Chinese Tea Thermos

[Intuit]

Repeat post due to server weirdness last night.

[Intuit]

Depravitea, you might want to tote your thermos with you the next time you visit Seattle - stop into their shop and see if they have a thermos protector that suits your needs.

[depravitea]

Good thinking requesting a sample. I'd go the mesh route as well, but it seems like something that's built/sold only in bulk, so I'm going to fall back to Victoria's rubber band plan.
I have seen this material before though, my mother had some place mats that were made from it when I was a kid.

If you would please let me know how it works for you after you get your thermos, I'd appreciate your feedback.
Thanks Intuit.

I think I'll be getting mine today. The tracking info shows that it came into town last night! I love the wait.
Expect photos soon.

[moot]

Tip: for teas that become easily astringent, try using mostly spent leaves. Or, really, any tea. Some high mountain oolong that's gone for 5 brews in the morning works great in the bottom of a thermos. That's how I roll, these days - get out of bed, take a few brews of an oolong, and throw the same leaves in the thermos, add hot water, and yer good to go. More efficient, too - you know, wringing the last bit of flavor from 'em.

[depravitea]

Depravitea, you might want to tote your thermos with you the next time you visit Seattle - stop into their shop and see if they have a thermos protector that suits your needs.

Who told you my plan??
Just kidding. Yeah, I have every intention of maying a little tea-tour the next time I get to Seattle. Shouldn't be too long from now, it's only a 5 hour drive.
Let me know what you think of your thermos when you get it. Again, nice thinking on the impact netting. I got my thermos yesterday, I have every intention of posting a (very positive) review with pictures today. We'll see if my son lets me

[depravitea]

Silver Fish Chinese Tea Thermos from Xiu Xian Tea

How did I survive before this thermos found its way to me? On the fringes of civilization, that’s how. Taking meals where I could get them, doing anything for a buck, drinking bagged tea…
Well no more!
This thermos is the most excellent thing I’ve gotten in a long time (not counting actual tea.)
I work some long shifts on the weekends, and have no personal space to keep a teapot, or any type of tea equipment. We’re allowed one drink at our desks - lid mandatory (because we’re all too stupid to have adult cups.) I was going through approximately 6-8 teabags a day, and even getting some multiple steeps in there as well. This was bumming me out because I was really getting used to good tea at home (not that bags are horrible, but, you know…)
DAY 1: In the morning before work, I put in three scoops of Mao Feng Green using my small bamboo scoop. I was able to get about five-six decent steeps before it was just pleasant smelling water. Not bad for a first go, but I usually drink a heck of a lot more tea during the work day. This is a 12oz glass, and so I’m getting about 8oz of tea per steep, because you’re not supposed to drink the root (bottom third.) So three scoops of leaves got me approximately 40 – 48 oz of tea that day.
DAY 2: Not taking any chances on running out of tea, I dropped in about 4 and a half scoops of leaves (1 and a half more than the previous day.) I got 8 steeps out of this at work (64 oz) and even got a couple more at home that evening. This was just about perfect, though with so much leaf taking up room, there was slightly less room for water, not a big deal though. I also noticed that the leaves need a good stir at least once during the day as the ones on the bottom seem to have less room/chance to expand.
The glass can be slippery, but using Victoria’s rubber bands idea – problem solved.
An EXCELLENT tool, and a very fun learning experience. The following pictures are from the day I got the package, last Thursday, and today (Thursday as well.) Today’s pictures have the thermos full of Green Pekoe from Adagio. A very nice, refreshing, light green tea, perfect for Old Man brewing, as I’ve had no bitterness whatsoever and have gone through about 4 steeps using only 2 scoops of leaves.


Finally arrived!


Samples come with every tea cup purchase at Xiu Xian.


That is the nicest packaging I’ve ever seen, the side where it opens even has a magnet to keep the flap in place.


Xiu Xian took extra steps to make sure the thermos arrived in excellent condition.


There was even a ribbon. lol




Yes, that’s a cloth lined box. That blew my mind. A nice change of pace from plastic and styrofoam.


Every year you will have (surplus) fish. 




Thermos with Adagio’s Green Pekoe.


I really dig the way the fish look with the thermos full of leaf.




Check the shadow, pretty cool!


I’m so happy with this! If you’re on the fence about whether to get one or not, don’t be, go for it.

[Victoria]

Very nice thanks for sharing the pics and details! Congrats!

[Carl]

Really excellent pictures and write-up, depravitea...thanks for the recommendation!

[Salsero]

So cool your review! How hot is the water you put into it? How much is 3 or 4 scoops? Like a quarter cup? How long does the water sit in there before you refill it? Which vendor's Mao Feng green are you using? Questions, questions!

[Intuit]

Sal, it's Tazo Tea, the only loose leaf vendor, located in the Borders Books in Depravitea's town in N Idaho. This was mentioned in yesterdays informative TD poll results.

It would be nice to know how much the tea *weighed*, D. Scoop volume of a fluffy leaf is a relative measure of mass, eh?

Nice photo job and product test drive description. Now I understand the secret behind Grampa Tea - the whole leaf teas brew just like the cold-brewed teas do, without any apparent bitterness.

I also have now conducted *week long* tests for microbial growth potential in cold brewed teas (black, oolong green) kept in the fridge, during the last month. No sign of microbial growth - tea liquor is still clear as a bell. Not that I recommend leaving it for a week, but it does suggest that Grampa brewing, as D has outlined above, probably has minimal microbial contamination risk associated with day-long, room-temperature infusions.

It would have been nice if I had a Coulter Counter to verify cell counts, but will have to wait until I have access again.

[Salsero]

Sal, it's Tazo Tea, the only loose leaf vendor, located in the Borders Books in Depravitea's town in N Idaho. This was mentioned in yesterdays informative TD poll results.

Oh, yes, now I have put 2 and 2 together and come up with Tazo.

[geeber1]

Thanks, Depravitea, what a great review and awesome photos! I now have one of these on my list of stuff to get!

[depravitea]

Salsero, to answer your questions, I have no idea how much tea is in a scoop. I am currently without a scale, and I honestly don't know that I'll ever want/need one, I'm pretty good at eyeballing and coming to a good water/leaf ratio, I've quit using a thermometer as well.
As for water temp, at work all I have access to is a hot water dispenser, so I can only guess, but I'd say that it's just under boiling. I'd bring a thermometer in, but I get enough weird looks at that place.
The first time I add water will be the hottest the thermos gets during the day, every time thereafter I'm adding hot water to the cooler tea, so I'm getting something slightly above room temp, which I'm pretty happy with. I find myself getting up about ever hour to an hour and a half for a reload.
Thanks everyone, for the kind words about my write up. I had a lot of fun researching, ordering, waiting, opening, and learning how to use this thermos, and then telling you guys all about it.

Again, sorry to be vague on leaf amount, hope these pictures give you a better idea...

Scoop

Scoop Closeup

[Salsero]

Salsero, to answer your questions

That's perfect, thanks!

[depravitea]

Sure thing!