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Bio

I enjoy tea and music.

I am specifically exploring the personal storage and aging of puerh tea. I also enjoy exploring the diversity of oolong, red tea and green tea.
For 10 years I tended to overcomplicate tea consumption and just now have started simplifying, or at least, have been reprioritizing my efforts. My focus has shifted to recognizing how a tea makes me feel instead of its flavor/aroma. I’m not very good at classifying taste and smell anyway (chuckle). My aim on Steepster (currently) is to prevent my experiences from being lost to my forgetful mind.

Equipment and methods:
Hawaii Pot – my favorite clay pot for indulgent sessions of raw puerh. Capacity: 250 ml. Simple design, tight fitting lid. When paired with White Bowl during solo session, I fill about 3/4 way.
White Bowl – glazed clay bowl, 175 ml.
Kettle – 2L clay kettle, typically fired on an electric coil burner. Set to hold just under boil – probably about 200 degrees F.
Storage – I use an old wooden desk with drawers to store and age some teas. Notably, one drawer is for short term. I try holding this to 70 degrees F and 60-70% RH. This drawer offers easy access to puerh samples being prepared for tasting. Most morning sessions will draw from this drawer. I also have long term raw puerh storage that hold solid at 65% RH and a ripe puerh storage that holds at about 70% RH. I’m using wetted clay pebbles to help maintain RH levels. Room temp is generally conditioned to 70 degrees F and humidity is about 50% RH.

Tea rating interpretation:
95 – Medicinal and notably pleasant
85 – Medicinal
75 – Notably pleasant
65 – Unremarkably pleasant
55 – I wouldn’t gift
45 – I wouldn’t purchase
35 – I wouldn’t drink again
25 – Yuk

Location

USA