Help with a Shou Pu'er
I need help with a 2008 Shou Pu’er that I call Jekyll and Hyde. The first time I had a steeping session with this tea I steeped it like I do all of my pu’er teas. Steepings 1 through 5 were awesome. Steepings 6 and on it lost all of its flavor. The next two steeping sessions this tea was awesome. During one session I steeped it 6 times and the other I steeped it 7 times without any loss of flavor. The other day I had another steeping session with this tea. I steeped it just like I did the other three steeping sessions. Steepings 1 through 3 were awesome. Steeping 4 bitter and steeping 5 so bitter I never finished it. Any inputs as to what I am doing wrong?
I really dont have any idea but im feeling chatty so…
Were you eatung anything while drinking you tea?
How clear were your sinuses? Possible cold or allergies?
Also, were you using the same water each time – ie the same source? Did you use tap water?
Was the water temp right for all steepings? Did you let the water cool at all during later steepongs? Any chance you over or understeeped at any time?
Just some possibilities. Often times problems are related to what you did or didnt do. Also if you are using an aluminum tea kettle that can make a big difference. The water can be ok for a little while but after reheating the same water a few times the water can sour.
Also, if you are using an electric kettle, itd possible that the temperature isnt accurate.
Good luckkk figuring iit out!
Are you using the same weight of pu’er? Same steeping vessel?
That has caught me in the past – one of my yixing pots pours really slow, causing the tea to steep longer than I’d like so I get different results than if I used my gaiwan.
Steeping time, weight brewed, vessel used and storage can affect how the tea brews. Many variables to consider in this .
Thanks for the inputs. This one has me baffled. I always clean my pot and cup after every steeping session. I use the same amount of tea leaves, I weigh them within a few hundredths of a gram. I use the same filtered water and the same amount of it. I also use a digital timer to ensure my steeping times are accurate. This process works for my other 13 pu’ers, just not this one.
What about resting time between infusions? even that can affect it sometimes too if it varies. Or even just your own tastebuds/taste perception can vary quite a lot depending on your mood and other external factors, perhaps this particular tea is really borderline and whether you enjoy it or not swings back and forth based on your own mood or other external factors.
I agree, they are all valid possibilities. It just seems strange how it is this one pu’er and the issues vary so much.
Might there be different leaf and leaf quality in different parts of the cake? It might even be different on the edges of the cake, for example, compared to an inner portion.
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