Aug 13th, '08, 10:33
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
I almost died today
OK, so I got a flashlight to have a look inside my puidor for my monthly mold check, and what do you know, Little blue specks all over the inside. I brushed some onto a sheet of paper got a magnifier glass and a flashlight and went detective. After about 30 minutes of starring at it wondering why it was a kinda foamy texture, not typical of mold. Finally I remembered I used a blue sponge to wipe the insides of it when I was seasoning it. When moisture contacts wood, the fibers expand creating splinters, the splinters pulled of little blue flecks that I thought was mold. What a relief. It just show that you can never be too safe. I will perform a mold check about once a week now, and I encourage others to do the same, If not caught early the results can be devastating.
Aug 13th, '08, 11:27
Posts: 330
Joined: Feb 27th, '08, 11:03
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:
Dizzwave
Aug 13th, '08, 11:44
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
I am not sure, but I think it was over 70%. I don't remember the hygrometer readings back then and I'm not so sure the hygrometer was accurate anyway (I just threw one out and got some more that I calibrated with salt), but I remember the paper bags and wrappers feeling quite heavy with humidity, so it is possible I was pushing 75% RH or above.Dizzwave wrote: Sal, when you got the white frost on your cakes, what was the humidity like there?
Aug 13th, '08, 11:56
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Salsero wrote:I am not sure, but I think it was over 70%. I don't remember the hygrometer readings back then and I'm not so sure the hygrometer was accurate anyway (I just threw one out and got some more that I calibrated with salt), but I remember the paper bags and wrappers feeling quite heavy with humidity, so it is possible I was pushing 75% RH or above.Dizzwave wrote: Sal, when you got the white frost on your cakes, what was the humidity like there?
Personally I think that a little white frost may be a good sign of aging and maybe helps it aged. If I saw white frost on my cakes I would just find a way to slightly lower the humidity. Its the green, red and yellow fuzzys that freak me out.
Aug 13th, '08, 12:21
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Aug 13th, '08, 12:47
Posts: 529
Joined: Jul 23rd, '08, 17:07
Location: The Isle of Malta
Aug 13th, '08, 12:57
Posts: 330
Joined: Feb 27th, '08, 11:03
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:
Dizzwave
yeah, what Tony said!
at least it's somewhat controlled this way. If you lived somewhere where the RH got above 80, you would know, and could DEhumidify it if you wanted to (gasp, unimaginable right now!).
Anyway, I don't want my cakes to have not aged at all in 5-10 years. And if we're careful, we can avoid the funky colors.
at least it's somewhat controlled this way. If you lived somewhere where the RH got above 80, you would know, and could DEhumidify it if you wanted to (gasp, unimaginable right now!).
Anyway, I don't want my cakes to have not aged at all in 5-10 years. And if we're careful, we can avoid the funky colors.
Aug 13th, '08, 14:11
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Aug 13th, '08, 16:20
Posts: 505
Joined: Jun 1st, '08, 11:57
Location: The Golden Horseshoe
the alternative is to buy aged green tea for consumption. screw aging it yourself. that would be my suggestion.tony shlongini wrote:Very true, but what would you suggest as an alternative?heavydoom wrote:one day you guys may shoot yourself in the foot by experimenting with these home grown pumidors. just saying.....
i mean, come on, how much tea can you drink in a week? i think at the rate i am going, my pu cakes will last a long time. if you use a wee amount with long infusion times, you can maybe have like 6 sessions of tea with the yi xing pot. man, that cake may last three months. by that time, you can buy another aged cake. if you put aside a dollar each day, you can have 30 bucks a month, 90 in three months, enough for those fancy smancy pu cakes over there at HOU DE.....
Aug 13th, '08, 16:42
Posts: 330
Joined: Feb 27th, '08, 11:03
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Portland, OR
Contact:
Dizzwave
Yeah, but.. that's no fun!heavydoom wrote:... by that time, you can buy another aged cake. if you put aside a dollar each day, you can have 30 bucks a month, 90 in three months, enough for those fancy smancy pu cakes over there at HOU DE.....
You don't get to experience the aging process.. trying it every few months to see how it's changed.. showering with it.. putting it near the litter box..
Besides, then you're drinking the same kind of tea every day for 3 months.
Each to his or her own, though....
-dave
Aug 13th, '08, 17:21
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Aug 13th, '08, 19:19
Posts: 1633
Joined: Feb 15th, '08, 10:15
Location: Pennsylvania
Dizzwave wrote:Yeah, but.. that's no fun!heavydoom wrote:... by that time, you can buy another aged cake. if you put aside a dollar each day, you can have 30 bucks a month, 90 in three months, enough for those fancy smancy pu cakes over there at HOU DE.....
You don't get to experience the aging process.. trying it every few months to see how it's changed.. showering with it.. putting it near the litter box..
Besides, then you're drinking the same kind of tea every day for 3 months.
Each to his or her own, though....
-dave
Well said Dave, You hit the nail dead on the head. Not to mention you arnt finding a really nice aged sheng for $90.