Friday TeaDay 2/20/09 Casual or formal approach?

[Chip]

Feliz TeaDayz everyone. Please share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday an amazing 82% of responders indicated their most common brew time was less than 3 minutes. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Continuing on yesterday's theme, GENERALLY SPEAKING, how would you describe your approach to brewing? Casual/laid-back/unfussy/easygoing? Or are you more formal/precise/painstaking/serious? Please share.

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone, bottoms up.

[Salsero]

I am way too obsessive about brewing. Coincidentally, today's pictured tea was one of the rare instances when I just threw some leaf in the gaiwan and brewed it a bit ... no timer, no scale, no references, no guidelines, no notes.

It was the first time I brewed this, but I'm pretty sure I did not bring out its full potential. Note to self: next time, more leaf.

Thanks to Cinnabar Red and Steve for the sample of this aged Danny Boy.

[brandon]

I voted for the second-to-last. I am very serious, but I also rarely measure time, temperature or weight scientifically. I am also a little sloppy in technique compared to some. Hard time explaining why I voted this way, but I stand by it.



Stuff that pot til it bleeds tea!

[omegapd]

I am the type to weigh the tea, measure the cup, and set the timer. I'm like that in all my hobbies, though.

[brlarson]

Definitely serious and precise. I measure everything and I take notes. Serious explorations/examinations occur at night and on weekends. Weekday mornings are for potfuls of tea.

Finished yesterday with O-Cha's Uji Miyabe, Upton's Spring Dragon, and Teaspring's Huo Shan Huang Ya. Morning will probably find Hou de's zheng-yen shui xian in my cup.

[Trey Winston]

I'm usually more casual than not. I have been known to be very thorough in weighing the leaf and measuring the exact water temperature and steeping time, but that's mostly for teas that are new to me. Once I get used to them, I prefer the easygoing approach.

[tsverrir]

I voted middle of the road. The truth is that I'm all over the spectrum, depending on the tea and the occasion. Sometimes I throw a few leaves in a glass mug and leave them in while I'm drinking. I find it pleasing to see the beautiful leaves in the mug while enjoying their taste and aroma. Then I also like to go full gong fu with yixing pot and aroma- and tasting cups.
Whatever the mood calls for...

[boywoodhe]

I voted middle of the road. I'm laid back with herbals and whites but a bit fussy with greens and blacks.

[Drax]

Oh, here we go again... I took brewing process to mean the whole shebang. When I hear "formal" I think Japanese Tea Ceremony level of formality... not necessarily being precise about my measurements. In that vein, I picked the least formal option, as I'm often singing or whistling while I make tea, and in the morning, I'm still in my pyjamas. I would be more formal if I were serving tea to others.

Strangely, even though I use a scale to weigh the tea (only to the nearest gram, though), and a timer when I brew, and I have a thermometer to check the temperature for greens, I'm not ultra-anal about it. I let em go where they are and go from there, mostly....

This morning, I'm having some Yunnan Gold from Adagio. I have no idea how they can say this "sample tin" can make 10 cups. I think I'm going to get 3 sessions with it (granted, I tend to double-up on my black tea). But still, good stuff... it's got that great 'peppery' type of black tea taste.

[cherylopal]

I here you Drax- that was my first thought too and then I remembered my first brewings in my new teaware and chose middle of the road. I am precise (although I remain scaleless still) for my first times esp with tea that is dear- read OCha- but can be more relaxed after although I still measure.

Today is teacher appreciation day so I decided to enjoy some Kame Gyokuro this am which I am really appreciating. (Yeah I can now say that!!) I found that I needed my water to be almost 145 this am even with preheated cups and pots- curses to this current cold snap!

[chad]

Definately laid-back.

Once in a while I'll measure, use timer, and/or check the water temperature - but not often.

Lover's Leap estate pekoe this a.m. - and it's STOUT! Guess I needed to set the time, huh?

[acdidion]

It all depends on the tea and how much time I have. With my morning black I am usually tired and I just kinda guess how much leaf I have, I boil the water, I do set a timer though, almost always. When I have more time I brew greens and whites and I take more care with measuring the leaf and checking the temp of the water ect. So i chose middle of the road.

[Smari]

Middle of the road for me. Days that I have time to have "formal" tea, I'd go for that approach and days that my free time is limited, I go casual.

This morning, Adagio's Ti Kuan Yin.

Lovely Friday photos BTW!

[geeber1]

Wait, let me put on my "overthinking" cap!

I said more laid back, although I use a timer 99% of the time, except on days starting with T and when there's a full moon.

Having some Keemun Rhapsody this morning. Happy Friday everyone!

[Sydney]

I could kid myself, but the digital scales, thermometer/timer thingy, assorted specialty teaware, youtube vids, and friendly ragging from other TeaThugs proves I'm more fussy than average. heh

This morning I have the matcha sweats.