Hello everyone,
Ive been drinking tea for years, but not anything too exciting(just tea bags from grocery stores) and I want to get into more premium/loose leaf tea. I have been thinking about getting a Yixing pot but have some questions that I cannot seem to find the answers too. I know that steep time is important to the flavor, so how exactly do you steep with a Yixing pot, because if you put the leaves in the pot to steep what if your cup is smaller than your pot? wouldnt the left over tea in the pot get too bitter from sitting in the leaves? What if your pot does not have some type of screen/filter how does that work? Sorry for the complete ignorance on this topic, Im straight newbie and I cant seem to find these answers anywhere else. Also does anyone have any recommendations of pots or places to get them? I have found a few but I guess Im just looking based off of the aesthetic appearance and not any real knowledge. I am college student so I dont have the money to spend over $50 on a tea pot(especially since I'll have to stock up on some new teas), not to mention an apartment with 4 sometimes ridiculous college guys doesnt scream the safest environment for a clay object.
Thanks in advance for any advice anyone can give me, oh and for reading that long post haha
Almost every online tea shop has brewing instructions somewhere on their site. Here is one http://houdeblog.com/?p=136 from Houde teashop on Taiwan oolongs. Different teas are adapted along similar lines. If you visit TeaChat, there are topics under different types of teas. Many posts about brewing various teas in various equipment. Have fun.
What kind of tea are you looking to brew in it? It matters because the tea seasons the inside which influences the taste.
I'm not an expert on yixing pots but I do own one.
-I only use my yixing pot, ~4 oz, for pu'erh teas which cannot be over steeped (because of the fermentation).
-As far as brewing times it ranges from person to person (basically how strong do you want it) but I generally do 15sec, 20, 40, 60, etc or until you don't get enough favor to your liking.
-Most pots I've seen have either a clay filter covering the spout or a small clay basket (for larger pots).
- 50 dollars should easily be able to get you a nice pot. You could get one here but there are probably better places to find one *note that does come from china so the shipping will take a couple weeks.
I'm not an expert on yixing pots but I do own one.
-I only use my yixing pot, ~4 oz, for pu'erh teas which cannot be over steeped (because of the fermentation).
-As far as brewing times it ranges from person to person (basically how strong do you want it) but I generally do 15sec, 20, 40, 60, etc or until you don't get enough favor to your liking.
-Most pots I've seen have either a clay filter covering the spout or a small clay basket (for larger pots).
- 50 dollars should easily be able to get you a nice pot. You could get one here but there are probably better places to find one *note that does come from china so the shipping will take a couple weeks.
Re: New to Yixing
Welcome! If your pot is larger than your cup, pour two cups or pour into a "fair cup" or sharing pitcher. Because yes, you need to empty the tea to stop the brewing.Abarth. wrote:I know that steep time is important to the flavor, so how exactly do you steep with a Yixing pot, because if you put the leaves in the pot to steep what if your cup is smaller than your pot? wouldnt the left over tea in the pot get too bitter from sitting in the leaves?
Abarth. wrote:What if your pot does not have some type of screen/filter how does that work?
Then you need to use a strainer when you pour out the tea.
There are no dumb questions, we all started somewhere.
Welcome to TC!