Brewing at work

[maxman]

What's the quickest and easiest way to brew some puerh at work? Like I said in the other thread, I use a small Hall teapot at home and I nuke my water. At work I usually drink something made from a teabag. Any way to do puerh like that so I don't have a bunch of "hardware" laying around?
Thanks

[aKnightWhoSaysNi]

By "nuke" your water do you mean that you use a microwave? I find that microwaved water has a bit of a nasty taste.
Anyway, I use teabags at work and bum hot water from a McDonald's. They think it's strange, but they don't mind.

[Drax]

If you work in an office-setting, check if there's a work-use coffee maker somewhere. If it's a "big one," these usually have dispensers for near-boiling water. If so, that'll save you the kettle or the microwave. But that's a lot of ifs...

[TomVerlain]

All you need is a gaiwan and a cup, beaker, mug or even styrafoam cup.

just keep tea leaves in gaiwan and add hot water as needed. It won't be perfect, but serviceable.

I'd recommend shu, as it is much more forgiving in terms of temperature and time then sheng.

[beecrofter]

If you rinse a thermos with boiling water and then fill it you will be amazed at how long it can keep water near the boiling point, bring one with you and brew grandpa style or with gaiwan.

[Dizzwave]

I have a Sunbeam Hot Shot in my cubicle, but it has made me the Weird Office Tea Guy.
I use a gaiwan to brew shu and sheng (and the occasional oolong). Straight outta the Hot Shot into the gaiwan.. steep.. and into my cup.
When the Hot Shot is not available (i.e. when the bigwigs are in town and our cubicles are to be free of non-work-related stuff ), beecrofter's Thermos idea works great. I fill mine in the office kitchen (from the big coffee maker), and dump that water into the gaiwan.
My "tea table" is a piece of paper -- "recycled" from the most recent boring meeting. It catches the occasional drips and spills.
best of luck!
dave

[maxman]

OK. You all have given me some ideas. My gaiwan broke recently. Think I'll get another.
What is "grandpa style"?

[TomVerlain]

drink from teapot spout

[wyardley]

OK. You all have given me some ideas. My gaiwan broke recently. Think I'll get another.
What is "grandpa style"?

grandpa style == more water, less leaves in a large mug or tea thermos, usually leaving the leaves in the water while you drink it.

See this thread for some other tea at work ideas.
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?t=6495

[tsverrir]

I brew shou pu at work all the time with a mesh bucket filter in my cup.

[betta]

Besides teaware, maybe this instant puerh tablet could bring a brighter day for you in the office.
Spikey got it from the exhibition, but I think he knows where to get it elsewhere.

[sriracha]

I buy these tiny cheap tuos and put them in the type of filters you fill yourself. Then I add water from the coffee machine to my large latte glass, steep and then put the filter in another smaller glass between steeps.

Rinse and repeat(not literally...) ^^