how many re-infusions for rishi white tea?

[inspectoring]

I am sipping their silver needle...so far it has held up about 3 infusions...and all 3 were really good.....
I am just curious about how many infusions you guys get out of rishi or your favorite tea....

[Wesli]

I take my white tea to an easy 2 infusions, but sometimes for a third.

[JT]

I can get up to 6 cups. I use a gaiwan or my kyusu and lots of buds. I start off with lower temperature, around 160F on my thermometer(not sure if it is accurate) and end up just under boiling for later infusions.

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

Hey Inspector! I have not brewed Rishi's Silver Needle, but I do have a few ounces of their White Peony/Bai Mudan/Whatever you want to call it........anyway, I typically do about 1.5 teaspoons for my 6oz. pot and brew at 160 (F) for 3.5 minutes. I usually do 3 infusions for Rishi's with the second at 185 (F) for 5 minutes and the third at 200 (F) for 7 minutes. I can tell a small degradation in flavor by the end of the third cup. I am sure you could push it to a fourth, maybe even fifth or sixth, but since white peony is a relatively inexpensive tea, compared to Silver Needle, I do not see the need to push it past three. Hope this helps!

-Nick (TaiPing Hou Kui)

[inspectoring]

thank you guys....I can't get past 2..but I don't use that many leaves and I use about 180(F) ...I tried the 160(f) but almost always missed out on that floral taste that comes out at 180(f) for 3 mins...

[Mary R]

That floral pop makes the world go around, doesn't it? I swear, I got some great lilac tones from Adagio's SN a few times. It was phenomenal.

You can likely get 3 or 4 infusions from your white teas...but the third and/or fourth will be nothing like the first. The floral qualities fade and the vegetal ones move to the forefront. You might also get more 'grain' or 'bread' base notes. You'll also have to brew subsequent infusions longer. For instance, if I start with a first at 2 or 3 minutes, my thirds might be for 7 minutes. It'll be pleasurable, but it won't be just like the first infusion.