hi guys!
ive noticed in some of the blogs recently that there are is a so called "bug poop tea"
apparently thats what bugs leave behind after they eat the tea leaves....
its my first encounter with this sort of thing, and i assume that its pu erh tea cakes that they munch on....
http://afelicificlife.blogspot.com/
http://www.xanga.com/marshaln
so whats it all about? how can we protect our tea cakes in storage from these bugs?
should this be cause for concern?
thanks!
-darwin
Think of it as a feature, not a bug.
Guang had some information about it on the Hou De site a while back - he was selling some cakes with the bug poop (though not the bugs) in them.
I've only had the pu poo tea once... brewed pretty weak through a strainer. I didn't really notice its effects that strongly, but the color of the brew I tried didn't come out anywhere near as dark as the one that Tim and Marshaln had.
I don't think the bugs exist in the west; not sure about the Philipines, though. I would guess that they're confined to a pretty small geographic area.
Guang had some information about it on the Hou De site a while back - he was selling some cakes with the bug poop (though not the bugs) in them.
I've only had the pu poo tea once... brewed pretty weak through a strainer. I didn't really notice its effects that strongly, but the color of the brew I tried didn't come out anywhere near as dark as the one that Tim and Marshaln had.
I don't think the bugs exist in the west; not sure about the Philipines, though. I would guess that they're confined to a pretty small geographic area.
Jan 10th, '09, 18:06
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Jan 11th, '09, 18:16
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JAS-eTea Guy
You mean the coffee beans the civet cats poop out?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
I know its just my squeamish western sensibilities talking, but I'm really not interested in eating (or drinking) anything that has been pooped out by my fellow creatures. More for you all, I guess...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
I know its just my squeamish western sensibilities talking, but I'm really not interested in eating (or drinking) anything that has been pooped out by my fellow creatures. More for you all, I guess...
Jan 12th, '09, 10:23
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Mostly happen to cooked puerh in very wet storage spaces. They eat tea leaves and die.... : Podarwin wrote:thank for all your replies,
but what are those bugs really?
are they harmful to the tea?
is it like a parasite that we have to look out for or is it something thats considered good to have with aging teas?
-darwin
Jan 12th, '09, 15:04
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I haven't tried the uberexpensive kopi luwak, but I've had the Brazilian Jacu coffee, similarly processed by a bird. It was one of the best coffees I ever tried.andy825 wrote:You mean the coffee beans the civet cats poop out?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
I know its just my squeamish western sensibilities talking, but I'm really not interested in eating (or drinking) anything that has been pooped out by my fellow creatures. More for you all, I guess...
I'd suggest you steer clear of bird's nest soup. You'll never touch a tuo again.
hi tim! thanks for your reply,
with what you said as "only happens in very wet stored cooked cakes..."
would it be a safe indicator that your storage conditions are still acceptable if you dont find these bugs on your cakes? (meaning your storage environment is not wet?)
or are there other factors involved?
-darwin
with what you said as "only happens in very wet stored cooked cakes..."
would it be a safe indicator that your storage conditions are still acceptable if you dont find these bugs on your cakes? (meaning your storage environment is not wet?)
or are there other factors involved?
-darwin
Jan 12th, '09, 22:40
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TIM
If your environment is kept in roughly around 50s-75% humidity, these buggy will not occur. Unless some of your bings are infected/contaminated already before your purchase. Most of these bugs are from the vendor/factory storage, which they kept it in a prolong humid level to speed up the value....odarwin wrote:hi tim! thanks for your reply,
with what you said as "only happens in very wet stored cooked cakes..."
would it be a safe indicator that your storage conditions are still acceptable if you dont find these bugs on your cakes? (meaning your storage environment is not wet?)
or are there other factors involved?
-darwin
My poop pu was purchased as a sample or specimen. Once I owned it, it was vacuum sealed and reseal every time I share : P
The Jacu and kopi coffee is one of the best coffee I ever tasted, of course, beside the Blue Mountain Jamaican May harvest. BTW, good bird's nest is one of the most heavenly dessert, specially the 1st spring harvest, true ocean caves one from Indonesia which can cost up $250US per 7g.tony shlongini wrote:I haven't tried the uberexpensive kopi luwak, but I've had the Brazilian Jacu coffee, similarly processed by a bird. It was one of the best coffees I ever tried.andy825 wrote:You mean the coffee beans the civet cats poop out?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak
I know its just my squeamish western sensibilities talking, but I'm really not interested in eating (or drinking) anything that has been pooped out by my fellow creatures. More for you all, I guess...
I'd suggest you steer clear of bird's nest soup. You'll never touch a tuo again.
Jan 13th, '09, 01:00
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Back when I was, ahem, single, I would scour the Asian markets in search of exotic ingredients. I would routinely make abalone, shark fin, and bird's nest soup. People would love it, as long as you didn't tell them it was essentially lark vomit.TIM wrote:good bird's nest is one of the most heavenly dessert, specially the 1st spring harvest, true ocean caves one from Indonesia which can cost up $250US per 7g.
Jan 13th, '09, 08:03
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You eat good back than, Tony : ) If you tell your lady friends the birds nest is swallow's kisses instead of solidified saliva or shrimp paste vomit, plus can turn any skin and hair 10 yrs younger.... topping it, the tap's on you... oh my, you are popular : Ptony shlongini wrote:Back when I was, ahem, single, I would scour the Asian markets in search of exotic ingredients. I would routinely make abalone, shark fin, and bird's nest soup. People would love it, as long as you didn't tell them it was essentially lark vomit.TIM wrote:good bird's nest is one of the most heavenly dessert, specially the 1st spring harvest, true ocean caves one from Indonesia which can cost up $250US per 7g.
I knew I'd find it eventually.... here's more discussion (and info) on poop-tea, including a poll!
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... =worm+poop
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t= ... =worm+poop