Long Jing cant retain its flavor very well forMulti infusion

[LaybackPandas]

and im only using a gaiwan, the 1st and 2st brew is very good, but it pretty much when downhill from there and this tea is costly aswell.my pu-erhs just keeps going and going.

[Chip]

Long Jing is not the Energizer Bunny of tea, but I do get 2-4 enjoyable steeps nevertheless. Just don't expect it to perform like pu-erh.

[LaybackPandas]

damn, then atleast lower the price a bit. sacrifice so much for little enjoyment. are other green teas like this? i just got started with greens so haven't try much.

[Chip]

Depends on personal taste, I can drink "tea water" and still enjoy it, so I may go 5-7 steeps depending upon the tea and my mood.

[Salsero]

What Long Jing exactly are you brewing? Where did you get it? What parameters are you using?

[LaybackPandas]

here this one http://cgi.ebay.com/Nonpareil-Long-Jing ... 1|294%3A30

about a teaspoon in a 150ml gaiwan, dont know the temp i dont have a thermometer just basic instinct, steep for about 1min, the last infusion will be steep in the gaiwan forever so i get my moneys worth. have brought Long jing from other vendors before didnt really care for it much, it does taste hella better directly from its country of origins.

[Oni]

Some sites recomend leaving a "root", of tea, drink only one third of the glass or gaiwan, and after that fill it up with hot water, wait and repeat this until there is no flavour.
I recently ordered Tai Ping Hou Kui, Huang Shan Mao Feng, and Lu An Guai Pin, I will post pictures and make a clear "how to" guide.

[silverneedles]

...this tea is costly...
...so i get my moneys worth...

are you drinking it for enjoyment or are you counting them bills
dont dilute the tea or squeeze the life out of it just because of costs
are you chasing "famous" teas? famous doesnt mean it fits your tastes... if you tried a couple and dont like it, then dont buy anymore for now. (taste may change with time)
if i dont like a tea i throw it, i dont care how famous or whatever or how much i paid for it (tho i only buy more than 30$ of one tea if i already tasted it and i like it).
if its really good for 1 or 2 infusions thats great, thats what i want - enjoyable sessions, not dilute extended water drinking.

[gingkoseto]

Long jing is not famous for multiple infusions. My grandma would never give a guest a third infusion of the same cup of long jing, because that would sound "too thrifty and mean" When treating a guest with long jing, after 2 infusions, it would be time for a brand new cup of tea. Within the family, we would have more than 3 infusions, just to avoid being wasteful, but without expecting its flavor to keep strong.

[Salsero]

My grandma would never give a guest a third infusion of the same cup of long jing, because that would sound "too thrifty and mean"

This is very interesting to learn. It's a kind of detail we tea people don't hear much about. Thanks.

[gingkoseto]

My grandma would never give a guest a third infusion of the same cup of long jing, because that would sound "too thrifty and mean"

This is very interesting to learn. It's a kind of detail we tea people don't hear much about. Thanks.

Oh, it's not a rule though It's more of a style. To some people like my family, image is everything

[brad4419]

Long Jing is not the Energizer Bunny of tea, but I do get 2-4 enjoyable steeps nevertheless. Just don't expect it to perform like pu-erh.

What Chip said.

When you think about cost think that even with higher priced tea your paying much less per cup than you would buying a coffee from starbucks or any other shop.
also try a cheaper tea and see how it is. If you don't see a big difference between an expensive or cheap tea then I think you know what to do.