Tuesday TeaDay 2/24/09 Tea Techy?

[Chip]

Welcome TeaFriends to TeaDay. Please stop by and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday responders were pretty across the board on their current tea brewing trends compared to previously. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Brewing technology, could you do without a digital scale, thermometer, or timer? How much technology do you use to brew? High tech ... or low tech?

I am as always looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Victoria]

Low tech fo rme - I brew simply, no fuss.

[hooksie]

Low on the tech scale, but not stone age.

No thermometer, but that's because I dial up the temp on my kettle. Pretty fussy about my timer and steep times.


When it comes to the amount of tea I use, I resort to a rather low-tech invention known as the "spoon".

[Salsero]

Could you do without a digital scale, thermometer, or timer?
You have got to be kidding? Those all rank higher than a pacemaker or intravenous drip! This is the 21st Century unless I am mistaken.


Pretty leaves, disappointing brew.

[olivierco]

I have a digital scale, a digital thermometer and a timer.
I always use the scale, less and less frequently the thermometer.

Keemun mao feng imperial this morning.

[brandon]

Low tech and getting lower every day. Will probably insist on picking my own tea soon.

[Drax]

D'oh, you've got two opposed questions in the poll. I could do without technology (using eye to gauge weight, pouring hot water to cool it down till it feels right, counting out the brew time), but I don't... so I said kinda high tech. Hm.

This morning I'm trying the CNNP 2008 Blue Print, which comes from Bulang Mtn (or so they say), and definitely tastes like it... without being too overpowering. Of course, this is my first steep, and maybe the full might of Bulang is waiting in the next infusion or two to knock me on my feet...

[olivierco]

Kaboku sencha after my lunch. Two more sessions and this package will be finished. The good thing about 50g packages is that you can have two or three opened at the same time.

[shogun89]

I'm pretty low tech. I do however use a electric kettle. But only use the thermometer and timer when brewing the fussy sencha. Other than that its all by feel.

[Beidao]

Doing some Margaret's Hope to drink with my lunch after having Baozhong, Jasmine Pearls and Yerba Mate.

[chad]

Definately low tech.

I've got the thermometer (actually several: Thermopen, two Taylor analogs, 3-4 remote digitals - all from my BBQ hobby), three scales (one digital, one "postal", one "diet" scale)...I never use them for tea.

But, I just heat the water, "measure" the tea, and brew!

Margaret's Hope darjeeling in the mug this morning.

[bsteele]

I'm not sure, I'll have to ask my tea butler

[Smari]

I'm not too high techy when it comes to brewing. Even though I have access to all of the accessories (timer, thermometer, scale, etc), I still don't really use it.

Over the weekend, we just got a new kitten to add to the family. The little guy is not scared of the older cats at all but the older cats don't like him too much. So they just kept hissing at him. Hopefully, this whole process of accepting him won't take too long.

This morning, I'm just drinking my usual Alishan. I might switch up to masala chai in a little bit.

[Victoria]

~clicky~

Starting the day with matcha, thanks Chip! The sifted powder
made such a pretty pic against my purple matcha bowl.

Have a nice day everyone!

[brlarson]

Not very high tech for me. I use scales thermometers and timers, but I use these as a cheap replacement for experience since I didn't grow up with tea culture as several of you have. In fact I would prefer to do without the extra gadgets; perhaps someday I will.

I'm constantly looking for moderately-priced teas for everyday use but I also drink exceptional teas, teas from ancient trees, teas produced in limited quantities that are crafted by hand. It would be disrespectful and wasteful not to treat them with the care and attention that they deserve, so I will be using gadgets until I have enough experience to do without them.

Upton Wuyi Guan Yin (!) in my cup this morning.