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Oct 9th, '12, 11:12
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Yixing brewing for your mug

by jayinhk » Oct 9th, '12, 11:12

I've been using my Yixing and gaiwans to fill up a large 350 ml (approx) mug: just wondering if anyone else does this. I can't beat pu from the Yixing for flavor, but one pot full at a time means I have to keep getting up, and with the larger mug I can fit 2.5 infusions in.

EDIT: Yixing. Just the one for now!
Last edited by jayinhk on Oct 9th, '12, 14:22, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by the_economist » Oct 9th, '12, 12:16

This is exactly what I do before going into class, but instead of a 350ml mug I bring a 180ml gaiwan. About 2 infusions from my 90ml pot/gaiwan.

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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by jayinhk » Oct 9th, '12, 14:21

Wow, you actually carry a gaiwan into class? That's pretty cool. :)

My mug is a cheap bone china one with dragon transfers and other traditional motifs. The lid works very well at keeping it warm too. It's just easier to fill up the big mug.

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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by the_economist » Oct 9th, '12, 16:01

I do. Its the one useful thing about gaiwan saucers!

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Oct 9th, '12, 21:57
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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by MarshalN » Oct 9th, '12, 21:57

Man, your schoolmates must think you're really, really weird, E.

Jay: If you want to get rid of some of your cheapo, not-so-good teas, try cold brewing them overnight in a giant glass container, or something like that. Might not work as well for pu, but for cheaper oolongs and what not, it's not a bad way to drink them.

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Oct 10th, '12, 01:33
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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by jayinhk » Oct 10th, '12, 01:33

MarshalN wrote:Man, your schoolmates must think you're really, really weird, E.

Jay: If you want to get rid of some of your cheapo, not-so-good teas, try cold brewing them overnight in a giant glass container, or something like that. Might not work as well for pu, but for cheaper oolongs and what not, it's not a bad way to drink them.
M, I haven't bought anything really crappy (yet), but that's definitely something to keep in mind! I tried cold brewing Lipton or something with honey and lemon back in '03 when I lived in New York. I quite liked it. Maybe I could try that with the lychee black tea my mom bought in Luohu :lol: It's actually not half bad.

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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by Poohblah » Oct 10th, '12, 01:40

I don't think MarshalN is referring strictly to supermarket brands when he says "cheapo" teas. Cold-brewing works really well for a good commercial grade loose-leaf tea, in my experience, though I would certainly not use that method of brewing with once-in-a-lifetime teas.

Instead of brewing multiple rounds in a gaiwan or pot and then mixing them in a mug or thermos, I find it easier to toss a few leaves into my thermos, pour hot water over them, and sip on that for two or three hours. Surely in Hong Kong you can find tea tumblers designed for this kind of drinking.

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Re: Yixing brewing for your mug

by jayinhk » Oct 10th, '12, 01:44

Oh no, I understand that pooh, but I haven't bought anything I really dislike (yet)! I do have some Asian-market TGY teabags, but even they are plenty drinkable.

The lychee black tea mom bought was actually pretty expensive, but maybe she just got hosed on it at the tea shop in Shenzhen. :roll:

As for grandpa-style brewing, sure, I could do that, and I have two good infuser mugs (my dad's Japanese one and a fine bone china one I bought directly from Jingdezhen recently). For pu, however, I find my Yixing makes a world of difference to the flavor. I can just pour two pots into my thermos and I'm done, and no grandpa method is going to be able to match that flavor.

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