I just got my personaliTEA tea pot in the mail today. After looking it over I had a couple questions. Is it best to heat the water in another container or can I microwave the water in the personaliTEA it's self? I know the stove is out of the question. Any suggestions?
Drew McIntire
May 3rd, '06, 22:24
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kodama
I could imagine two reasons:
There is a big difference in infusion adding dry tea (tiny bubbles?) to water vs. vice versa, thus, it is good to pour hot water into the basket/teapot. This can be dealt with by pouring the water into a mug, putting in the leaves, and pouring back the water.
There is a general dislike of nuked water in tea-land here - I have not tested enough to be sure that there is a difference, but it seems like any alternative would be quicker.
There is a big difference in infusion adding dry tea (tiny bubbles?) to water vs. vice versa, thus, it is good to pour hot water into the basket/teapot. This can be dealt with by pouring the water into a mug, putting in the leaves, and pouring back the water.
There is a general dislike of nuked water in tea-land here - I have not tested enough to be sure that there is a difference, but it seems like any alternative would be quicker.
I can use a stove, the goal was to not have to heat the water in one container and then transfer it to another for brewing the tea in. Since I assume i cannot put the personaliTEA on the stove to heat the water I was wondering if the microwave was safe to use for heating the water while in the personaliTEA. If I could use the personaliTEA on the stove that would be fine. Has anyone tried this? I am almost positive it could only end in disaster
Drew Mcintire
Drew Mcintire
May 4th, '06, 01:08
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kodama
May 4th, '06, 21:35
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I used to have to nuke water in a mug...when I poured it over the the tea, the unused microwave energy (whatever it is called)
"attacked" the tea...it actually fizzed all around the tea...that cannot be good for the tea.
So if you must nuke your water, let it sit, or you may microwave your tea leaves even out of the microwave.
Of course, we have all heard that we should avoid placing plastics and the like in the microwave...
Another option for heating your water is to get a free standing water kettle (you plug it in) that heats the water up faster then the microwave anyway. I have a Braun that I have used for years of trouble free use.
Just my 2 cents worth...
"attacked" the tea...it actually fizzed all around the tea...that cannot be good for the tea.
So if you must nuke your water, let it sit, or you may microwave your tea leaves even out of the microwave.
Of course, we have all heard that we should avoid placing plastics and the like in the microwave...
Another option for heating your water is to get a free standing water kettle (you plug it in) that heats the water up faster then the microwave anyway. I have a Braun that I have used for years of trouble free use.
Just my 2 cents worth...
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
microwave water
Just thougt I'd add a quick post on this about the microwave... When you microwave water the water is fairly un disturbed. You can bring it to a state of "super heated" in that it will be above the boiling temperature and yet NOT bubble. (This can also be dangerous, because a jolt to the container can cause the water to "release" the bubbles at once and splash and burn you!). I don't think there is any difference to adding hot water to tea weather it be on a stove top or from a microwave... hot water = hot water. You may get the added benefit of the rolling boil to move the tea leaves around though... or just use a spoon to stir your leaves with the microwave water.
Just my two cents, and feel free to correct me. I'm still new at this myself.
Just my two cents, and feel free to correct me. I'm still new at this myself.
Cya
Cyen
http://cyenobite.blogspot.com/
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"The pleasant experience of eating something you have never had before, will extend your life by 75 days."
- Japanese proverb.
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Cyen
http://cyenobite.blogspot.com/
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"The pleasant experience of eating something you have never had before, will extend your life by 75 days."
- Japanese proverb.
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Thanks for the tidbit cyenobite. I tend to agree with you about hot water being hot water, nuked or stove top I really can't tell a difference. It's funny how this string decided to take this specific direction to go in. My original question wasn't even concerning the role of the water but rater the safety of the tea pot its self in the microwave. I usually try to make sure containers are microwave safe before nuking them. The teapot only said dishwasher safe I wasn't sure. Incidentally I have used the teapot in the microwave safely several times so I really ended up answering my own question through trial and error. Thanks again though for the input.
Drew McIntire
May 13th, '06, 22:31
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...Frank, have you asked the good people where you got your pot regarding its microwavabilty? That way you could have gotten your direct, simple yes or no answer, and we would not have carried on this interesting discussion. Or am I the only person who enjoyed our discussion.
Regardless, microwaved water can be superheated as Cyenobite so eloquently put it. That is what I guess I was trying to describe. If you microwave the water too much, when you expose the tea to the super charged water...all the unused microwave energy goes right to the only thing left to absorb it, the newly exposed leaves. It literally cooks the leaves, and fizzes all around the leaves, and makes really crappy tea. So if you allow the heated water to sit at least 10-15 seconds, the energy will hopefully dissipate. So all heated water is not only not created equal...it is not the same.
And to correctly brew tea, as Marshal stated above, water should be poured over the leaves vs. dropping tea into the heated water...
Frank, as far as the direction of this thread...as we start to discuss a particular issue, it is not unusual for threads to bend this way and that as different variables come into the discussion...it is after all a flexible thread...not an unbendable rod...and more than a couple people took time out of their day to participate in the discussion. Otherwise, most threads would be limited to one response
And that is just my 2 cents worth.
Regardless, microwaved water can be superheated as Cyenobite so eloquently put it. That is what I guess I was trying to describe. If you microwave the water too much, when you expose the tea to the super charged water...all the unused microwave energy goes right to the only thing left to absorb it, the newly exposed leaves. It literally cooks the leaves, and fizzes all around the leaves, and makes really crappy tea. So if you allow the heated water to sit at least 10-15 seconds, the energy will hopefully dissipate. So all heated water is not only not created equal...it is not the same.
And to correctly brew tea, as Marshal stated above, water should be poured over the leaves vs. dropping tea into the heated water...
Frank, as far as the direction of this thread...as we start to discuss a particular issue, it is not unusual for threads to bend this way and that as different variables come into the discussion...it is after all a flexible thread...not an unbendable rod...and more than a couple people took time out of their day to participate in the discussion. Otherwise, most threads would be limited to one response
And that is just my 2 cents worth.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!