Tues/Wed TeaDay 8/9-10/11 Right temp arrival?

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends. Please do drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day. Also discuss the topic of the day!

Yesterday we discussed a philosophical question of age. Please continue to discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Broad stroke, how fanatical are you about the water "TEMPERATURE" you use? Please share some details including how do you arrive at the right temp!

We are looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with ... everyone, bottoms up.

[Chip]

And do not forget about the amazing TeaChat TreasureHunt going on all week!

Check out the topic here: http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f= ... 67#p204367

[IPT]

I was taught to test the water by feel, so I judge by feeling the side of my kettle, or water cooler. I am drinking Tie Luohan Wuyi Yancha today.

[vacuithe]

I go by feel for all teas, except senchas I never brewed before. When I well know a tea, I don't need to weight leaves or to mesure temp anymore.

[debunix]

I now have three variable-temp pino digital kettle pros for brewing at home and at the offices, and I've been known to take one of them or at least a good thermometer with me on the road. So....while I sometimes fudge when the kettle is not exactly at the temperature I'd usually use for a particular tea, I am quite....attentive.....to the temps.

Yesterday, started with some Xue Dian Mei Lan, a lovely tea between green and oolong, brewing from 160 to 190 degrees; then a nice Anxi Mao Xie, at 190 to 205 degrees; this morning, starting with 'Aoi' sencha, at 160 degrees at first, now moving up to 180 or so with later infusions.

Temperature control makes teas accessible to me that I'd otherwise not be able to tolerate due to bitterness. Until I learned how important this was and figured out how to control it reliably, I couldn't appreciate green teas at all, unless the flavor was obscured by overwhelming jasmine or other flavor.

[Xell]

With my daily teas i don't use thermometer anymore. Though i will use it on some really high grade teas, they are usually in limited quantity and sensitive even to small difference. Probably i need to get some better digital thermometer, then i would use it more frequently

Finishing my last can of koicha grade matcha, yummy, but i'll take a break from matcha for a while, was drinking too often recently Perhaps some gyokuro in it's place

[teaisme]

I pour the water into my hand, burning painful scalding is just about right for oolong

go by feeling, intuition, and previous experience with a thermometer

some...very special milk oolong wow

[Peacock]

It has become a habit of mine to use a thermometer almost every time I prepare tea.

[brlarson]

I always measure water temp carefully.

I have had three teas today: Zencha's Ultimate shincha with breakfast, Hou de's shui xian in the afternoon, and Wawaza's black mountain fuka just a few minutes ago.

[Chip]

TreasureHunt Treasure 1 Clue 2 "Turquoise" (clue 1 was "Hot Legs")

A very evenly divided poll result so far! Interesting.

I think I am a product of my sencha upbringing ... meaning I had so many really bad sencha early on (good stuff was virtually impossible to get back then), that when I finally had source(s) for the good stuff, I treated it like GOLD in every respect, weighing, measuring water, and measuring temperature as well ... for the first and second steeps only.

I was astounded how tiny changes, measured quatitatively and somewhat TeaScientifically, could really refine and perfect the flavor and aroma of quality sencha.

I guess I have relaxed a bit, but I have also followed my own mantra, "brew how you like, like how you brew!"

Began the TD with Miyabi with the Mrs. Came out quite well today.

[Fuyou]

I bought a nice digital thermometer just for my tea, and I use it every time, on every brew. The only time I go by feel is when I am practicing tea ceremony (in which I go by the look of the water, the amount of steam, and the sound), but that's not everyday tea.

I had some Matsu no Midori matcha from Maiko tea in the afternoon, but in the evening I had Kyo no Tsuyu sencha.

[Herb_Master]

TreasureHunt Treasure 1 Clue 2 "Turquoise" (clue 1 was "Hot Legs")

Wow, thanks Chip you are going to send me this nice lady to make tea for me!

http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php ... a_very_sho

[Chip]

... ummm, no!

TreasureHunt 3 Clue 2 "Noborigama" (first clue was "best,")

TD continued with Hana No Kaori and currently Seijak korean that has made its rounds with TCers ...

[Herb_Master]

... ummm, no!

Oh well Google Let Me Down.

That was Google's best offering from (Hot Legs Turqoise)

[FlyedPiper]

I'm in Japanese tea mode right now . I generally brew at about 165 for 45 seconds on a new sencha and adjust from there.


Sae Midori and Kiku Mukashi for me right now...