I just had a small intro to Indian teas via the sample pack at LochanTea. I'm really enjoying it.
I came to the conclusion that brewing Indian black/red* tea gong-fu style is pointless. Since then I've been using a traditional large teapot with mixed results.
My Questions:
What is the best way to brew these teas?. I am completely ignorant when it comes to making 'normal tea' - I went from teabags to hardcore Chinese gong-fu with not a lot of time in the middle.
I hear people mention specific times and water/tea ratios - where do you put the contents of a full teapot once the time is up? Or does this mean I need different sized teapots depending on the number of people wanting tea.
Am I going to the extreme? Should I use a smaller teapot?
How do you enjoy good quality Indian black/red* tea.
*
Pedants:
Fully oxidized Indian tea, which do I use: black or red
Nov 6th, '07, 20:53
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Proinsias
*my vote's with black
As far as the brewing goes...I'm not sure if I understand you. As long as the leaves are unbroken, I've not had bad results using some sort of gongfu or modified gongfu method. If it's a CTC or broken...forget about it. English that baby. With super hot water.
Pot size might make a difference. My largest holds about 20 oz, and I would never go much larger than that. Things just don't seem to brew well in the gargantuan ones.
As far as the brewing goes...I'm not sure if I understand you. As long as the leaves are unbroken, I've not had bad results using some sort of gongfu or modified gongfu method. If it's a CTC or broken...forget about it. English that baby. With super hot water.
Pot size might make a difference. My largest holds about 20 oz, and I would never go much larger than that. Things just don't seem to brew well in the gargantuan ones.
Nov 6th, '07, 23:12
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Space Samurai
My standard brewing parameters for black tea is 3 grams/8 oz water/4-5 min. I use an 11 oz Tokoname pot.
I agree with Mary; I've found that large quantities of brewed tea do not turn out as well.
And I think black tea is only reffered to as red tea in China, black tea would be correct when reffering to Indian tea.
I agree with Mary; I've found that large quantities of brewed tea do not turn out as well.
And I think black tea is only reffered to as red tea in China, black tea would be correct when reffering to Indian tea.
Nov 13th, '07, 16:58
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Proinsias
Cheers for the tips.
I've had a better results using my large gaiwan. I suspect my small tetsubin would be good for black tea, experiments coming soon. I think I just went a little too far, from a 100ml gaiwan to a 1.5 litre teapot. I think I'll follow my usual technique for getting through life by trying both extremes and settling somewhere in the middle.
Want to try black tea with new methods.....actually want to drink oolong... life is tough sometimes.
I've had a better results using my large gaiwan. I suspect my small tetsubin would be good for black tea, experiments coming soon. I think I just went a little too far, from a 100ml gaiwan to a 1.5 litre teapot. I think I'll follow my usual technique for getting through life by trying both extremes and settling somewhere in the middle.
Want to try black tea with new methods.....actually want to drink oolong... life is tough sometimes.