves get wet, how do you save them to re-steep? And how long do you have to use the same bit of leaves?

[murrius]

In my experience the leaves are good for a couple of hours but I notice a big decline in taste after that. I once tried getting an additional steep from my morning tea in the early evening and, even though I stored the leaves in the fridge, it was awful.

[capheind]

I've never had any problems using the same tea for a few successive steepings. Some teas can even be refrigerated to be drunk the following day, but its kinda hit and miss and your mileage may vary considerably.

[Chip]

I usually just let them in the pot and usually continue resteeping til I am done with the leaves.

In the event I set them aside for a while, I can usually still enjoy them a few hours later. I think the more oxidized the leaf is, the better the leaves hold up. Hmmm, yet white tea has sat overnight for me quite well already.

[auggy]

I'm with Chip, I just leave em in the pot on the counter and brew through the evening with them. I have left some overnight to brew the next morning but sometimes the flavor seems much thinner and flatter after such excessive times.

[Salsero]

What they said.

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

I personally leave them in the brewing vessel....I also have had the experiene that chip said with a good white lasting quite a while and being able to steep again after hours. I personally dont think this could be pulled off with high quality Jap. green though (i.e. sencha, gyokuro, etc.)

-Nick (TaiPing)

[JH225]

If not using a pot and using just the single serve Ingenuitea thingy, would it still be plausible?

Maybe steep a cup, put the whole thing in the fridge for a couple of hours and steep again?

Gonna have to give it a try.

[auggy]

If not using a pot and using just the single serve Ingenuitea thingy, would it still be plausible?

Maybe steep a cup, put the whole thing in the fridge for a couple of hours and steep again?

No reason you couldn't leave it in the IngenuiTEA. I don't think I'd put it in the fridge, though. Once my leaves get too cool, they seem to lose a bit of flavor. If I can keep them warm-ish I think I get better results. Which usually means (for me) not waiting more than an hour between steeps. Though again, I have left them out overnight and they've been yummy the next morning.

[olivierco]

I don't like to save my leaves for a differed resteep (I usually don't wait more than 5 minutes to resteep) because I don't like to drink the same tea all day long.

[beecrofter]

Be aware that not all types of tea lend themselves to resteeping with great results.
What you can get away with with a nice high mountain oolong will likely taste horrible in a sencha.
To get the best possible results when you aren't coming back to your tea for a while make sure you drain off all the water.

[cha cha cha]

If not using a pot and using just the single serve Ingenuitea thingy, would it still be plausible?

I leave my leaves in the Ingenuitea all the time, but be aware that the mesh will stain faster if you do the same. I've also found that the flavor of the tea will remain for a while afterward, tainting subsequent brews. Not really a big deal for me unless I'm moving from black tea to green tea, but thought you should know.

[chad]

Like others, I leave my leaves in the infuser (at the office) and get about 4 steeps from my darjeeling then change the leaves (and even the type of tea) about lunch time...the Pai Mu Tan I drink regularly does really really well this way, too.