Tuesday TeaDay 6/29/10 Cold brew it!

[Chip]

Celebrate a new TeaDay by sharing what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed HOT weather and cold tea. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic is a pretty simple one...either you did or you didn't. Have you tried "cold brewing" to make a refreshing smooth glass of iced tea? If so, please share your experiences with this method. If you have not tried this method, listen up...you might learn something. I know I learned something on this subject after resisting this change for years.

See you all on TeaDay!!! COLD brew on ...

[chittychat]

I do not drink iced tea. Only cold tea out of the ref and that one is loose
leaf puerh 3rd grade 2006 for my dinner.

Had breakfast with 'mi lan dan cong' of satisfactory rating. My bing oolong for late morning tea which i just love and for the afternoon a tie guan yin from a vacuum sachet I don't know how old it is. No more aroma but quite pleasant flavor.

[dooble]

Yes I have, actually I'm just writing an article about ice tea .

I've tried brewing with ice cubes with Bai Hao Yinzhen, extremely delicate and refreshing, but not something you could drink lots of. It's the same with e.g. gyokuro, unless you add some sugar, which might cover the taste...

I've also tried the method of leaving the leaves overnight in a bottle, then in the morning you can take it with you to work. It's nice but has to be filtered again before drinking.

In the end I think black tea is best for ice tea. And yes, I prefer the cold brewing methods for ice tea. Just seems pointless to brew it hot, then cool it down.

[Victoria]

I have not tried it, but it looks interesting. I've mostly seen it with sencha so I'm interested in hearing how any others have turned out.

Starting the morning with LiShan from Floating Leaves Tea.

Have a nice day everyone!

[JBaymore]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

best,

...............john

[Robert Fornell]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

best,

...............john

Two snaps up to JB! I love mugi-cha in the summer and we always keep a pitcher in the fridge.....

Best,
R

[debunix]

I tried a green Moroccan mint tea from Rishi as cold brewed, and did not like it any better cold than I did hot. That may not have been the best test of the technique! Today is not going to be too hot, and the office will be cold as always, so plenty of hot tea is anticipated, starting shortly with some shincha.

[laura99]

I cold brew sencha. Usually on Friday night I put 1 tablespoon of sencha in my 1 liter cold brew pitcher, then drink a few glasses of it over the next two days. This is my pitcher

http://www.hibiki-an.com/product_info.p ... cts_id/434

I wish I could remember the brand name - I found the same thing (with an added handle) on amazon for half the price. I'll check it out when I get home. I works well for me, although you could achieve the same thing with a normal pitcher and a strainer. I just use standard sencha (no shincha for this!)

I have tried the ice brew once as well, which resulted in almost syrup like sweet brew. Need to try that again sometime, but you need patience!

Started this morning with the Kenya Silverback from OTTI - did not like this one too much. Can't pin down the taste that was off to me, but it also left a bad aftertaste. Have not tried a second steep on it yet.

Sipping on Yunnan noir now.

[JBaymore]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

best,

...............john

Two snaps up to JB! I love mugi-cha in the summer and we always keep a pitcher in the fridge.....

Best,
R

Robert,

It is such a "Japan in the summer" memory awakener between the fragrance and the flavor. And it is so refreshing.

In my experience, it is not something that is very commonly found being drunk here in the USA. Even in Japanese restaraunts in the summer (at least in the Northeast). While I am greatly enjoying actually seeing a summer at my own home in rural New Hampshire for the first time in 3 years....... I do miss Japan.

best,

................john

[Poohblah]

Yes, though I find that used leaves tend to make a better cold brew because it is more difficult to make the tea bitter with used leaves than fresh.

[Chip]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

It is amazing I have never tried mugicha cold brewed ... or even cold given my penchant for japanese tea, etc. Of course I have it hot.

Speaking of which, I have pretty much limited my personal practice of cold brewing to Japanese teas which generally brew a superior iced tea when cold brewed.

[Mrs. Chip]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

It is amazing I have never tried mugicha cold brewed ... or even cold given my penchant for japanese tea, etc. Of course I have it hot.

Speaking of which, I have pretty much limited my personal practice of cold brewing to Japanese teas which generally brew a superior iced tea when cold brewed.

+1, what the Mod said!

Oops, almost forgot, shincha this morning with Mr. Chip and now in my cup at work, Adagio's TKY from the Masters Series! Yummmmmmmmmmm.

[brad4419]

Yes I have brewed iced tea and prefer it hot much more than iced. We have this tea thats called sun tea where you put the tea bags in water and set them out in the sun for a few hours. It turns out great! but I still prefer my tea hot.

qi lan today

[Skippyandjif]

Voted "other".

I really prefer cold mugicha (heresy!) in the summer. Very, very common in Japan.

best,

...............john

Two snaps up to JB! I love mugi-cha in the summer and we always keep a pitcher in the fridge.....

Best,
R

+1

I love mugi-cha! Unfortunately, I neglected to buy some last time I was in NYC, so my supply has to last until I next visit my father... Whoops, oh well.

I haven't tried cold-brewing tea yet, but I'd like to.

Chrysanthemum pu-erh this morning/afternoon.

[Marco]

I read about cold brewing with ice cubes lately. Could have been on the forum. Sounds intresting and I like to give it a try.

My TD started relaxed with a nice bowl of matcha in the morning. I like starting the day like this. Resulted in starting at work 40 minutes later than usual - and it has been worth it
Now a nice kabusecha from Aiya in my pot.

ciao
Marco