Tea Tiger

[CJluvsT]

Has anyone used one of these? This thing intersts me, but it's designed to leave the tea leaves in it while you drink it. Wouldn't that make the tea bitter?! Wouldn't that oversteep the tea? Inquiring minds wanna know.

[Victoria]

Yes it would over steep - I imagine you could cold brew this way with some degree of success, but I wouldn't put hot water and oolong in there for long. Maybe some Chinese greens in small amounts. With most of these travel type "thermos", I brew my tea first, then pour into whatever it may be for travel.

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

Leaving the leaves in there would make for a bad cup. I read their description of the "Tea Tiger" online and it really doesent make much sense. I would personally get a travel mug that has a removeable mesh infuser basket within it. There are a lot of them on the market today. Personally, when I am making tea to take with me, I brew it in a pot at home and then pour it into my travel mug. Anyway, the "Tea Tiger" looks neat but I think it get a big fat zero on functionality---esp. if you want to actually drink it.

-Nick

[funkmaster nice]

When I was in Hangzhou many people would carry around water bottles with tea leaves in it like the tiger. From the looks of it some peoples' tea looked like it had been steeping all day, especially some of the taxi drivers. It depends on the tea you're using. Most of the people in Hangzhou drink longjing. It's a pretty light tea and doesn't get as astringent when steeped for long periods of time. I over steep my tea all the time. I guess I've developed a taste for it kind of like people that like tea without sugar. I got a similar bottle in China and I leave my leaves in all day.

[Wesli]

It won't oversteep if you use cool (~150°f) water.

[funkmaster nice]

haha I think I've been doing it wrong the whole time! I'll try a lower temp. Some people like those bottles because they like to show off their leaves. My professor said he liked to make his bottle look like an aquarium!

[CJluvsT]

Gee, I do have a few plastic fish I could throw in there! Wouldn't that attract attention! Yeah, the floating leaves do appeal to me too, but I want a good cup of tea. I think I'll hold off on buying one tho, until I gain more experience as a "proffesional" tea drinker! I just ordered the IngenuiTea, and I know I'll like that! Can't wait to get it!

Funny, I had a surprise birthday party yesterday (the big 50) and I got a beautiful teacup from one of friends! Now I won't have to drool all over my keyboard anymore admiring everyone elses! Thanks so much for all the helpful advice!

[Victoria]

You are welcome! The ingenuiTea makes a fine pot of tea, and was a starting place for many of us. You can use it with your new teacup and if you do buy a travel type "thermos" you can decant directly into it also.

And Happy Belated Birthday!!

[cherylopal]

Funny, I had a surprise birthday party yesterday (the big 50)!

Happy Birthday!!!

[trallis]

i've had a few of these from different companies. the one i have now is glass with a chrome top. it works extremely well for cold green tea.

I put a teaspoon or less in there and fill it with ice cold water. a few hours later i have some sweet green tea. i also occasionally drink hot oolongs from it. just use less leaf. depending on the tea it often stays good for a while and personally i dont even mind slightly bitter tea