Thanks to Mark B for this sample!!
Pretty sure I underleafed the cup as I had a hard time getting much flavour.
There were some honeyed sweet tones, some mild brothy notes, and an even milder vegetal aspect that was very hidden underneath. Next time, I’ll try more leaf in the infuser!

Kittenna

Yeah, I tend to dump a lot of leaves in my infuser now, as I prefer a stronger flavour. I keep it to about a 1 min infusion at 82C, as well.

Indigobloom

Yeah I had it at one minute but went in for more after finding the lack of flavour. Plus I have to guess at temp! (thermometer doesn’t reach the bottom so leaves most of the rod exposed and gives off an inaccurate reading)

Kittenna

What sort of thermometer? Most have the sensor right at the tip. I use my meat thermometer (as you may remember seeing previously :D)

Indigobloom

One I bought at Davids eons ago. I did a test once, using a really tall glass vs one of my mugs. Not entirely controlled since there was more liquid in the glass, but it gave a much higher temp reading almost immediately, up to 96 I think it was, whereas when I use my mug it never reads above 91!
Though it occurred to me later that I didn’t pour the water overtop of the thermometer, which I haven’t tried yet.

Kittenna

I wonder if it’s because the mug sucked more of the heat out of the water than the glass. My mom has a DT one, and yeah, it never hits over about 91 in her mug, but that’s just because of heat loss. If she nuked the mug + water, I’m sure it would read boiling. I don’t think a great deal of the probe needs to be in the water. I mean, as much as possible is certainly better! But a cm or two is probably ok.

Indigobloom

hmmm I thought about that to! but keep forgetting to test it. I really should one of these days!! I mean, I’ve heard about people warming up their mugs first so that the water is true temp and not skewed by heat suckage

Kittenna

Yeah. I used to microwave all my water, so it was always truly boiling when I made teas requiring boiling water. Now I use a kettle, and don’t bother heating the mugs. For teas that need boiling, I just pop in the infuser immediately. For teas that need ~90, I wait maybe 10 seconds before putting in the infuser, and for teas that need ~80, I use my thermometer (because different mugs/water volumes take different times to reach 80, and usually teas requiring that temp are finicky!)

Indigobloom

Yah that’s how I do it mostly, but I found that in the heat of summer things work a bit differently! heh.
I know I should use the thermometer more… I will, eventually! :)

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Comments

Kittenna

Yeah, I tend to dump a lot of leaves in my infuser now, as I prefer a stronger flavour. I keep it to about a 1 min infusion at 82C, as well.

Indigobloom

Yeah I had it at one minute but went in for more after finding the lack of flavour. Plus I have to guess at temp! (thermometer doesn’t reach the bottom so leaves most of the rod exposed and gives off an inaccurate reading)

Kittenna

What sort of thermometer? Most have the sensor right at the tip. I use my meat thermometer (as you may remember seeing previously :D)

Indigobloom

One I bought at Davids eons ago. I did a test once, using a really tall glass vs one of my mugs. Not entirely controlled since there was more liquid in the glass, but it gave a much higher temp reading almost immediately, up to 96 I think it was, whereas when I use my mug it never reads above 91!
Though it occurred to me later that I didn’t pour the water overtop of the thermometer, which I haven’t tried yet.

Kittenna

I wonder if it’s because the mug sucked more of the heat out of the water than the glass. My mom has a DT one, and yeah, it never hits over about 91 in her mug, but that’s just because of heat loss. If she nuked the mug + water, I’m sure it would read boiling. I don’t think a great deal of the probe needs to be in the water. I mean, as much as possible is certainly better! But a cm or two is probably ok.

Indigobloom

hmmm I thought about that to! but keep forgetting to test it. I really should one of these days!! I mean, I’ve heard about people warming up their mugs first so that the water is true temp and not skewed by heat suckage

Kittenna

Yeah. I used to microwave all my water, so it was always truly boiling when I made teas requiring boiling water. Now I use a kettle, and don’t bother heating the mugs. For teas that need boiling, I just pop in the infuser immediately. For teas that need ~90, I wait maybe 10 seconds before putting in the infuser, and for teas that need ~80, I use my thermometer (because different mugs/water volumes take different times to reach 80, and usually teas requiring that temp are finicky!)

Indigobloom

Yah that’s how I do it mostly, but I found that in the heat of summer things work a bit differently! heh.
I know I should use the thermometer more… I will, eventually! :)

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Bio

Let’s see… I’m a tea and workout fanatic, I work in HR, and most of my friends consider me to be an egg. White on the outside, Asian on the inside :)
-from philosophy to food, I love it all
Otherwise, what you see is what you get! I can be very straightforward and yet shy.

Also, I’ve started taking tea sommelier classes and it is an absolute blast! Well, so far I’ve only finished the first out of eight courses, but I am really looking forward to the next one.

Anyhow, if your curious as to how I rate things, this is how I work…

0-25
Like eating dirt, or some other unsanitary indelicacy that mentioning in my profile here would likely get me banned.
I don’t think I’ve found cause to banish a tea to the wasteland yet though so who knows what it’d inspire ;P

25-50
You know that expression “Don’t throw the baby out with the bathwater”? I imagine drinking that water would be terrible enough to warrant this rating!
I’d never make my enemy drink this, but perhaps I’d throw it at them. Good thing I don’t have any enemies!

50-70
This is “tea”?? I tried finishing the cup… but my body rejected it. There may be others who enjoy this tea, but it’s beyond me!

70-80
I tried liking it, and I can almost get there! I certainly don’t hate it, but something is holding me back. Allergies? Men in white suits? who knows… certainly not me!

80-90
Lovely tea! Not my all time fave but close. I likely wouldn’t repurchase, but may decide to based on many factors: price, accessibility, whether it fills a “tea gap”, medicinal applications, and how often I crave it.
Every once in awhile I find the sweet spot that bumps these up to 90+. Those are the days I need to buy a lotto ticket!

90-95
Sweet Camellia! this is realllly good tea! Don’t talk to me until I’ve finished my cup…

95-100
Tea of the gods. I would do anything to get my hands on more of this liquid gold!

Location

Toronto (Mississauga, but I work in TO)

Website

http://hrslinger.wordpress.com/

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