Water

[Oni]

Tim, please post pictures of your water containers, I am interested in those, I kknow it can make a diffrence in taste of the water, sofar I have only seen japanese water containers.

[tenuki]

Fiji, Talking Rain (local seattle brand), Arrowhead, britta'd tap water - in that order of preference. I boil this once in small quantities with bamboo charcoal.

North Seattle has excellent tap water or I wouldn't even consider using it.

I've found for the teas I drink (oolong and puerh) that water needs a certain amount of hardness and particulate count, low TDS water like reverse osmosis generally doesn't taste very good, but neither do the purely mineral waters. I find around 130-220 TDS is about perfect as long as it's the right solids.

[yee]

to TeaCompulsion
Reverse osmoses rules))) i have such filter and its perfect.

to TIM
What with the container? I mean - how could it possibly change water? I heard that in china they use to keep rein water in such containers - they used to burry them and kept for a long time. But what is your container made of so it can improve the quality of water? And isnt on better to use fresh water?

[TIM]

to TeaCompulsion
Reverse osmoses rules))) i have such filter and its perfect.

to TIM
What with the container? I mean - how could it possibly change water? I heard that in china they use to keep rein water in such containers - they used to burry them and kept for a long time. But what is your container made of so it can improve the quality of water? And isnt on better to use fresh water?

hmmm.... yee. I think there is a long road ahead for your tea adventure, but that's the fun of it! The more you dig, the bigger the hole

Here are some articles which could be an introduction:
http://theteagallery.blogspot.com/2008/ ... r-tea.html
http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 ... water.html

I am not sure how far you are at with Yixing, Silver Kettle and tetsubin, but is a similar effect with antique water containers to water by aging in them.

In Lu Yu The Classic of tea. The best water for brewing tea is to collected from the dew of the willow in spring time and age in water container before using.

[yee]

to TIM
Ok, i heard about the stone, its called schungite or somethink like this. Some people believe that it can improve water in some way. Some stones can defenetely absorb... You know, teadrinkers i comunicate with are more of scientists and they dont really believe in such thinks)))
But i will try to do a research on this topic. It is interesting. A friend of mine collekting teapots made of stone(different kind of stone) He usually goes to Taiwan to buy them from the master he knows(they are damn expensive). So i can ask him in what way this pots affect water. you can see one of those here http://teatips.ru/threads.php?act=8&id=43380&page=9 sorry its not in english. http://teatips.ru/threads.php?act=8&id=31800&page=4 here is another one
http://teatips.ru/threads.php?act=8&id=31800&page=4 there is some more pictures.

I have been to Yixing. http://teatips.ru/threads.php?act=8&id=33610&page=4 there is a picture of silver tea pot taken by a frien of mine(unfortunately i didnt try this one)

If were youi wouldnt refer to Lu Yu - it was a long time ago, and many things have changed.

[raveme]

In Lu Yu The Classic of tea. The best water for brewing tea is to collected from the dew of the willow in spring time and age in water container before using.

do you know if there's an online version or an ebook of Lu Yu's Cha Ching? sorry for being offtopic..

[TIM]

In Lu Yu The Classic of tea. The best water for brewing tea is to collected from the dew of the willow in spring time and age in water container before using.

do you know if there's an online version or an ebook of Lu Yu's Cha Ching? sorry for being offtopic..

must have some form of translation online, but I don't think is detail enough or bits and pieces?

Yee- "If were youi wouldnt refer to Lu Yu - it was a long time ago, and many things have changed...." But human nature don't change, each tea generations have to start from the basic : P imo

[yee]

to TIM
In my opinion people should first learn scientific facts about tea, water and clay. Then theyll be able to decide if they want to believe tales or not.