Complete tea noob in need of help
After being told of the drastic difference between storebought teabags and loose teas, I purchased Adagio's oolong dragon sampler...and I can't seem to get these robust flavors everyone talks about...could someone please thell me how to properly steep tea (with minimal equipment..I dont exactly have teapots, kettles, and the like...just pots, mugs and a strainer...)
Jan 13th, '11, 16:29
Posts: 104
Joined: Nov 28th, '10, 17:10
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Southwest Florida
Re: Complete tea noob in need of help
Well first I would like to say welcome to TC TEACHAT your sure place for tea info around the clock 
Anyways as far as your problem it could be a numerous amount of things. Most likely I would say you are doing one of three things wrong.
1. How hot is the water you are using. Typically if you want your oolong to be really robust you should use hotter water. Maybe 180's or 190's but not quite boiling.
2. Length of steeping time...Usually the more robust, the longer the time possiably 3 or 4 minutes at max but if it starts tasting the slightest bit bitter you know you have gone tooooo far.
3. Amount of tea....again more tea means more robust of a flavor but if it starts turning bitter adjust accordingly.
And most people on here would kill me for suggesting this butttttt sometimes adding sugar will help add body to the brew. Shhhhhh don't tell everyone else I said that
As far as your equipment. If you have a kettle use that to heat up your water, otherwise you can use a microwave if you want. And if you have a strainer just put tea in that, put the strainer full of tea into the mug of hot water, then lift out the strainer when the tea is done brewing and WALAAAAAA a nice cup of tea.
Hope this helped a little
happy brewing
Anyways as far as your problem it could be a numerous amount of things. Most likely I would say you are doing one of three things wrong.
1. How hot is the water you are using. Typically if you want your oolong to be really robust you should use hotter water. Maybe 180's or 190's but not quite boiling.
2. Length of steeping time...Usually the more robust, the longer the time possiably 3 or 4 minutes at max but if it starts tasting the slightest bit bitter you know you have gone tooooo far.
3. Amount of tea....again more tea means more robust of a flavor but if it starts turning bitter adjust accordingly.
And most people on here would kill me for suggesting this butttttt sometimes adding sugar will help add body to the brew. Shhhhhh don't tell everyone else I said that
As far as your equipment. If you have a kettle use that to heat up your water, otherwise you can use a microwave if you want. And if you have a strainer just put tea in that, put the strainer full of tea into the mug of hot water, then lift out the strainer when the tea is done brewing and WALAAAAAA a nice cup of tea.
Hope this helped a little
happy brewing
Jan 15th, '11, 14:44
Posts: 466
Joined: Aug 28th, '08, 11:42
Location: The first State (DE)
Jan 15th, '11, 18:46
Posts: 1483
Joined: Mar 19th, '06, 12:42
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: On the couch
Contact:
Proinsias
Re: Complete tea noob in need of help
What fracol said.
To increase flavour use more tea, longer steeps and hotter water in varying combinations.
It's often helpful to completely ignore brewing advice given by vendors
To increase flavour use more tea, longer steeps and hotter water in varying combinations.
It's often helpful to completely ignore brewing advice given by vendors
Jan 15th, '11, 18:48
Posts: 1483
Joined: Mar 19th, '06, 12:42
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: On the couch
Contact:
Proinsias
Re: Complete tea noob in need of help
and worth bearing in mind that the beauty of many fine teas is in the subtleties, if you're used to milk, sugar or sweeteners it may take a period of adjustment
Jan 16th, '11, 19:39
Posts: 104
Joined: Nov 28th, '10, 17:10
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Southwest Florida
Re: Complete tea noob in need of help
Oh ya totally agree, try not to get into the sugar and milk and lemon thing. I at one point could not enjoy a cup of tea without sugar, but eventually I got off of it. Hardly ever use it anymore.