In light of the recent pair of user-caused green tea fails and the weak oolong a week or two back, I decided to try something different today. A 6oz cup. I hoped to manage multiple steeps so not to feel bad for “wasting” tea by only doing one steep. I hoped to trick myself into thinking I was drinking less tea and therefore, drink more tea. I hoped the tea would be tasty. Oh wait, I always hope the tea will be tasty. =)
The 1st steep was back to the yummy oolong I remembered. The first few sips I thought I was in for the weak oolong that I got last time I had this. Cooling a bit changed it back to good. Could be a bit stronger though still.
2nd steep: 4 min 20 sec, 200° F.
Darker in color. Stronger in taste. Good.
3rd steep: 5 min, 200° F.
Wow, this one is really good. I noticed the difference in taste immediately. Roasty woodsy drinkability.
4th steep: 5 min 30 sec, 200° F.
Another really good one. Hints of the 3rd steep, reminiscent of a good cigar. I thought this was going to be the weak time-to-stop-steeping steep on the first few sips. But it was not.
5th steep: set timer for 6 min, forgot to start, unknown long time. 200° F.
Water with essences of steep 4. The time-to-stop-steeping steep.
This is one of the most times I’ve steep a tea. And I’m not really sure how much the time should increase between steeps. I picked 30 seconds cause that seemed like a good noticeable increase in time. Maybe I try 15 seconds next time. I know it doesn’t need more than 30.
Well, the 6oz cup worked on all three counts. I look forward to trying a green this way.
