Chinese Tea Thermos

[depravitea]

I don't have one of these, but I usually dump spent leaves from pu-erh (sheng/cooked) into a large thermos, and drink it grandpa-style. It's also a good way to "get your money's worth" from more expensive aged stuff.

I feel guilty tossing even totally spent leaves. I usually re-steep pu until the water pretty much runs clear. lol

[IPT]

Actually, if the basket is at the top of the thermos, once you drink the tea down past that point, it stops brewing and won't overbrew.

[tenkaichi]

In these glass thermoses, the leaves are just there, steeping til you drink, and depending on the tea it WILL just get bitter. I think I'd want to grab one of the other thermoses (with the separate compartment with the leaves that attaches from top to the bottom) just to see how much more efficient that would be, and if I could take some other types of tea along with me. So far I've managed to keep some type of oolong tea in my full thermos for over an hour or so and it still be enjoyable... and I managed to get three more steeps in at work! Yay~

I tend to use water at a lower temperature when I know it's going in my thermos, that really helps with the potential to oversteep for me.

Wasn't really interested in having the leaves that just sit in the basket at the top, simply because I move around a lot at work... it would suck to just leave that basket somewhere (even worse if it doesn't have a coaster or something to sit on) and maybe forget it.

Robert from Xiu Xian was so kind to provide me with his translations for the series of cups we've discussed here, if anyone is interested. He sent me the first translations, then a "cleaner" version:

Here are the tea-cup translations:
==============================================================
bamboo" 竹平安“ --ju(2) ping(2) an(0) bamboo bring you blessing and peace
dragon "腾龙“--ton(2) lung(2) flying dragon
tree "梅笑迎春--mei2 xiao4 ying2 chung ---plum tree smiling wellcome the spring
fish "年年有余“ nian2 nian2 you3 yu2 --there is always extra saving at the end of the year...
==============================================================

Here is a cleaned up version of the glass cup design translations:
=====================================================================
bamboo 竹平安 zhú píng'ān Bamboo keep you safe and sound

dragon 腾龙 téng lóng Soaring dragon

tree 梅笑迎春 méi xiào yíng chūn Plum flower, smiling, welcomes the spring

fish 年年有余 niánnián yǒuyú To have an abundance year after year
========================================================================

[depravitea]

Actually, if the basket is at the top of the thermos, once you drink the tea down past that point, it stops brewing and won't overbrew.

I was under the impression that (at least in the case of my thermos) the basket wasn't actually a basket, but a filter. There is no way the lid would screw down if the filter was packed with leaves at the top. Typically the leaves are always steeping, especially since I never drink the bottom third aka the root.

[teaisme]

I was under the impression that (at least in the case of my thermos) the basket wasn't actually a basket, but a filter.

Yes you are right, you are not meant to put leaf above it. That is why they come out with ones with filter baskets, so if you want to control steep time you use those, if not you use teas that wont get too bitter with long steeps.

[IPT]

That's what I used to think, but I see as many people here putting the tea above it as below it, so I tried it and it works quite well.

[nonc_ron]

Actually, if the basket is at the top of the thermos, once you drink the tea down past that point, it stops brewing and won't overbrew.

Makes sense to me.
My thermos hasn't arrived yet. (any day now)
But thats one more thing I won't have to worry about.
1+

[nonc_ron]

I feel guilty tossing even totally spent leaves. I usually re-steep pu until the water pretty much runs clear. lol

One have word for you EARTHWORMS
I recycle all my spent leaves by feeding them to my earth worms.
Completely removes any guilt of waste.

[depravitea]

One have word for you EARTHWORMS
I recycle all my spent leaves by feeding them to my earth worms.
Completely removes any guilt of waste.

Alas, we have approximately 8 months of winter here lol
I can't even remember the last time I saw an earth worm...

[nonc_ron]

Alas, we have approximately 8 months of winter here lol I can't even remember the last time I saw an earth worm...

I can feel your pain It's snowing here as we speak.
I all most froze just going out to check the mail.
But I had to check, expecting a package from China any day now.

My glass tea thermos from Dragon-Tea-House came last week. It has a filter and not a basket. Now I'm thinking about getting a couple double walled glass cups. I haven't pushed the buy button yet.

[trinismurf]

I was wondering how spill proof the thermos from Xiu Xiang is. I'd like something I can carry lying down, upside down... and not have to worry about it leaking.

[nonc_ron]

I was wondering how spill proof the thermos from Xiu Xiang is. I'd like something I can carry lying down, upside down... and not have to worry about it leaking.

This is the thermos from Dragon-Tea-House.


You can see the rubber gasket in the lid. It looks like it will make a good seal. The problem will be pouring tea out without it dribbling down the side. Or like drinking from a Mason Jar. I suggest having a paper towel handy.

[jester]

While this is not related directly to the thermos, if anyone is ever in the Seattle area, I highly recommend going to one of their (xiu xian) 2 stores. I went to their kent location and me and my sister were the only ones there and so we got great service from the person working there. She was also very helpful in finding us teas that we'd enjoy. At that point I was making my first loose leaf tea purchase. I'm glad to hear that their thermos works well as I have been thinking of getting one, but because I have a tea pot, a mug and a mug warmer already, I was having a hard time justifying getting one. I'll let my sister know that these work well because she's still a student and could probably use a good thermos.

With what an earlier post said about the random adjectives that they list on their teas, if you go to the store, you'll see that they have the same tea in multiple "flavors" that vary in taste (strength). At least that's the impression that I got. I'd recommend giving them a call and as others have mentioned, they're awesome people!