I almost died today

One of the intentionally aged teas, Pu-Erh has a loyal following.


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Aug 13th, '08, 10:33
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I almost died today

by shogun89 » Aug 13th, '08, 10:33

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.

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Aug 13th, '08, 10:52
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by Salsero » Aug 13th, '08, 10:52

Well, that would have caught MY attention too.

Image


Never thought of a mold check. One more item on the "To Do" list.

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Aug 13th, '08, 11:27
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by Dizzwave » Aug 13th, '08, 11:27

phew! what a relief...
I think I'm going to stick with the "air/dry it out once a month" plan, and like you said, a mold check here and there.
Sal, when you got the white frost on your cakes, what was the humidity like there?

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Aug 13th, '08, 11:44
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by Salsero » Aug 13th, '08, 11:44

Dizzwave wrote: Sal, when you got the white frost on your cakes, what was the humidity like there?
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.

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Aug 13th, '08, 11:56
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by shogun89 » Aug 13th, '08, 11:56

Salsero wrote:
Dizzwave wrote: Sal, when you got the white frost on your cakes, what was the humidity like there?
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.

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.

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Aug 13th, '08, 12:21
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by Salsero » Aug 13th, '08, 12:21

shogun89 wrote: 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.
I think you are right about all the colors!

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Aug 13th, '08, 12:36
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by heavydoom » Aug 13th, '08, 12:36

one day you guys may shoot yourself in the foot by experimenting with these home grown pumidors. just saying.....

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Aug 13th, '08, 12:47
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by tony shlongini » Aug 13th, '08, 12:47

heavydoom wrote:one day you guys may shoot yourself in the foot by experimenting with these home grown pumidors. just saying.....
Very true, but what would you suggest as an alternative?

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Aug 13th, '08, 12:57
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by Dizzwave » Aug 13th, '08, 12:57

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. 8)

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Aug 13th, '08, 14:11
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by shogun89 » Aug 13th, '08, 14:11

As the other said, For us that live in 55% humidity we have NO choice but this, yes its risky but I think that as long as we open the door daily and stay on top of thing everything should be fine. I am going to keep mine at 70 and below the whole time.

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Aug 13th, '08, 16:20
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by heavydoom » Aug 13th, '08, 16:20

tony shlongini wrote:
heavydoom wrote:one day you guys may shoot yourself in the foot by experimenting with these home grown pumidors. just saying.....
Very true, but what would you suggest as an alternative?
the alternative is to buy aged green tea for consumption. screw aging it yourself. that would be my suggestion.

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.....

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Aug 13th, '08, 16:42
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by Dizzwave » Aug 13th, '08, 16:42

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.....
Yeah, but.. that's no fun! :lol:
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

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Aug 13th, '08, 17:21
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by Salsero » Aug 13th, '08, 17:21

heavydoom wrote: ... those fancy smancy pu cakes over there at HOU DE...
Dizzwave wrote: ... showering with it.. putting it near the litter box..
Excuse me. I was looking for the tea forum and seem to have stumbled into this comedy club by accident.

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Aug 13th, '08, 19:19
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by shogun89 » Aug 13th, '08, 19:19

Dizzwave wrote:
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.....
Yeah, but.. that's no fun! :lol:
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.

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Aug 13th, '08, 19:27
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by RussianSoul » Aug 13th, '08, 19:27

shogun, your avatar gives a double-take every time I see it.

Like "WAIT! I didn't write this!", and then - "Oh..."

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