I finally discovered hot tea at 40...better late than never!
I'm from the South so the only tea I had experience with was sweet, iced tea so this is VERY new to me and I really need help.
I ordered that ingenuiTEA pot and a black tea sampler. I've been drinking Celestial Seasonings Morning Thunder. I love a full, rich tea with plenty of caffeine so I ordered the Black Tea sampler. There are a few things I'm confused about:]
1-How much tea to a full Ingenuitea pot? How do you measure? I saw where someone used a kitchen spoon...was it a tablespoon? Also, would steeping 4 minutes be good? I kept running into bitter tea so my guess is that I oversteeped. That's actually an understatement...I leave the tea bags in the entire time. Hey...I LIKE it strong! But not bitter, of course.
Then there's the water. I have an electric kettle that shuts off when the water boils. I've been pouring the actual boiling water over the tea. How long should I wait after the unit has shut off and the water has stopped boiling until I should pour?
I was a big coffee drinker for years. I still like it but there's something completely addictive with tea. It isn't the ritual of making it...I did the same with a coffee press when I drank coffee...it just does something to my spirit. I feel better in the morning when I have that rich cup of tea. In fact, I feel like an addict sometimes. I can't wait to get the next fix!
Thanks so much for your help...I really appreciate anyone taking the time to answer. Any other advice would also be appreciated...I'm so new that everything is a novelty and interesting!
Ooops...almost forgot...I understand what multiple steeps are but how do you know when and with what tea to do it with? Does it mean after the first steep, I would start all over again with the same leaves? Does that work with all black tea? God, I feel like such an idiot.
Feb 22nd, '09, 06:30
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
Welcome again!
The Ingenuitea is about 16oz. Most people think that a teaspoon is good for 6.5 oz. or so. Kind of work along those parameters to get started. Many (most) black teas work very well with a 4 minute steep and boiling water. Over time, you may find some teas work well with lesser or more time and maybe cooler water. Usually, though, with black teas, boiling water is the norm. It's when you get into green/white teas that the temps can be much cooler.
Keep at it!
EW
The Ingenuitea is about 16oz. Most people think that a teaspoon is good for 6.5 oz. or so. Kind of work along those parameters to get started. Many (most) black teas work very well with a 4 minute steep and boiling water. Over time, you may find some teas work well with lesser or more time and maybe cooler water. Usually, though, with black teas, boiling water is the norm. It's when you get into green/white teas that the temps can be much cooler.
Keep at it!
EW
If you want your tea stronger increase the leaf not the time.
Too much steep time makes a bitter tea.
-good luck-
Too much steep time makes a bitter tea.
-good luck-
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly.
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.”
“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
“I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone: “so I ca’n’t take more.”
“You mean you ca’n’t take less,” said the Hatter: “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.”
Feb 22nd, '09, 13:08
Posts: 88
Joined: Feb 8th, '09, 10:57
Location: Buffalo, New York
Contact:
Nexius8510
Welcome welcome! One of the preferable methods that a lot of people do here is actually using a scale to measure the leaves as someone mentioned. Although some teas you'll notice have much fuller and larger/longer/fluffier leaves and some will be tiny, and able to be compacted into a smaller space without damaging the leaves. A scale is definitely preferable for the fluffy leaves which will prevent any damaging to the leaves instead of trying to pack them down into a teaspoon. But if your tea has a smaller leaf, a teaspoon for each 6-8oz is perfectly fine (for black teas). At least in my experience 
Welcome again!
Welcome again!Feb 22nd, '09, 16:17
Posts: 508
Joined: Apr 1st, '08, 12:43
Location: united states IL.
Contact:
silvermage2000
Hi salome000, welcome to the addiction
I havent used the IngenuiTEA so I can't help with that and I agree with the advice of the previous posters.
Tea is a whole lot of experimenting to see what you like and don't like. There arn't any rules to making good tea just suggestions because its all about your tastes and what you like. Buying the sample of black tea was a great idea, you wont be disapointed and it will help you find what you like. Multiple steeping will depend on your taste and because you like it stong probably 2 steeps will be all you get. I steep most blacks for 3 times. Probably because I don't mind it being a little less strong and Im cheap
Your teapot is probably good for black teas because as others have said it needs to boil(about 200F+). If you try white and green teas, I just use a regular cooking pan and a heat resistant thermometer for water heating. I heard somewhere on here that green/white should be between 160-190 hmm... or was it 160-180 I can't remember but I go between at about 175.
I havent used the IngenuiTEA so I can't help with that and I agree with the advice of the previous posters.
Tea is a whole lot of experimenting to see what you like and don't like. There arn't any rules to making good tea just suggestions because its all about your tastes and what you like. Buying the sample of black tea was a great idea, you wont be disapointed and it will help you find what you like. Multiple steeping will depend on your taste and because you like it stong probably 2 steeps will be all you get. I steep most blacks for 3 times. Probably because I don't mind it being a little less strong and Im cheap
Your teapot is probably good for black teas because as others have said it needs to boil(about 200F+). If you try white and green teas, I just use a regular cooking pan and a heat resistant thermometer for water heating. I heard somewhere on here that green/white should be between 160-190 hmm... or was it 160-180 I can't remember but I go between at about 175.
I too am a black tea drinker. I also use the inginuitea. For me, what I like to do is go a little strong on the amount of leaf and lower the steep time. I bounce from 2-3 minutes on the first steep. I do this to get a nice full flavored second steep. I steep round two the full 5 minutes and it makes a nearly identical cup.
Welcome to the crew.
Welcome to the crew.
I'm so glad to have found 'ya'll'!
Thanks for all the responses...I was overwhelmed and the idea of not brewing the perfect tea and having to waste a pot almost made me go fetal in the corner.
I'm purchasing a scale today and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the answer to steeping...I'll try the more tea/less steep first time and longer steep second time.
My order should arrive tomorrow. This morning, I'm drinking from tea bags again. Somehow, without ever even having 'good' tea, I've become a complete snob
I'm sure I'll have tons more questions tomorrow...thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I'm purchasing a scale today and I can't tell you how much I appreciate the answer to steeping...I'll try the more tea/less steep first time and longer steep second time.
My order should arrive tomorrow. This morning, I'm drinking from tea bags again. Somehow, without ever even having 'good' tea, I've become a complete snob
I'm sure I'll have tons more questions tomorrow...thank you, thank you, thank you!!
I use an ingenuitea and do two infusions, and mix them together in a 32oz thermos. This way I have a full quart of tea with good strength. My first infusion is 4 mins., and my second is 5 mins. In my opinion, the ingenuitea is the greatest thing since sliced bread. But then again, I am still excited about post it notes.
Steve
Steve
