Bottled Water Preference for Puerh?

[heatwaves]

I find the number of pro-tap water responses to be facinating. I wouldn't be surprised if the taste difference originated from over-filtration and a reduced mineral count in bottled water. Tap water, as long as the chlorine and fluorides are removed, seems to have more "character".

When my only option is unfiltered tap water, however, I'm going to give the Pana a whirl. Thanks for the great input!

[wyardley]

I find the number of pro-tap water responses to be facinating. I wouldn't be surprised if the taste difference originated from over-filtration and a reduced mineral count in bottled water. Tap water, as long as the chlorine and fluorides are removed, seems to have more "character".

When my only option is unfiltered tap water, however, I'm going to give the Pana a whirl. Thanks for the great input!

Well for one thing, tap water quality varies widely from country to country and region to region. Also, I'd assume that many / most of the people who said tap water mean filtered tap, rather than unfiltered tap.

Removing flouride from tap water is hard, though, and most of the systems that actually remove flouride also remove a lot of minerals. As I understand it, most of the 2 & 3 stage Brita / Pur filters (the pitcher type and the faucet-top type) don't filter flouride, just chlorine.

I don't think most spring water is over-filtered. Most bottled "drinking water", however, is. If you're going to use bottled (non-spring) water for tea, you pretty much might as well use a filter, and avoid wasting a ton of plastic.

[tony shlongini]

filtered tap water is more alive (has more ki/chi) than bottled spring so I've been told.

I don't know how to respond to this one.

It has something to do with the water having been in motion. You're good to go if you get your spring water directly from the spring or a stream (just be sure to filter stream water)

I don't know how to respond to this one, either.

[Drax]

*waits patiently for the trifecta*

[JAS-eTea Guy]

I have been using a spring wate primarily to eliminate the chlorine and flourine taste in tap water. Filtering just does not seem to completely eliminate these tastes. However, much of this could be in my mind as most things are...

[vibrantdragon]

Many of the hot water pots you see in Asia have a boil setting to help remove the CL and F from the water. I know that boiling can also remove many of the good dissolved gases. like air and this does change its flavor. Has any looked at the Hot water pots like Zojirushi? I use one and like it, you can select the hotter setting for Pu'er and Ooong tea and the cooler setting for green tea.

[puerhking]

I used to use filtered tap and then I had to change the filters......which precipitated a bizarre 3 week period of horrible water and lots of wasted puerh. So I started using Nestle water and am amazed at the difference. I still havent worked out the filter situation. Brutal.