Good til the last drop?

[clareandromeda]

This could go for all teas but..... I've been reading that those last few drops of water in the teapot are the best. How do you get them out? I wait until my last infusion and then I use the handle end of a spoon and lightly press the leaves against the end of the sasame screen. I don't do it for every infusion because I'm afraid to "bruise" the leaves. Does anyone else do this? Could I do this on every infusion?

[Chip]

By the time I get to the 5th steep, I don't think it makes much difference. I just pour in such a way that I get as much liquid as possible out of the leaves.

I don't know if I ever manipulate the leaves in the teapot except maybe in the case of gong fu style brewing of oolong.

[clareandromeda]

Perhaps I am commiting some sort of tea crime by doing this?

[Oni]

I just shake, rattle, and roll.

[Chip]

... come to think of it, I had some Uji teabags from O-Cha (hghly recommended!) and used them when eating out. 3rd steep I throw it in the ice water and will squeeze the last bits of flavor out of it after several minutes ...

[clareandromeda]

Chip I just think your trying to make me feel better... Every cheap grandma on a fixed income squeezes their tea bags (not that Im calling you a cheap grandma )

[Intuit]

>I've been reading that those last few drops of water in the teapot are the best.

Where did you read this?

[Chip]

Intuit, I first saw this reference in the Ippodo Gyokuro video I think. They do not squish, squeeze, squash the leaves, just diligently pour each last willing drop.

Chip I just think your trying to make me feel better... Every cheap grandma on a fixed income squeezes their tea bags (not that Im calling you a cheap grandma )

Yeah, but this is an unusual situation, and I really squeeze the suckas. Amazingly, this does not bitter the brew. I would not want to try this with the first nor second steeping however.

[clareandromeda]

>I've been reading that those last few drops of water in the teapot are the best.

Where did you read this?

I feel like I've read this in a few places but can't remember where... maybe somewhere on the o-cha site?

[Tead Off]

I like to suck those last drops right out of the kyusu's spout. This way, my fingers or any other object never touches those precious leaves and contaminates them.

[clareandromeda]

I like to suck those last drops right out of the kyusu's spout. This way, my fingers or any other object never touches those precious leaves and contaminates them.

hehhe thats a pretty funny picture, and actually sounds better than waiting for those last drips.

Although I think if anyone ever catches me doing that.... awkward.....

[Tead Off]

I like to suck those last drops right out of the kyusu's spout. This way, my fingers or any other object never touches those precious leaves and contaminates them.

hehhe thats a pretty funny picture, and actually sounds better than waiting for those last drips.

Although I think if anyone ever catches me doing that.... awkward.....

If friends are over, I like to pass the kyusu around so they can all have a suck.

[brlarson]

>I've been reading that those last few drops of water in the teapot are the best.

Where did you read this?

I feel like I've read this in a few places but can't remember where... maybe somewhere on the o-cha site?

Ippodo is the only site where I have seen that recommendation. You can find it here: http://www.ippodo-tea.co.jp/en/tea/gyokuro_01.html Keep hitting the `Next' button until you reach page number 4.

[Smells_Familiar]

tead, you could quickly slap a rubber nipple on that spout before passing it around.
just sayin...

[clareandromeda]

So I gave my banko a good suck and it was a strange experience... I was expecting little drops and I got steam. It was strange but I think I liked it

...And I wasn't abusing any leaves but getting every last vapor of goodness... Tead I think you have helped me aquire another strange habit (One that includes only eating ice cream out of cartons, while in my bed under the covers)