Water, temp, etc. quality and tea reviews

[Uji]

Been lurking here a while and find this forum fun to read.
One thing I always wondered is how anybody can compare teas or review a tea without knowing what type of water they are using and at what temperature and at what strength and with what kind of teapot. I suppose the researcher in me wonders about validity without any standardization. The other day a friend of mine poured me a cup of tea with the same leaves that I drink at home all the time. I always make mine at home in my Tokoname kyuzu with filtered tap water at the right temperature and with the correct amount of tea for the correct amount of time. The tea my friend served was made with plain tap water with a regular teapot and boiling water. Friend said, "Gee I never liked this tea, you want it?" "It's too bitter." I told him to make it in a different manner and he replied, "Nah, just take it, too bitter." Took the tea home. made a cup an hour ago, delicious tasting high quality Fukamushi. Not bitter. Grassy. Nice.

Got me thinking about reviews of tea. Who knows how many people turn good tea into crap because of poor preparation. I vote for more details in future posts when people talk about a tea's taste. I need to know how it was made. Otherwise it's hard to know what's the deal with the tea.
Too many variables. . .

[Chip]

Of course, many members will utilize a digital scale, thermometer, timer, etc in order to better standardize and therefore at least partially quantify results.

But I pretty much draw the line on water. We have a well, I use that water even on the road and generally run it through a GraviTea water filter by Adagio, but I do this as much for ease of clean up and anything else (have extremely hard water, w/o filter = major descaling of teaware once a week ... bleh. With filter, NO descaling)

But I agree to a point, it is better to use some tools when tasting , comparing, reviewing Japanese greens.

[auhckw]

Been wondering to get a thermometer, but what kind? Is it those that I can buy from pharmacy that measure our body temperature?

[Chip]

Been wondering to get a thermometer, but what kind? Is it those that I can buy from pharmacy that measure our body temperature?

No, a food/meat type, such as an electronic digital thermometer works nicely.

You want a fast registering one. I have several, some are really fast, others seem to take forever even though it is only seconds. Speed is big in my books!

[tortoise]

It's a bummer to read a review wherein you can tell the reviewer did not take the time to consider how the tea is best brewed.

I have gone without a scale or a thermometer for a long time. I have purchased some just recently and they do help. I was, however, making nice tea without them. As long as you are in touch with the water and the tea leaves, I think it is possible to brew great tea. The instruments are like having a road map that lets you get the lay of the land more quickly. Without them, you just have to get lost in the woods once or twice, but you will eventually find your way home.

[Uji]

It's a bummer to read a review wherein you can tell the reviewer did not take the time to consider how the tea is best brewed.

I have gone without a scale or a thermometer for a long time. I have purchased some just recently and they do help. I was, however, making nice tea without them. As long as you are in touch with the water and the tea leaves, I think it is possible to brew great tea. The instruments are like having a road map that lets you get the lay of the land more quickly. Without them, you just have to get lost in the woods once or twice, but you will eventually find your way home.

Absolutely. i didn't mean to suggest that anyone needs lab apparatus. I'm making tea long enough that I know the drill without a thermometer or a timepiece or an Ohaus. However, to review anything there has to be a standard. Even if the standard is just boiling water. Making the reviews as much as possible about taste would be the goal, removing some variables could help. If variables exist possibly reviewers could note them, z.b. "tap water" or "filtered tap water" "1 Tablespoon" "1 handful"

[David R.]

Yes, but parameters taken into account, you can find awfully flat something that someone else will love... You have to know the reviewer, his/her likes and dislikes, which is possible here if you've been reading someone's reviews for some time.

I guess that someone who knows what is talking about will be able to tell if a tea has qualities even he/she doesn't care for it. But reviews tend to be much more black or white in general.

[britt]

Been lurking here a while and find this forum fun to read.
One thing I always wondered is how anybody can compare teas or review a tea without knowing what type of water they are using and at what temperature and at what strength and with what kind of teapot. I suppose the researcher in me wonders about validity without any standardization. The other day a friend of mine poured me a cup of tea with the same leaves that I drink at home all the time. I always make mine at home in my Tokoname kyuzu with filtered tap water at the right temperature and with the correct amount of tea for the correct amount of time. The tea my friend served was made with plain tap water with a regular teapot and boiling water. Friend said, "Gee I never liked this tea, you want it?" "It's too bitter." I told him to make it in a different manner and he replied, "Nah, just take it, too bitter." Took the tea home. made a cup an hour ago, delicious tasting high quality Fukamushi. Not bitter. Grassy. Nice.

Got me thinking about reviews of tea. Who knows how many people turn good tea into crap because of poor preparation. I vote for more details in future posts when people talk about a tea's taste. I need to know how it was made. Otherwise it's hard to know what's the deal with the tea.
Too many variables. . .

These are all very good points that do affect the outcome, especially the specific water and the brewing temperature.

In early spring I gave some very good Anji Bai Cha green tea to a co-worker who usually drinks high mountain oolongs and uses boiling water. I stressed to her NOT to use boiling water or it would result in a very bitter taste. I told her to let it cool down for 5 to 10 minutes after it boils. When I later asked her how it was she says "oh, it was just okay. How did you like it?" I told her it was one of the best Chinese green teas I'd had. Obviously she didn't agree. I said to her "you didn't listen to me and you used boiling water, didn't you?" She admitted that she had, in fact, used boiling water. At that point I asked her husband if he has the same problem with her that I do. He said yes. Next time I'll give her oolong.

[Chip]

Some folks are really set in there ways and will prepare tea improperly out of stubborness. Hard to correct this.

Then there are those who simply do not know better and are openly seeking advice on how to brew teas properly. A good reviewer will offer advice for this type of tea drinker. TeaChat is full of these.

[britt]

Some folks are really set in there ways and will prepare tea improperly out of stubborness. Hard to correct this.

Then there are those who simply do not know better and are openly seeking advice on how to brew teas properly. A good reviewer will offer advice for this type of tea drinker. TeaChat is full of these.

I had previously given her a bottle of sake (don't remember what it's called) that has the bits of rice in it and must be stirred or gently shaken for the best taste. The bits of rice add a slightly sweet taste. If there not mixed, the sake is very strong. This was not by any means a cheap sake. A small bottle of about 8 ounces is $15.

I told her to make sure she mixed it before drinking or it would be too strong. She said okay. When I later asked her how it was she said "oh, it was way too strong!" Did you mix it like I told you? "No, I let it sit for a few hours until all the rice settled in the bottom. It was really too strong!" Yes, some can be very stubborn!