I think I need a TeaDaddy...

[ladybean]

I ordered a PersonaliTea pot and with it received a sample of Ti Kuan Yin Goddess..Oh Em Gee it was delicious! Then I looked and saw the price for it. Or maybe I'm just really cheap. Ah well, there's always my birthday.

[kymidwife]

Keep in mind, it is good for multiple steeps, which makes it more economical than it appears on first glance. That's how I help justify part of what I spend on tea.

[ladybean]

Oh wow I had no idea or I'd have saved it. Well actually I did the unthinkable. I removed the tea from the mesh bag and steeped it loose. Had I left it in the bag I probably would have thought about saving it. Learn something everyday.

[brad4419]

Kymidwife I do the same thing with justifying my teabuying. I think "well it is expensive but I will get more infusions out of it." That way I can buy it guilt free

Ladybean most oolongs(all of them I can think of) can be infused many times even yielding 6+ cups from the same leaf. If you have more tie kuan yin left try infusing it until you don't get anymore flavor.

That was a good idea to take the leaf out of the bag and make loose leaf.

[TwoPynts]

Just keep in mind that the "price per cup" only takes into account the first cup.

Think of like shopping at a wholesale club, you pay more, but you get more.

[ladybean]

Ladybean most oolongs(all of them I can think of) can be infused many times even yielding 6+ cups from the same leaf. If you have more tie kuan yin left try infusing it until you don't get anymore flavor.

That was a good idea to take the leaf out of the bag and make loose leaf.

Oops, I'd already disposed of the leaves before I wrote this post. Oh well, now I know!

[TwoPynts]

I had a Da Yu Ling this afternoon and have to save the leaves overnight because they still had life left in them after 6 steepings.

[Katy1977]

When I save tea leaves for more infusions I either keep them in one of my teapots or if it's in my Finum brewing basket I cover it in a plastic sandwich bag. Is this the right way to save the leaves so they don't dry out, or does it even matter if they do dry out?

Katy1977

[ladybean]

When I save tea leaves for more infusions I either keep them in one of my teapots or if it's in my Finum brewing basket I cover it in a plastic sandwich bag. Is this the right way to save the leaves so they don't dry out, or does it even matter if they do dry out?

Katy1977

Yeah I was wondering just HOW to store used leaves for re-use.. Hmmm

[kymidwife]

I know some people are very meticulous about this, but I'm a very laid-back person who refuses to get unnecessarily anal about brewing tea or anything else. I frequently let my tea leaves sit in the pot on the counter overnight and use them again the next day. I have never noticed any souring, mold growth, or off-taste in doing this, but I also keep my home very cool. I think if the temperature is too warm, you might get some fuzzy mold issues. It hasn't killed me or ruined my tea experience yet.

[entropyembrace]

I´ve never seen mould from leaving tea in my pot overnight but I can smell some kind of "sour" odour after several hours and at that point I won´t use those leaves again.

[TwoPynts]

Getting back to that Da Yu Ling I was having yesterday. I left the leaves in the pot overnight and they were fine when I came in this AM. Gave them a quick rinse with hot water just to be sure though. I'm on my 4th infusion (they are getting rather long) but it is still going.

[Alex]

I only use gaiwans but what I do if I leave leaves (leave leaves) I pop the lid off the gaiwan and allow them to cold down a little and just pop the lid back on. When I want to steep again I fill the gaiwan up to wash the leaves and re-heat the vessel and pour that straight out then get back to brewing.