pu-erh maiden help

[insanitylater]

i followed the 5-6 minute 1 tablespoon instructions on the tin and liked what i ended up with. i seem to be reading that it's better to do short infusions of 10-15 seconds each. how many infusions do you guys do and how many seconds each ? until i get my gaiwan i am just using the paper filters adaigo sells and my ceramic teapot

[Wesli]

Gongfu-style in my gaiwan. Boiling water, 1-2 five-second rinses, then about eight or so 5-second steeps.

[insanitylater]

5 second steeps seem kind of short. how much leaf are we talking ?

[insanitylater]

well 5 seconds was tasty

[Wesli]

Heh, 5 seconds is usually the time it takes for me to put the lid back on and pour the steep.

[insanitylater]

so it's like a flash infusion

[Wesli]

That's exactly it. First 2-3 are like that, then 5...10...20..40....60....

[Deleted User #14259]

The way I learned with a gaiwan was one or two short rinses (two for brick pu) and then 30 second steeps. After the 5th steep, increase the steep time by 10 seconds or so each steep.

But the essence of gongfu style is working with it to find the best combination of amount of tea, water temperature, steep time, etc etc, many different techniques work well, and each tea will react differently to each formula.
At the tea shop I frequent they suggested a mere 6 second steep for milk oolong foa very delicate, smooth taste. Longer steep if you want it fuller, but with some bitterness.

Experiment and find what works for you.

[Wesli]

Just posted my review of the maiden. It should be interesting for you to check out and compare.

http://thegreenteareview.blogspot.com/2 ... aiden.html

[insanitylater]

how much leaf did you end up using. i couldn't tell !

[Wesli]

Sorry, I just threw in the entire sample. I'm thinking 1-2 tsp.

[insanitylater]

how can i confirm whether my puerh was really handpicked by virgin girls ?

i wonder how they can tell