Ed, taking showers there must have been a disaster!!
OREGON WATER FOR EVERYONE
Feb 10th, '08, 12:53
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
bamboo -
Fiji:
TDS: 160
PH: 7.5
160 isn't that much greater than 130, still considered 'low mineral content'. Note that the link you gave listed waters with a much higher TDS (St. Bendedetto at 250, Evian 357 (which I tried, fiji is better)) as 'recommended'.... Basically I don't agree with your statement about Fiji, I tried several other bottled waters that didn't even come close before settling on it. Have you ever tried it? Did you know it's TDS when you made this statement?
Also, the link you gave is for japanese green tea, a whole 'nother ball game than high mountain oolongs.
I'll have to try some of those on that list though, thanks.
Fiji:
TDS: 160
PH: 7.5
160 isn't that much greater than 130, still considered 'low mineral content'. Note that the link you gave listed waters with a much higher TDS (St. Bendedetto at 250, Evian 357 (which I tried, fiji is better)) as 'recommended'.... Basically I don't agree with your statement about Fiji, I tried several other bottled waters that didn't even come close before settling on it. Have you ever tried it? Did you know it's TDS when you made this statement?
Also, the link you gave is for japanese green tea, a whole 'nother ball game than high mountain oolongs.
I'll have to try some of those on that list though, thanks.
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
Feb 10th, '08, 16:37
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
According to Wikipedia http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FIJI_Water --- Fiji water is 210 in TDS which is exceedingly high.
Moreover, I've bought it before, and my bottle said the same. So, in response to your question, clearly I knew the TDS prior to making the statement.
Maybe the "formula" has changed? Well Tenuki, looks like your Fiji water is lower.
It's not a new concept, has been spoken about many times in the tea world that water which is excessively high in minerals will mask the flavor of tea and aroma be it high mountain oolong, green tea, or black tea.
I once purchased a bottle of water that was filtered through volcanic lava, and thus very high in minerals. I couldn't figure out why my tea wasn't tasting as good as it was before. I then switched back to bottled water lower in TDS and the difference was self evident.
Also, there was a time when my kettle was getting large doses of residue from the minerals. And again my tea began to not taste as good. I learned that if you don't clean your kettle regularly, the excess hardness that builds up on your kettle will start to get absorbed into the fresh water which makes the TDS even higher.
Of course, if your water hardness is low, it takes a long time for your kettle to have any real build up.
In regards to some of the listings... If he listed some higher than 210, I take it as nothing short of an error. Considering he established the importance of soft water prior to the listing, this seems most likely.
Lastly, and without question, most importantly, by all means use any water you like the best. I'm only conveying my research and my experience.
Cheers.
Moreover, I've bought it before, and my bottle said the same. So, in response to your question, clearly I knew the TDS prior to making the statement.
Maybe the "formula" has changed? Well Tenuki, looks like your Fiji water is lower.
It's not a new concept, has been spoken about many times in the tea world that water which is excessively high in minerals will mask the flavor of tea and aroma be it high mountain oolong, green tea, or black tea.
I once purchased a bottle of water that was filtered through volcanic lava, and thus very high in minerals. I couldn't figure out why my tea wasn't tasting as good as it was before. I then switched back to bottled water lower in TDS and the difference was self evident.
Also, there was a time when my kettle was getting large doses of residue from the minerals. And again my tea began to not taste as good. I learned that if you don't clean your kettle regularly, the excess hardness that builds up on your kettle will start to get absorbed into the fresh water which makes the TDS even higher.
Of course, if your water hardness is low, it takes a long time for your kettle to have any real build up.
In regards to some of the listings... If he listed some higher than 210, I take it as nothing short of an error. Considering he established the importance of soft water prior to the listing, this seems most likely.
Lastly, and without question, most importantly, by all means use any water you like the best. I'm only conveying my research and my experience.
Cheers.
I just again read the Hibiki recommendation... They seem to suggest some "moderately" hard waters work ok.
So, I take back the "error" and apologize for it. I didn't read it correctly the first time.
If indeed Fiji is recommended as Space points out, I am surprised. I had a personal e-mail from a Japanese green tea vendor saying not to use it... I e-mailed the vendor with a recommendation about water. This e-mail has always stuck in my mind.
But, like I said before, whatever water works for you, excellent. I personally think Fiji is a bit too hard. My tap water is in the 200's I think.
If my tap water was lower in TDS I wouldn't hesitate to stop buying bottled water.
So, I take back the "error" and apologize for it. I didn't read it correctly the first time.
If indeed Fiji is recommended as Space points out, I am surprised. I had a personal e-mail from a Japanese green tea vendor saying not to use it... I e-mailed the vendor with a recommendation about water. This e-mail has always stuck in my mind.
But, like I said before, whatever water works for you, excellent. I personally think Fiji is a bit too hard. My tap water is in the 200's I think.
If my tap water was lower in TDS I wouldn't hesitate to stop buying bottled water.
I just checked my water... It's actually 310 in TDS.
Considering that is the level of my hardness, 210 suddenly doesn't sound as extreme.
Truth be told, I'd like to stop buying bottled water. Like I said before, I may get a good carbon filter and overlook the hardness. I'm not sure how significant a difference it makes, haven't used it for tea in a long while. May not be as large as I suspect.
When I really noticed the difference is when I allowed my kettle to accumulate a lot of build up. Then whatever build up is in your kettle will be absorbed into the water, and you could end up with hardness in unpresedented levels. So it seems.
I really don't like cleaning my heating device so often O_O
Sorry for my 3 essays..... Well, I guess since I don't post that often, I needed to relieve myself. I feel so much better now.
Considering that is the level of my hardness, 210 suddenly doesn't sound as extreme.
Truth be told, I'd like to stop buying bottled water. Like I said before, I may get a good carbon filter and overlook the hardness. I'm not sure how significant a difference it makes, haven't used it for tea in a long while. May not be as large as I suspect.
When I really noticed the difference is when I allowed my kettle to accumulate a lot of build up. Then whatever build up is in your kettle will be absorbed into the water, and you could end up with hardness in unpresedented levels. So it seems.
I really don't like cleaning my heating device so often O_O
Sorry for my 3 essays..... Well, I guess since I don't post that often, I needed to relieve myself. I feel so much better now.
Feb 10th, '08, 18:42
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
Feb 10th, '08, 23:13
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
Exactly.bambooforest wrote:
Lastly, and without question, most importantly, by all means use any water you like the best. I'm only conveying my research and my experience.
Cheers.
I'm glad you shared, that is why I posted. We all want the same thing here, ie good tea. I stated in my original post that I felt Fiji water wasn't the best, which was why I was looking for others. I don't however think it is worse than most tap water, it's certainly provably a great deal better than even my britta filtered good seattle water.I hope I didn't come off too strong, and you are 100% correct, my source for Fiji incorrectly stated it's TDS, it is certainly 210 as you mention and as stated on the Fiji water website. But 210 isn't that high really, although it isn't 130 for sure.
My taiwan tea geek sources claim the best water to brew a tea in is the same water that fell down on it from the sky when it was growing up, but I'm not about to get water shipped from taiwan, my goodness... I am however about to figure out how to get water closest to that.
I'm just excited to find some dorks who will actually talk to me about this.
dork.Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
Feb 10th, '08, 23:21
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
Cool! tell us about your testing procedure and experience? I'm a bit suprised given it's ph of 5-6, but it's TDS is 60 or so, very low. Or are you just being funny? I just asked my tea teacher and he tells me tells me Talking Rain is what he uses, so nothing would suprise me.Space Samurai wrote:ozarka ftw.
...
Feb 10th, '08, 23:57
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
Feb 11th, '08, 02:30
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
Update: I have bamboo charcoal on the way - will add that to the mix as well.
Now to figure out the test protocol. any ideas folks?
Now to figure out the test protocol. any ideas folks?
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
Feb 11th, '08, 03:26
Posts: 552
Joined: Aug 23rd, '07, 00:42
Location: Somewhere in the wilds of Montana, but never without a teacup.
Contact:
skywarrior
Feb 16th, '08, 01:09
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
So I got a couple of bottled waters at Central Market today, got them lined up next to my tea sink waiting for the bamboo charcol to arrive so I can get started. 
I only have 2 electric kettles, so I'm probably going to limit my protocol to 2 waters at a time. Besides, my pallet is rather as poor as my attention span, so I'm guessing that is all I could handle anyway.
I only have 2 electric kettles, so I'm probably going to limit my protocol to 2 waters at a time. Besides, my pallet is rather as poor as my attention span, so I'm guessing that is all I could handle anyway.
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
Feb 16th, '08, 01:15
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
Feb 16th, '08, 01:31
Posts: 2299
Joined: Oct 23rd, '06, 19:46
Location: Seattle Area
Contact:
tenuki
Yup.Space Samurai wrote:Central Market you say?
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )