Tuesday TeaDay 10/21/08 Bitter brew/pleasantly astringent?

[Smari]

More on the astringent side- which I am not a big fan of.

This morning called for a cozy tea, so went for another holiday sampler of Adagio's Pumpkin Spice. I don't usually drink much black teas anymore but this one I can tolerate. Some of the other ones in the sampler was just too fragrant, like Cranberry and Chestnut.

Sal- that's a really nice looking cup. I just love those! Beautiful photos as always

[Chip]

Bitter brew is generally tea brewed improperly except some younger sheng or bad tea. Astringency rounds out a good tea, without it, sometimes a tea seems flat or even bland. Too much of a good thing is bad as well. A good tea will be balanced, including its astringency levels.

Kabusecha from the Expo with Gandalf the Gray this morning. He was pretty impressed.

Please remember, nominations for Alishan are still needed, you can post any suggestions or ideas in yesterday's topic.

[auggy]

Generally a pretty good Darjeeling, but not melting my butter.

Sarah, I don't know why but that phrase tickles me so much.

I voted "sometimes both" but while astringency can be a lovely feature of properly brewed tea, bitterness is usually a sign (to me) of improperly brewed tea. I'm not a fan of hugely astringent teas, but in moderate doses (particularly in darjeelings), I quite enjoy it. Bitter tea gets dumped down the drain.

Birthday tea for me this morning. I am officially no longer sick, but I am still really tired. I brewed my tea a little strong this morning so hopefully the caffeine will kick in soon. It is greatly needed today.

[chamekke]

Astringency good. Bitterness bad!

Sure, you can have both at the same time. A pleasantly astringent tea can be overbrewed and take on bitter overtones. It's not the tea's fault; it's mine.

In my cup... coffee... {blush} I'm feeling tired and I'm trying to wake up!

[Shelob]

Thank u everyone for the kind words, kind thoughts, good vibes and prayers for a speedy recovery!

Today is not so good, so here ya go Sal.... a little whining and complaining
I am in lots of pain, kinda all over today, haven't even had breakfast or a cup of tea and now it is lunch time UGH!

I'm gonna curl up..ha , can't do that if I tried, and try to read The Collector by John Fowles again. Nothing like a good 'obsession' thriller on a dull day like today. Really don't think I can turn the pages effectively, but I will try.

When I feel like drinking, it will be something green, but can't even think straight about that yet! I'll fill ya in later.

Interesting pic Sal...she smiles!

Oops I forgot the poll, alot of times I have both, but I know it's my fault!

[leiche]

Sometimes both, though bitterness is often user error.

Very tired. Another cup of Assam is required for proper functioning.

[treazure]

I think of bitterness in tea when it is oversteeped or the leaves have been squeezed to almost dry. I'm not a huge fan of the astringent teas, but then my favorite teas are the full bodied blacks, lapsang and oolong. Currently in my cup is a mystery tea sent to me by a friend who sends me teas because she knows how much I like them. Unfortunately she ususally sends teas I loathe (mint) but this time it is a rooibos with mint chocolate which isn't too bad - not something I'd actually waste money on, but not bad for something in a tea bag.

About the Alishan - I have read that some find it bitter, but mine wasn't. (buttery, golden, blissful, yes, bitter, no) I woke the tea with some very hot but not boiling water, poured it off once the leaves had unfurled, then refilled the pot with very hot water. Two infusions was about all it did, as the third was a throw-away.

Yesterday's tea day was celebrated here by a newly dumped kitten who didn't have a name. I had to leave the room (and my first cup of Alishan). When I returned, I found her lapping up the tea by dipping her paw in the brew, licking it off and redipping. She graciously allowed me to have the next cup, since hers still had some she hadn't finished. Her newly official name is Alishan Oolong, but my husband has shortened it to Oolong.

What tea shall I try her on next?

[Maitre_Tea]

Yesterday's tea day was celebrated here by a newly dumped kitten who didn't have a name. I had to leave the room (and my first cup of Alishan). When I returned, I found her lapping up the tea by dipping her paw in the brew, licking it off and redipping. She graciously allowed me to have the next cup, since hers still had some she hadn't finished. Her newly official name is Alishan Oolong, but my husband has shortened it to Oolong.

What tea shall I try her on next?

Awwwwww, I'm in love with cats *so jealous* and +2 for the name and the cat's love of tea

[Victoria]

In my work cup this morning is Delux Tieguanyin from Tao of Tea.
I'm failing to perceive the deluxness.

Awww Congrats on your new kitty treazure!!

[gingkoseto]

I actually have no idea what bitter or astringent mean. Nor do I usually get much of a clue when people describe tea as nutty, or refreshing, or "chestnut flavor" or "orchid-fragrance flavor" (yeah these two are used a lot in Chinese tea flavor descriptions)

"bitter" may be the simplest one to understand among all. I have a couple of teas that are very, very bitter and I don't like them at all, but my husband like them better than all other teas (he normally likes no tea) and doesn't think they are bitter at all. I don't understand how come bitterness on ones tongue is not considered bitter in someone else's mouth

But slight bitterness is ok to me. I don't enjoy the bitterness, but my mom always says bitter leaves or herbs are mostly good to your health

All day's work. No tea Barley tea tonight.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

Bitterness seems to either come from user errors in brewing tea or from bad quality tea leaves. Any good teas that are brewed correctly aren't supposed to be bitter in my opinion. Astringency, on the other hand, can be rather nice in certain teas like Japanese greens.

I finally got around to making some Taiwanese oolong this morning. It's very tasty though I have to switch to some other tea for when I go to class shortly. That will probably be some Blood Orange Rooibos.

[Geekgirl]

Sometimes bitter, sometimes astringent, but I don't regard either of those flavors/feels as a negative, depending upon the type of tea.

One more photo from my tea yesterday. I had a couple of steeps in the early evening, and liked the light.

[Smari]

Yesterday's tea day was celebrated here by a newly dumped kitten who didn't have a name. I had to leave the room (and my first cup of Alishan). When I returned, I found her lapping up the tea by dipping her paw in the brew, licking it off and redipping. She graciously allowed me to have the next cup, since hers still had some she hadn't finished. Her newly official name is Alishan Oolong, but my husband has shortened it to Oolong.

That is toooo cuuuute!!! Looks like Oolong has good taste in tea selection hehe.

Dunno if it's just me or what, but it seems like a lot of cats that I hear about love tea

Next brew, Candy Apple from the sampler box. Hopefully it'll be yummy.

[kongni]

Sal and geekgirl - AmAzing photos again. Seeing the beauty of these photos makes me love tea more than ever!

I'm still just learning about the differences between bitter and astringent. I think bitter comes out in some teas if you don't steep them right but for the most part, traditional teas should not be bitter.

I just finished another beloved bag of organic fukamushi shincha this morning. Only two left after that

[Chip]

IYesterday's tea day was celebrated here by a newly dumped kitten who didn't have a name. I had to leave the room (and my first cup of Alishan). When I returned, I found her lapping up the tea by dipping her paw in the brew, licking it off and redipping. She graciously allowed me to have the next cup, since hers still had some she hadn't finished. Her newly official name is Alishan Oolong, but my husband has shortened it to Oolong.

What tea shall I try her on next?

Awww, perhaps she would like to meet our Wulong! She is not interested in tea ... yet, still a kitten. So, there is still hope.

Finishing a nice session of Chiran Supreme, perhaps the best session so far. 162* for 50 seconds, wow, nice.