Steaming Cakes

One of the intentionally aged teas, Pu-Erh has a loyal following.
+ Post Reply
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 16:37
Posts: 103
Joined: May 25th, '10, 13:52
Location: Rhode Island
Contact: the_skua
Top

Steaming Cakes

by the_skua » Jan 23rd, '11, 16:37

What do folks think about steaming cakes to break them up entirely?

I've done it for the first time the past few days and have mixed thoughts. Generally, it does make the cake much, much easier to deal with. However, I get a lot of aroma coming off the steamed cake and leaves. That's aroma I want in my cup! Granted, not every leaf in the cake gets hit with direct steam.

I know many chip away cakes as need be, but if others are steaming cakes, I'd be curious to hear thoughts on the process' effect on the leaves.
Jan 23rd, '11, 19:10
Posts: 1634
Joined: May 24th, '10, 00:30
Location: Malaysia
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by auhckw » Jan 23rd, '11, 19:10

I plan to steam my pu some day (just for fun), but logically thinking by steaming, it should degrade the quality of the pu as water and heat is in contact. And if not dried well, the pu may get mold.

You should have leave some unsteamed pu and compared with the steamed pu. See any difference in the taste and brewing performance. See which version can run longer :)
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 19:23
Posts: 2061
Joined: Mar 15th, '06, 17:43
Contact: MarshalN
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by MarshalN » Jan 23rd, '11, 19:23

Don't do it. If you need to break it up, buy yourself a tuo pick (don't use a knife, those are bad) and slowly pry it apart
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 20:18
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 20:18

Steaming apart puer is a bad idea. You're essentially brewing the tea and mold is a big problem as well. My suggestion would be to sit down and break it apart all at one time. It'll give the tea a chance to level out and also you won't have to do it every time you want to brew some tea. It'll be done already. Just be careful. I have a scar on my hand from when I rammed a tea pick through it. In one side and out the other. It certainly made that tea session interesting.
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 20:24
Posts: 644
Joined: Aug 25th, '09, 19:16
Location: Michigan
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by nickE » Jan 23rd, '11, 20:24

IPT wrote:Just be careful. I have a scar on my hand from when I rammed a tea pick through it. In one side and out the other. It certainly made that tea session interesting.
:shock: I bet! I've jabbed myself a bunch of times but nothing ever that bad.
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 20:27
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 20:27

BE CAREFUL! :wink:
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 21:13
Posts: 1574
Joined: Dec 30th, '08, 21:16
Location: The foot of the great Smoky Mountains
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by iannon » Jan 23rd, '11, 21:13

IPT wrote:BE CAREFUL! :wink:
What the heck were you trying to break up!? Rock Pu
Jan 23rd, '11, 21:53
Posts: 1274
Joined: May 9th, '09, 15:59
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by shah82 » Jan 23rd, '11, 21:53

Ohhhh, something with a G stamped on top, I presume...
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:24
Posts: 1634
Joined: May 24th, '10, 00:30
Location: Malaysia
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by auhckw » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:24

A tea vender showed me a Xia Guan 2008 tuo. And the wrapping gave instructions how to loosen up the tuo... and the instructions is Steaming... hmmm
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:37
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:37

auhckw wrote:A tea vender showed me a Xia Guan 2008 tuo. And the wrapping gave instructions how to loosen up the tuo... and the instructions is Steaming... hmmm
Really?! Which 2008 is it? I'd like to see that.
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:38
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:38

shah82 wrote:Ohhhh, something with a G stamped on top, I presume...
How'd you guess?
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:42
Posts: 1634
Joined: May 24th, '10, 00:30
Location: Malaysia
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by auhckw » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:42

IPT wrote:
auhckw wrote:A tea vender showed me a Xia Guan 2008 tuo. And the wrapping gave instructions how to loosen up the tuo... and the instructions is Steaming... hmmm
Really?! Which 2008 is it? I'd like to see that.
Should be this:-
Xia Guan FT Nan Zhao Tuo Cha 2008 100g Raw
http://cgi.ebay.com/Xia-Guan-FT-Nan-Zha ... 35a2f25f06
or
http://www.yunnansourcing.com/store/pro ... roduct=163

I don't know how to read chinese, so the guy was reading it out for me...
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:46
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:46

I've got a couple cases of those. I'm going to have to open one up and look at it.
Jan 23rd, '11, 22:57
Posts: 1634
Joined: May 24th, '10, 00:30
Location: Malaysia
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by auhckw » Jan 23rd, '11, 22:57

IPT wrote:I've got a couple cases of those. I'm going to have to open one up and look at it.
If possible, take a photo and post it up :) and let me know whether I have been cheated for not knowing how to read chinese :?
User avatar
Jan 23rd, '11, 23:15
Vendor Member
Posts: 1518
Joined: Nov 13th, '09, 10:16
Location: Guilin, Guangxi China
Contact: IPT
Top

Re: Steaming Cakes

by IPT » Jan 23rd, '11, 23:15

Will do.
+ Post Reply