Maximum time between infusions?

[maxman]

I guess another way to word this is "how long before wet pu erh goes bad?"
I go about 12 hours. Is that too long? I'll make a pot in the evening, and drink 2 or 3 infusions, then get up the next day and do an infusion before work, then one after.
I read where people get 5-10 infusions from a single batch of tea, so does anyone else space them out like I do?
I've only recently been doing this (since you all have shown me the proper way to brew) but it seems to be working out OK so far.

[vibrantdragon]

Pu'er tea does not go bad over night. You can delay infusions over night like that. Most tea cannot be kept over night, but it is okay with Pu'er. We often let it set almost dry over night. I am not sure how others do it, but we drink most of it and only leave a litte liquid in the pot and start again the next day.

[Nexius8510]

Hah I wish I would have read this thread earlier this morning. I woke up from a sheng sitting from last night after only about 5-6 steeps and tossed the leaves because I didn't think they would have lasted. Haha oh well, plenty more pu where that came from

[MarshalN]

Do keep in mind though if you only had two or three infusions the first time around, the first infusion you drink from that second round will be quite bitter. You might want to rinse it once to remove the nasty taste

[teaskeptic]

I think young sheng will weaken a bit over 12 hours, but anything else in the puerh realm will be fine.

[yee]

We say: tea can last only when teapot(or gaiwan) is warm. The same to puerh: you should only drink it while its warm. This is actually why we use small gaiwans or small teapots.

[Geospearit]

I'll actually steep it over night if it's THAT good. I just got a nice smooth goodbye-steep off an 80's Xiaguan tuo sample from nada that I let sit for a couple hours under a light heater on the stove. Mmmmmmmm. I wouldn't keep spent leaves around for more than the second day though, partly just because it's old and mostly because I want to have a fresh pot.

[Geospearit]

When steeping for long periods, the issue - as Yee said - is keeping it warm. I often keep it under one of those heat lights on the stove that are used to keep food warm. I've also heard of people transferring the lasties into a nice thermos to steep overnight. I would reserve prolonged steeps for higher quality teas. It just doesn't seem worth the effort so much with young sheng.

[Proinsias]

I'll actually steep it over night if it's THAT good. I just got a nice smooth goodbye-steep off an 80's Xiaguan tuo sample from nada that I let sit for a couple hours under a light heater on the stove. Mmmmmmmm. I wouldn't keep spent leaves around for more than the second day though, partly just because it's old and mostly because I want to have a fresh pot.

I just dunked the whole sample into my yixing and it went for three days of moderate drinking. I was drinking fresh tea during the days but it was still nice to drink, if a little weak, on day the evening of day 3. I just finished yesterday so if I go on radio silence for any length of time - do not try this at home.

[Geospearit]

We say: tea can last only when teapot(or gaiwan) is warm. The same to puerh: you should only drink it while its warm. This is actually why we use small gaiwans or small teapots.

Yee, are you recommending that the leaves and pot be kept warm all throughout the process or Only for drinking?

[yee]

to Geospeari
Actually i ment that within the time it takes a teapot with tea in it get cold the chemical changes will apear in tea and that will affect the taste of tea. Some if want to keep tea for longer time betwean infulions, they try to keep it warm.

[brad4419]

This is what I have always done with my tea infuser. Leave it hangin and get more infusions out of it later. It may not taste as good as fresh but it works for me.

Question though, do you leave the pu leaves in your gaiwan for that long? I guess I mean If I leave the leaves in my porcelain gaiwan for a long time will it stain the gaiwan? I could take the leaves out and put them in a glass cup or something.

[Geospearit]

Yup, I've got stains on my porcelain and I don't leave leaves in there, just pu juice. We'll see if the dishwasher will take care of it.