Stainless Steel Travel Bottles & Infusers

[nmteaco]

Thank you for posting a link to my store Victoria...

I wanted everyone to know that I am currently having a contest in which someone will win the stainless sleet tea tumbler.

Its a Tea-Shirt Design contest. If anyone is interested in entering you can find more information about the contest here:

New Mexico Tea Co. Tea-Shirt-Contest-Enter-Now

Edited by Moderator: Link removed. Please read forum rules regarding vendors' self promoting links.

[clareandromeda]

I have to not recommend sigg or metal for that matter, especially with expensive/delicate teas. I just bought a sigg and all I can taste is metal. Metal is great with water but ruins my sincha. I'm going to have to get a dragon tea house one. 30$ down the drain

[iannon]

ive been contemplating one similar at yunan colorful as well at 9.90 + 7 bucks shipping


http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 603wt_1165

AS ever Yunnan Colorful's use of English is superb. As they proudly announce that it has a 'Rusty Steel Casing' and

Not becoming smell, and maintain the original tea-and arbitrary control of tea;

i really liked this line:
"hospitality is not afraid of many people"

but to be fair..their English is much better than my Chinese!

[toastedtoads]

Thank you for posting a link to my store Victoria...

I wanted everyone to know that I am currently having a contest in which someone will win the stainless sleet tea tumbler.

I just have to say, I absolutely love that you have music from "Labyrinth" playing in the background of the glass tea tumbler video.

[Infusion]

Can anyone else recommend a tea container suitable for work use that does not ruin the taste of delicate tea, besides the expensive Dragon Tea House container with the Yixing Clay Liner sold on eBay?

I have tried a stainless steel tumbler and a plastic tumbler from Starbucks and both obliterated the taste of my genmaicha tea. I do not need a diffuser piece - just something that is at least 12 to 16oz. to keep my tea warm in on my office desk.

Any ideas out there?

[debunix]

Besides the issue of taste alteration from the material of the thermos or bottle, you must also consider the taste change of the same tea held in a porcelain pot or cup. Due to my work schedule, I've had need to use a thermos frequently, holding a quart of tea for a full workday, and have found that most green and white teas do not stand this treatment well at all, because the brewed tea continues to oxidize, and the delicate flavors are often lost while bitterness seems to arise de novo.

I don't think you can find any container that will keep a delicate green or white tea really well for an hour after brewing, due to the nature of the tea.

[Infusion]

Besides the issue of taste alteration from the material of the thermos or bottle, you must also consider the taste change of the same tea held in a porcelain pot or cup. Due to my work schedule, I've had need to use a thermos frequently, holding a quart of tea for a full workday, and have found that most green and white teas do not stand this treatment well at all, because the brewed tea continues to oxidize, and the delicate flavors are often lost while bitterness seems to arise de novo.

I don't think you can find any container that will keep a delicate green or white tea really well for an hour after brewing, due to the nature of the tea.

Thanks - I'm still trying to figure all this out. I steep genmaicha using a tea bag (sometimes I diffuse loose tea) every day when I am at work. I'm still confused what is the best container to keep it in to help retain the delicate taste. Are you saying even porcelain is not ideal?

[Poohblah]

Personally, I use this stainless steel tea tumbler that I bought in Chengdu:


I just toss in a few leaves in the morning, pour some medium-hot water (not yet boiling), and sip throughout the day (also called grandpa style - http://www.marshaln.com/2010/07/monday-july-19-2010/ ). Greens do alright if the water I use is cool enough and I use few enough leaves, but heavy roasted oolongs seem to hold up the best. I'll keep trying with a bunch of different teas - the loose shu pu that I tried this way didn't impart too much flavor, for instance.

As far as the material's effect on taste is concerned, after using this tumbler/thermos for a while, the effect on taste has diminished. It's certainly not neutral, however, and for something like shincha, I would choose a different vessel. It's definitely not for critical tasting. I think glass is the best in terms of neutrality, however, but my glass tea tumbler has a plastic/rubber lid that undermines the effects of glass. I guess that's what you get for 9 kuai. Anyway, at least both glass and stainless steel are better than plastic. I used to have a plastic french press/thermos combination that I used daily for mate, until the flavor of plastic started to overwhelm the taste of everything else.

[debunix]

Are you saying even porcelain is not ideal?

Yes. Take some of your tea in a glass or porcelain teacup, and let it sit out for several hours, taking a sip every hour or two. Notice not just the cooling, but the changing taste and even color of the tea liquor.

I did this little experiment a couple of years ago:



It's subtle, but the green tea is definitely turning brown; the pale green oolong is darkening; but the black tea changes very little.

I have certainly experienced the rather horrid change in my lovely morning sencha if an infusion sits more than a few minutes before I drink it, with delicate Dan Congs, or aggressive but sweet young shengs: those are teas that I do not brew for holding in the thermos.

[nrstooge]

slighty OT but Debunix I love your tea cups.

[debunix]

Those were 1.49 specials at a local Thai market, since given away due to poor size compatibility with my gaiwans used for tastings.

[Ludwig-1954]

Good afternoon, Gentlefolks

I have found that hi grade pure silver is very good for enhancing and
keeping the taste of most teas. It has also been considered a great health benefit for centuries and will not retain the taste of tea as YiXing does.

The Henan Mengxiang Silver company carries travelling bottles/cups made of steel and fitted with a pure silver interior (995 silver). Not really cheap,
but worth the price.

Here the link:
http://www.myshinesilver.com/products.a ... =Tableware

I think they are on alibaba too. The company is reputable and honest.

regards
Patrick B. Ludwig

[Ludwig-1954]

Second Link, from alibaba. Same company, larger choice:

http://myshine.en.alibaba.com/product/4 ... eware.html

[Infusion]

Lots of helpful information - thanks to everyone.

So, to net it out, if you were to brew genmaicha tea at work (both bags and loose), what would you use as a vessel - if maintaing the taste was the most important goal? Assume the vessel does not have to have a diffuser component built in.

[debunix]

My bottom line with teas brewed early and then held before drinking is that I avoid green teas, with very few exceptions, and brew up trusted oolongs and puerhs and korean Hwang Cha to hold in a Stanley Vacuum Bottle (stainless steel body, plastic cap).