TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by **BrandonTeaClub** » May 21st, '11, 20:29

TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by BrandonTeaClub » May 21st, '11, 20:29

Has anybody else had any experience with this tea? I got a sample of it a while ago, and it smelled bodacious, but I think I never learned to brew it right, since the flavours were always very muted and bland. I tried everything from hotter water to more leaf to switching to a gaiwan from a glass oolong pot... But alas, the same featureless results, aside from some sweetness on the back of my teeth.

I'd like to know what experiences you guys have had, if any, to see if I should get this tea again.

by **MarshalN** » May 21st, '11, 22:01

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by MarshalN » May 21st, '11, 22:01

How much leaf is "more leaf"?

Water should be boiling hot. Anything less is no good.

by **BrandonTeaClub** » May 21st, '11, 23:10

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by BrandonTeaClub » May 21st, '11, 23:10

Half a gaiwan full is the max amount I put in.

by **entropyembrace** » May 21st, '11, 23:54

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by entropyembrace » May 21st, '11, 23:54

You should use a full gaiwan full, and like Marshal said boiling hot water.

by **edkrueger** » May 22nd, '11, 00:08

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by edkrueger » May 22nd, '11, 00:08

BrandonTeaClub wrote:Half a gaiwan full is the max amount I put in.

And that is your problem.

by **BrandonTeaClub** » May 22nd, '11, 00:55

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by BrandonTeaClub » May 22nd, '11, 00:55

Whoo, good to know. I'll have to get another sample...though, I don't think a sample will fill up my gaiwan. Looks like I'm spending some money!

by **edkrueger** » May 22nd, '11, 01:34

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by edkrueger » May 22nd, '11, 01:34

Yea, the money is an unfortunate side effect, but IMO you are wasting your money if you aren't packing it to the top. You can justify the costs by brewing the tea many times. Others will probably supply some tips.

by **tortoise** » May 22nd, '11, 11:08

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by tortoise » May 22nd, '11, 11:08

Get smaller tea pots and/or gaiwans and save your money that way while drinking great tea.

by **MarshalN** » May 22nd, '11, 16:08

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by MarshalN » May 22nd, '11, 16:08

BrandonTeaClub wrote:Whoo, good to know. I'll have to get another sample...though, I don't think a sample will fill up my gaiwan. Looks like I'm spending some money!

Sounds like your gaiwan is way too big

by **BrandonTeaClub** » May 22nd, '11, 16:47

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by BrandonTeaClub » May 22nd, '11, 16:47

It's about 4 ounces, according to the vendor:

http://shop.samovarlife.com/Cloud-Gaiwan-p/1002whsm.htm

It's a good-size gaiwan for brewing for my Tea Club...is 4 ounces too big to make quality DHP for one?

Thanks for all the suggestions and help, by the way

by **MarshalN** » May 22nd, '11, 17:57

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by MarshalN » May 22nd, '11, 17:57

Guywan.... these people should be shot.

You need more leaves then if your leaves aren't filling up the gaiwan.

by **Drax** » May 22nd, '11, 18:05

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by Drax » May 22nd, '11, 18:05

MarshalN wrote:Guywan.... these people should be shot.

Hrm, how do you tell a guywan from a girlwan? Checking the underside of the saucer...?

:wink:

by **the_skua** » May 23rd, '11, 08:46

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by the_skua » May 23rd, '11, 08:46

4 oz is a little big for a solo brew. Generally, for brewing a tea like DHP solo a vessel of ~60-90 mL, or ~2-2.5 oz, would be ideal.

by **BrandonTeaClub** » May 23rd, '11, 09:46

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by BrandonTeaClub » May 23rd, '11, 09:46

Any suggestions as to where I could get a good quality tiny gaiwan?

by **bagua7** » May 25th, '11, 07:05

Re: TeaTrekker Special Aged Vintage Da Hong Pao

by bagua7 » May 25th, '11, 07:05

Call yourself lucky if you ever get the chance to try real Da Hong Pao especially if you live outside of China, otherwise the tea is most likely to be Xiao Hong Pao (clones of the original trees mixed with other teas).