OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
63 posts • Page 2 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle!
by Dresden » Jun 19th, '10, 14:33
Just to throw off Chip.... LOL!!!
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Dresden - Posts: 426
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Re: Phase II. Now that you have the Silver Needle!
by Chip » Jun 19th, '10, 14:34
Greetings OTTI participants!
Hopefully you will be receiving your teas very soon! All packages went out Thursday and Friday with one exception. This was quite an undertaking, 3 OTTI-s at the same time. Note to self, don’t do that again!
This was also exasperated by several unanticipated delays, most notably a vendor who was most uncooperative and who I will be posting about shortly. Also there was a problem with the packaging! So, I did have to majorly improvise this time around! My apologies! Hopefully the packaging will be fully resolved in time for the next OTTI.
So when you receive your OTTI, I would suggest opening it up and placing the samples into more packaging. You can place the samples in their current wrapping directly into a canister or a vendor foil bag.
The packing is a bit of a balancing act. I would not want to over extend thus significantly increasing the participants cost for the OTTI-s, but the packaging was NOT as planned and will improve!!!
So, look for improvements there. This being the first rounds, there will be a learning curve. I am open to constructive comments, suggestions!
OK, now on to the TEA!
Remember to post in the OTTI topics!!!
Hopefully you will be receiving your teas very soon! All packages went out Thursday and Friday with one exception. This was quite an undertaking, 3 OTTI-s at the same time. Note to self, don’t do that again!
This was also exasperated by several unanticipated delays, most notably a vendor who was most uncooperative and who I will be posting about shortly. Also there was a problem with the packaging! So, I did have to majorly improvise this time around! My apologies! Hopefully the packaging will be fully resolved in time for the next OTTI.
So when you receive your OTTI, I would suggest opening it up and placing the samples into more packaging. You can place the samples in their current wrapping directly into a canister or a vendor foil bag.
The packing is a bit of a balancing act. I would not want to over extend thus significantly increasing the participants cost for the OTTI-s, but the packaging was NOT as planned and will improve!!!
So, look for improvements there. This being the first rounds, there will be a learning curve. I am open to constructive comments, suggestions!
OK, now on to the TEA!
Remember to post in the OTTI topics!!!
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Chip - Moderator
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- Joined: Apr 22nd, '
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Re: Phase II. Now that you have the Silver Needle!
by Chip » Jun 19th, '10, 16:59
OTTI Round 3 Silver Needle! Some of these I never tried before, some vendors I never tried before ... so we learn and experiment together!!!
There should be 5 samples. Each sample contains virtually 8 grams of leaf except for the Adam's Peak which contains 4 grams, so if you use half for each session, that is 4 grams. I am offering the leaf ratio I used for each, however you can adjust according to your tastes. Links for each tea are located under OTTI Round 3 on the forum.
The 5 selections are:
GreenTeaLovers Adam's Peak from Ceylon
GTL Kenya Silverback
Rishi Silver Needle Premium Organic
Adagio Silver Needle
Rishi Fuding Grand Cru
There should be 5 samples. Each sample contains virtually 8 grams of leaf except for the Adam's Peak which contains 4 grams, so if you use half for each session, that is 4 grams. I am offering the leaf ratio I used for each, however you can adjust according to your tastes. Links for each tea are located under OTTI Round 3 on the forum.
The 5 selections are:
GreenTeaLovers Adam's Peak from Ceylon
GTL Kenya Silverback
Rishi Silver Needle Premium Organic
Adagio Silver Needle
Rishi Fuding Grand Cru
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Chip - Moderator
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle!
by Chip » Jun 19th, '10, 18:05
Brewing. Remember to have fun! I never had 5 different Silver Needle selections at one time and plan on having a blast tasting and comparing. 
Brewing vessels. Silver Needle can be brewed in just about any brewing vessel, even just a glass.
How much. If you have been on TC long enough, you have likely heard the term ratio used in determining how much leaf to use. A ratio is simply general or preferred strength that allows increasing and decreasing of either leaf weight or volume water while keeping the strength steady.
Your leaf ratio is calculated X grams leaf : Y ounces water. If you fill in the grams at 4, you can adjust the amount of water to find your ratio. Or you can fill in a value for the water and adjust the amount of leaf. I am suggesting using 4 grams leaf for each session and adjusting the amount of water. And I offer corresponding amounts of water below based on using 4 grams, rounded off. This will also give you 2 full sessions, just use half each time.
1:1 4 grams : 4ounces water
0.9:1 4 : 4.5
0.8:1 4 : 5
0.7:1 4 : 5.5
0.6:1 4 : 6.5
0.5:1 4: 8
Just about any Shincha, I will first try at a ratio I somehow intuitively come up with … then adjust with future sessions. Below are my somewhat adjust ratios for each tea. Again if you are newer to sencha, you might want to adjust down a bit, but that is up to you! Based on the ratio, you can plug in the values listed above, or create your own.
Temperatures! This is subjective. I have tried 160-185* and seem most comfortable around 170ish*. Some will like it hotter than this.
Time, really subjective. I have heard 1-8 minutes. I generally go light on time, 1-2 minutes. If you are brewing semi Western style, you can brew with less leaf and more time. Regardless, Silver Needle typically produces more of a sublime cup.
Problems: Too intense, decrease leaf. Too bitter, decrease temp and/or time. Cooler water makes for a less aromatic but sweeter cup.
Multiple steeps. Absolutely! A good rule of thumb for me … This will vary by taste and selection.
2nd 170*, 30-60 sec
3rd 175*, 60 sec
4th 185* 60-120 sec
5th near boiling, 2-3 min
More steeps please!
Brewing vessels. Silver Needle can be brewed in just about any brewing vessel, even just a glass.
How much. If you have been on TC long enough, you have likely heard the term ratio used in determining how much leaf to use. A ratio is simply general or preferred strength that allows increasing and decreasing of either leaf weight or volume water while keeping the strength steady.
Your leaf ratio is calculated X grams leaf : Y ounces water. If you fill in the grams at 4, you can adjust the amount of water to find your ratio. Or you can fill in a value for the water and adjust the amount of leaf. I am suggesting using 4 grams leaf for each session and adjusting the amount of water. And I offer corresponding amounts of water below based on using 4 grams, rounded off. This will also give you 2 full sessions, just use half each time.
1:1 4 grams : 4ounces water
0.9:1 4 : 4.5
0.8:1 4 : 5
0.7:1 4 : 5.5
0.6:1 4 : 6.5
0.5:1 4: 8
Just about any Shincha, I will first try at a ratio I somehow intuitively come up with … then adjust with future sessions. Below are my somewhat adjust ratios for each tea. Again if you are newer to sencha, you might want to adjust down a bit, but that is up to you! Based on the ratio, you can plug in the values listed above, or create your own.
Temperatures! This is subjective. I have tried 160-185* and seem most comfortable around 170ish*. Some will like it hotter than this.
Time, really subjective. I have heard 1-8 minutes. I generally go light on time, 1-2 minutes. If you are brewing semi Western style, you can brew with less leaf and more time. Regardless, Silver Needle typically produces more of a sublime cup.
Problems: Too intense, decrease leaf. Too bitter, decrease temp and/or time. Cooler water makes for a less aromatic but sweeter cup.
Multiple steeps. Absolutely! A good rule of thumb for me … This will vary by taste and selection.
2nd 170*, 30-60 sec
3rd 175*, 60 sec
4th 185* 60-120 sec
5th near boiling, 2-3 min
More steeps please!
-
Chip - Moderator
- Posts: 20909
- Joined: Apr 22nd, '
- Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle!
by Chip » Jun 19th, '10, 18:09
Dresden wrote:Just to throw off Chip.... LOL!!!
Just caught this ... your Silver Needles have all been recalled! -
Chip - Moderator
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle!
by Dresden » Jun 19th, '10, 20:58
Chip wrote:Dresden wrote:Just to throw off Chip.... LOL!!!
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Dresden - Posts: 426
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle!
by Thediminished5t... » Jun 20th, '10, 13:39
Just tried the GTL Ceylon. Here are my thoughts on the first steep.
Preparation: I brewed at 165 for 5 minutes, with a tea to water ratio of about 1:2.
Color: The color is a deep gold, and reminds me more of White Peony than Silver Needle.
Taste: The taste is a little more upfront than the Chinese Silver Needles I have tried and to me has more in common with White Peony or even White Darjeeling (though it is not as fragrant as the latter).
Overall, I like it. I'm just not sure the experience justifies the cost in this case. However, if you prepared it differently and feel you got a better result than I did, I'm all ears!
Preparation: I brewed at 165 for 5 minutes, with a tea to water ratio of about 1:2.
Color: The color is a deep gold, and reminds me more of White Peony than Silver Needle.
Taste: The taste is a little more upfront than the Chinese Silver Needles I have tried and to me has more in common with White Peony or even White Darjeeling (though it is not as fragrant as the latter).
Overall, I like it. I'm just not sure the experience justifies the cost in this case. However, if you prepared it differently and feel you got a better result than I did, I'm all ears!
- Thediminished5t...
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- Location: Virginia
Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Chip » Jun 20th, '10, 14:10
Thank you for sharing your thoughts with us! I have not tried this yet, and have only had one Ceylon SN which was very good. I will be anxious to see how this one stands up.
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Chip - Moderator
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Thediminished5t... » Jun 20th, '10, 14:31
Having the second steep as we speak, and I am enjoying it more than the first. Steeped it for about 2 minutes at 170. There is a sweetness, with a hint of citrus. Very nice.
- Thediminished5t...
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- Location: Virginia
Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by the_skua » Jun 21st, '10, 10:25
I will be on to this round after I finish the shincha round. Trying to do them as sets for overall cohesion and experience.
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the_skua - Posts: 145
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Dresden » Jun 21st, '10, 12:32
There really is nothing like coming home to find tea in the mail...
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Dresden - Posts: 426
- Joined: Apr 18th, '
- Location: Louisiana Gulf Coast
Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Chip » Jun 21st, '10, 22:08
Dresden wrote:There really is nothing like coming home to find tea in the mail...
Of course. Get brewing!
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Chip - Moderator
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Seeker » Jun 22nd, '10, 02:01
Tasted the Adam's Peak SN tonight.
Very typical SN taste/flavor profile IMHO.
Didn't dazzle me in any way.
Used 5g leaf to 5oz water; 180* for 3min.
Plan to increase temp to 185 and go to 4min for 2nd infusion.
(that's a Petr Novak double walled yunomi).
Very typical SN taste/flavor profile IMHO.
Didn't dazzle me in any way.
Used 5g leaf to 5oz water; 180* for 3min.
Plan to increase temp to 185 and go to 4min for 2nd infusion.
(that's a Petr Novak double walled yunomi).
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Seeker - Posts: 1633
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by plant partaker » Jun 23rd, '10, 04:49
the first one I tried in this round was the organic premium silver needle from rishi. I brewed it vendor suggested which was 185 degrees to 1 tbsp in 8 ounces. The taste is very clean. I have never had silver needle before, but I am really liking this first one. This has a very nice clean taste to it. I am not sure how to describe it. Kind of reminded me of white peony with a cleaner more refreshing crispness. Some what of a sweetness after the crisp clean. My first and I am digging it 
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plant partaker - Posts: 213
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Re: OTTI 2010 Round 2 Silver Needle ... and Reviews!
by Chip » Jun 23rd, '10, 13:17
Thank you Seeker and Plant Partaker!
I am going to be working on these shortly ... should be sublimely exciting!
I am going to be working on these shortly ... should be sublimely exciting!
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Chip - Moderator
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63 posts • Page 2 of 5 • 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
