Can you recommend a scale for use with tea?

[geeber1]

Hey all,
I just got this scale:
http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.1165
I don't just happen to have a 1000g weight handy, what's the best way to calibrate it?
(Feel free to laugh, mock, etc. - I won't be offended!)

[Salsero]

My impression is that digital scales don't generally require calibration. I think a nickel weighs 5 grams if you want to test it.

[geeber1]

Thanks! On my scale, nickels come up at 5.2 grams.

I wondered about calibration because there are instructions for calibrating that came with the scale. When I measured what I thought was a teaspoon of tea in grams (4.72?), it was a lot more than when I just use the measuring teaspoon.

[Salsero]

Thanks! On my scale, nickels come up at 5.2 grams.

I wondered about calibration because there are instructions for calibrating that came with the scale. When I measured what I thought was a teaspoon of tea in grams (4.72?), it was a lot more than when I just use the measuring teaspoon.

Well, the weight of a nickel can vary from one to another, but even if the scale is off by 2 tenths of a gram, that's still pretty close!

It seems like a lot of people who start using a scale decide they weren't using enough tea previously. Not sure why.

I think of 2.5 grams as the rough equivalent of "1 teaspoon," at least for Assam and Darjeeling types of tea.

[PolyhymnianMuse]

Thanks! On my scale, nickels come up at 5.2 grams.

I wondered about calibration because there are instructions for calibrating that came with the scale. When I measured what I thought was a teaspoon of tea in grams (4.72?), it was a lot more than when I just use the measuring teaspoon.

It seems like a lot of people who start using a scale decide they weren't using enough tea previously. Not sure why.

I think of 2.5 grams as the rough equivalent of "1 teaspoon," at least for Assam and Darjeeling types of tea.

I agree. Once you can actually see how much tea your using you might be surprised. Weight is a hard thing to do with tea without a scale, even if your just trying to be close, as tea varies greatly in volume. An amount of one tea may look twice as much as another tea, but they could be exaclty the same weight depending on what type of tea.

As for calibration, you really won't need to unless it is noticably off. Usually digital scales aren't perfectly acurate to begin with, usually +/-2 tenths of a gram or so. Of course its simple to do a calibration, just get the required weight (as in buy a calibration weight, unless you by chance have one)

[geeber1]

Thanks, Sal and Poly.

2.5 grams sure looks closer to a teaspoon in comparison than 4.whatever did!

It will be good for me to get a clear picture in my head of the differences between teaspoons and grams.

[Salsero]

2.5 grams sure looks closer to a teaspoon in comparison than 4.whatever did!

Maybe "4.whatever" is for gong fu.

[geeber1]

2.5 grams sure looks closer to a teaspoon in comparison than 4.whatever did!

Maybe "4.whatever" is for gong fu.

Total newbie question here, but why does gong fu use so much more leaf than western style?

[Geekgirl]

Multiple short steeps won't produce enough tea liquor unless you use enough leaf. The infusion would be too weak. In western brewing, you can use far less leaf because you do a lengthy steep which produces a more complete infusion. But the result is that you can't do multiple infusions because you've depleted the leaf with the long steep.

[Salsero]

Multiple short steeps <snip> the leaf with the long steep.

Yep, and usually gong fu packs a bigger punch of flavor.

[tenuki]

Reminder: Everytime you use a scale a tea fairy loses her wings.




http://half-dipper.blogspot.com/2008/05/timing-tea.html

[ABx]

Basically gongfu brewing brings out a lot more complexity and aroma, which normally gets diluted out with "western" style brewing (I hate saying "western style" because it's really anyone outside certain parts of China).

[geeber1]

Thanks, everyone!

So, if I'm getting this right, is gong fu best for more delicate, complex teas? You wouldn't use gong fu for an Assam or Ceylon, would you?

Tenuki, I'd hate to contribute to fairy wing loss, so I'll try to keep my scale usage at a minimum.

I can understand the zen aspect of tea, but I need to start at the "outer form" and work my way in.