Monday TeaDay 5/4/09 Amount of leaf/importance?

[Chip]

Greeting TeaChatters and welcome to TeaDay. Please come in and share what is your cup with us.

Yesterday responders indicated their fave all time novelists. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Let's talk about brewing. How important is the amount of leaf you use to brew your favorite TYPE of tea? PLEASE focus on the amount of leaf you use today, or you may get banned for ruining my topics the next few days!!!!! So, discuss!

I am looking forward to sharing tea with everyone on TeaDay! BTW, bottoms up.

[Geekgirl]

I don't always measure by weight, but I have a pretty good idea of the volume of each type of leaf I regularly brew, and am careful to try for consistency. I don't like weak tea.

[Salsero]

The amount of leaf, the time, and the water temp ... everything else is detail, so the amount of leaf is very important for me.

[olivierco]

The amount of leaf, the time, and the water temp ... everything else is detail, so the amount of leaf is very important for me.

+1

Kaboku sencha this morning.

[entropyembrace]

I said it's important but most good quality teas are pretty flexible with brewing parameters other than the few with finicky characters.

And I never measure anything when I make tea, it's supposed to be relaxing...measuring everything and calculating exact ratios isn't relaxing.

2007 Single Bush Milan Dancong before bed tonight ^^

[iannon]

more important with some japanese greens i think but if i screw up my leaf measurements i adjust time and/or water

[Trey Winston]

The amount of leaf, the time, and the water temp ... everything else is detail, so the amount of leaf is very important for me.

+1.
My whites are very sensitive to the amount of leaf. Rule of thumb: Use more than you think could possibly be necessary.

White Symphony for me today, and I suspect all day.

[Drax]

I have a suspicion as to what questions will be coming later in the week, so I drew the line at the amount of leaf simply being "important." Since there are a lot of variables that interact with each other (that is, to some degree you can compensate changes in one with changes in others), I won't attempt to rank them in importance.

Yesterday afternoon I started a sample of 1980s Xiaguan 8653 from Nadacha. It look about 4 or 5 infusions before it really opened up into a wonderful cup of tea, and I took it through a total of 11 infusions. This morning, I'm doing some long brews (20min) to continue to enjoy it.

[omegapd]

The amount of leaf, the time, and the water temp ... everything else is detail, so the amount of leaf is very important for me.

Now you ruined the poll for the next 2 days! Ban time!!!

Amount of leaf is crucial for the right flavors to come out...

EW

[chad]

I voted "Important" but I'm definately not overly critical and never weigh the tea...for most, rounded teaspoon and go from there. Some are obviously differerent like the Pai Mu Tan I enjoy it's "fluffy".

Margaret's Hope darjeeling today.

[Selaphiel]

I consider the amount of leaf to be extremely important for my favorite type of tea at least (which is Japanese greens). Bad measuring of leaf can make some really crappy cups of tea if you are unlucky I tend to use a digital scale for most teas, I start with the recommended amounts for the specific amount of tea then I work my way from there to adjust it to my personal taste for that specific tea.
The negative side of this is that tea drinking can become too systematic and scientific instead of something spontaneous and esoteric.

Yunnan gold today. I really hit the perfect spot when making that today, never had a better cup of Yunnan gold.

[cherylopal]

I voted somewhat important- I feel as there is a bit of give and don't feel as if I want to get to extreme (or banned!!)

drinking teabags from ocha at work- trying to minimize the cooties as much as I can!

[Mrs. Chip]

Good TeaDayMorn everyone!

I am very new to the forum
and to brewing tea.

Well, who wouldn't be if you have the Teamaan of Green brewing your tea for you day after day

But I am learning rather quickly with such a patient and excellent Teacher.

So, my vote for the amount of leaf used for my favorite type of tea would be extremely important. And of course it is Japanese Greens.

We had a busy TeaTable this morn, but I will let DH post the particulars.

Here's to a Really TEAriffic TeaDay everyone.

[Odinsfury]

While I consider it important, in my experience it is secondary to using the correct temperature. Sometimes the length of time the leaves are steeped is just as important and other times it doesn't matter a whole lot.

[brlarson]

Amount of leaf is extremely important. You can compensate in other ways but your results will be different too. You can regulate your leaf as part of a budgeting strategy or to insure that your tea has the richness that you require.

Divini-Tea Organic Wuyi oolong again this morning. I have one pot left in the bag.