Bad batch of TKY 2012

[Moon_Walker]

Hi folks,

unfortunately i got some TKY 2012 autumn which feels simply
nothing.
It smells like green bush but nothing else.
The brew is like water, no fragrance, no aroma.
(My previous batch from 2011 smells like a bouquet of flowers and fills the entire room with lilac, and lily of the valley as TKY has to do!)

Is there maybe a way to transform it to an enjoyable tea somehow?

Attila

[jayinhk]

I would attempt to roast it, but let's see what those older and wiser than I have to say.

[Hannah]

I'm with jayinhk on this one!
I had a very meh batch of TKY from Teavana (yes yes learnt my lesson now!) Which was exactly the same as you've described your batch..
Luckily for me it was brought to life after a re-roast!
A lot of it is luck too I suppose but it did wonders for me let us know how you go!

[Moon_Walker]

Hi

i am thinking too, that i have to roast it finaly.
What method did you use for roasting?

Attila

I'm with jayinhk on this one!
I had a very meh batch of TKY from Teavana (yes yes learnt my lesson now!) Which was exactly the same as you've described your batch..
Luckily for me it was brought to life after a re-roast!
A lot of it is luck too I suppose but it did wonders for me let us know how you go!

[Chip]

A current topic ...

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=11898

[wyardley]

If the tea is bad, I don't think roasting is likely to improve it much.

Maybe try drinking it a bit stronger. If it's really bad, save yourself the time and toss it in the trash or regift it to someone you don't like that much.

[ImmortaliTEA]

If the tea is bad, I don't think roasting is likely to improve it much.

Maybe try drinking it a bit stronger. If it's really bad, save yourself the time and toss it in the trash or regift it to someone you don't like that much.

Agreed. Honestly I stopped chasing that Yulan Orchid/Wild Lilly Wildflower aroma because its something that is only in the freshest harvests and even then I had a great example one time that I bought a kilo of and after about 2 months that aroma was completely gone and replaced with something more like stewed collard greens . I have since switched to more roasted teas which seem much more "stable" for longer term enjoyment!

[beecrofter]

Tea you can replace,
time you cannot,
life is far too short for cheap, spoiled, or bad tea.

[TIM]

Tea you can replace,
time you cannot,
life is far too short for cheap, spoiled, or bad tea.

Word!

[Hannah]

You guys certainly have a point!!

Part of the reason I started my journey was chasing after good tea..
My god mother gifted me a tin of monkey picked oolong from China, it was the most beautiful orchid smelling, sweet, smooth BEST TGY ever.. And to this day I haven't been able to find anything that's come close I still have the tin though.. ANYWAY that's a topic for another thread

[beecrofter]

One day he was plodding along a dusty Indian road, having newly descended from the high mountains of Kafisistan, when a great thirst overtook him. “Soon,” he said to himself, “I must come across somewhere that good fruit is to be had.”
No sooner were the words formed in his brain than he rounded a corner and saw sitting in the shade of a tree a benevolent-looking man, with a basket in front of him.
Piled high in the basket were huge, shiny red fruits. “This is what I need,” said Nasrudin. Taking two tiny coppers from the knot at the end of his turban, he handed them to the fruit-seller.
Without a word the man handed him the whole basket, for this kind of fruit is cheap in India, and people usually buy it in smaller amounts.
Nasrudin sat down in the place vacated by the fruitier, and started to munch on the fruits. Within seconds, his mouth was burning. Tears streamed down his cheeks, fire was in his throat. The Mulla went on eating. An hour or two passed, and then an Afghan Hillman came past. Nasrudin hailed him. “Brother, these infidel fruits must come [from] the very mouth of Sheitan!”
“Fool!” said the Hillman. “Hast thou never heard of chilies of Hindustan? Stop eating them at once or death will surely claim a victim before the sun is down.”
“I cannot move from here,” gasped the Mulla, “until I have finished the whole basketful.”
“Madman! Those fruits belong in curry! Throw them away at once.”
“I am not eating fruit any more,” croaked Nasrudin, “I am eating my money.”

[jayinhk]

Love it!

I'd still try and give the tea at least a little heat to see if it's a moisture issue.

[Chip]

... still it could be worth some degree of effort. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

If I got it from a reputable source I trust, and unless the tea is funky in some way, I would try and salvage the situation. Then if successful I would pat myself on the back. If failed, at least I tried. I enjoy a good TeaChallenge!

My problem is I think too much of the hands that went into making the tea, the labor. I have to at least try.

But there is certainly plenty of crapola TGY out there. Or any type of tea for that matter ...

[Moon_Walker]

The effort was huge!

I roasted it on 2 times for 2-3 hours each time and my wife
asked me what the hell i am doing that she can not hear the TV but
the oven fan instead.... :-O
Finaly it smells like a roasted tea... i will brew it soon.

[jayinhk]

Give it at least 2-3 days rest. I just tried some more of the 3 Stamp Shui Xian I pan roasted for a few minutes earlier in the week. It tastes as good, or even better, than when I bought it!

This may be interesting reading: they roasted a 'grassy' tasting TGY and found it improved significantly.

http://tea-obsession.blogspot.hk/2007/1 ... -here.html