A couple of beginner teaware questions

[tj-teadrinker]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone had thoughts on the following:

1) The importance of a scale? I'm starting to think this might be a good idea because so many of the tea leaves are so different, it's hard to measure the right amount with teaspoons. But, will it really make a difference?

2) Tea storage - are the containers adagio provides tea in good enough to store tea for several months, or do I need to consider special tea storage containers?

Thanks in advance.

[Samovar]

After using a tea scale I found that I can never be without one. You are correct in that the type of leaves will determine the amount of tea that is needed.

I purchased a tea scale from Upton Tea Imports.

http://www.uptontea.com/shopcart/item.a ... tegoryID=0

Agagio's tea containers are perfect for storing tea.

Samovar

[Mary R]

I second Samovar's scale opinion. You can find many nice varieties at Old Will Knot Scales, usually for quite a few dollars less than at other places. The My Weigh 300-Z seems to be a popular model among the tea set.

Adagio's containers are pretty great, but perhaps the sample containers aren't quite as airtight as the larger ones. They do a nice job, though.

[tj-teadrinker]

Thanks for the responses. I'll get a scale then.

When I find a tea I like I usually get the sizes larger than the sample tin size anyways, so I guess I should be OK.

[Space Samurai]

Yeah I like the 300 Z, and now that I have a scale, there's no going back.

[Samovar]

I see that the 300-Z does not give cup weight like the Upton scale does.

How many grams are needed to make a cup?

Samovar

[Joe Z]

It depends on what your measuring. A gram is a measure of mass, while a cup is a measurement of volume.

There are however 8 ounces in a cup.

[Samovar]

It depends on what your measuring. A gram is a measure of mass, while a cup is a measurement of volume.

There are however 8 ounces in a cup.

Talking about tea.

Samovar

[LavenderPekoe]

I have this scale. I got it from ebay for a total of $25.98.

[Eastree]

It depends on what your measuring. A gram is a measure of mass, while a cup is a measurement of volume.

There are however 8 ounces in a cup.

Cupweight is not a measurement of volume. It's the weight of tea (or mass deduced from weight) as would be generally necessary to make a cup of tea (English style, or whatever). I think it's about 3g/240ml. (3g/cup).

I could be wrong.

Perhaps someone with a cupweight scale can measure to an even cupweight, then measure again in grams to see?

[tj-teadrinker]

Cupweight is not a measurement of volume. It's the weight of tea (or mass deduced from weight) as would be generally necessary to make a cup of tea (English style, or whatever). I think it's about 3g/240ml. (3g/cup).

I could be wrong.

I don't have a scale yet (obviously), but from reading the site carefully, I think you have it exactly right. Instead of measuring to say 3 grams for a cup of tea, you measure to 1 "cupweight" (assuming 3 grams is what it thinks should go into a cup).

The website says:

If measuring in CupWt mode, the display will show the number of cups to be steeped.

[Chip]

...time for me to weigh in on this topic.

I never used a scale, for years just eyeballing it. Then I got Upton's scale last year. My gosh, such a revelation. Simply put, the best most consistant tea I have ever had.

rightonscales.com has a nice selection. I want a cooler, smaller scale now.

[Space Samurai]

One of the things I really like about using a scale is knowing how much I get when I buy tea. 3 grams per serving/90 gram tin and what not.

[Chip]

One of the things I really like about using a scale is knowing how much I get when I buy tea. 3 grams per serving/90 gram tin and what not.

Yes, and also, I really like how I can quantify my parameters as I experiment with a new tea. 4.25 grams of sencha per 200 ml seems a little weak, ok, let me try 4.5 or 4.75 grams. I like the way I can precisely experiment until it is perfect.