Comments on: How to Make Tea http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/ Adrian Bye - Thoughts From An Internet Entrepreneur In The Caribbean Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:49:00 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: disconetworks http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-9743 disconetworks Mon, 08 Feb 2010 23:21:59 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-9743 apropos apropos

]]> By: Skeptic http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-7177 Skeptic Mon, 06 Jul 2009 15:37:36 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-7177 I know what you mean. I once bought and rarely used a $30 juicer because it was so hard to clean, whereas the one I have now ($60) is quite easy to clean & I use it several times a week. Our devices shouldn't discourage us from using them. I read a very good book some years ago by Donald Norman that elaborates on this point. In addition, I noticed that on Amazon there's a variable temp kettle that sells for only $50. This might be better for people who are newer to tea. There's no audible beep but it's cheap. http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-UtiliTEA-Variable-Temperature-30-Ounce/dp/B001A5NFQA/ Anyway enjoy your time in China. I know what you mean. I once bought and rarely used a $30 juicer because it was so hard to clean, whereas the one I have now ($60) is quite easy to clean & I use it several times a week. Our devices shouldn’t discourage us from using them. I read a very good book some years ago by Donald Norman that elaborates on this point.

In addition, I noticed that on Amazon there’s a variable temp kettle that sells for only $50. This might be better for people who are newer to tea. There’s no audible beep but it’s cheap.
http://www.amazon.com/Adagio-Teas-UtiliTEA-Variable-Temperature-30-Ounce/dp/B001A5NFQA/

Anyway enjoy your time in China.

]]> By: Adrian Bye http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-7130 Adrian Bye Tue, 30 Jun 2009 07:32:01 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-7130 I thought about your initial post afterwards -- I actually originally bought another kettle which just shows the temperature on it. And I gladly changed for this one I have now -- because its much easier. I just put the water in, set the temperature I want for the type of tea i'm drinking and I can come back once it's ready. With the other methods you have to stand around waiting for it to boil to the right temperature. That caused me to use it far less because I had to keep checking on it - not even a noise to tell when the water is the right temperature. My current kettle makes a noise and switches off automatically. I'm in China right now and have been in Beijing and Shanghai for the past 10 days drinking a lot of local tea in restaurants, and I think my tea using the above info is orders of magnitude better. I thought about your initial post afterwards — I actually originally bought another kettle which just shows the temperature on it. And I gladly changed for this one I have now — because its much easier. I just put the water in, set the temperature I want for the type of tea i’m drinking and I can come back once it’s ready. With the other methods you have to stand around waiting for it to boil to the right temperature. That caused me to use it far less because I had to keep checking on it – not even a noise to tell when the water is the right temperature. My current kettle makes a noise and switches off automatically.

I’m in China right now and have been in Beijing and Shanghai for the past 10 days drinking a lot of local tea in restaurants, and I think my tea using the above info is orders of magnitude better.

]]> By: Skeptic http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-7127 Skeptic Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:28:23 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-7127 I would additionally comment that I'm not a complete tightwad and that I've contemplated buying a $70 Pu'erh disc, in lieu of the $7 disc, which is roughly the same mass & size. I may ultimately do that just for the experience... after all Pu'erh contains anti-cancer EGCG, plus it lowers LDL cholesterol, so it's worth getting the good stuff. As regards temperature, a less cheap approach might be to buy an infrared thermometer like chefs use, which is multipurpose and starts at $50 on Amazon. One could work out a technique to ensure that the tea water is always within a certain range when removed from a microwave oven. For instance cold tap water is usually around ground temperature, so zap that for let's say 4:30 (depending on the microwave oven) and it may be just right. Personally I would try to borrow the infrared as I don't need it otherwise. I would additionally comment that I’m not a complete tightwad and that I’ve contemplated buying a $70 Pu’erh disc, in lieu of the $7 disc, which is roughly the same mass & size. I may ultimately do that just for the experience… after all Pu’erh contains anti-cancer EGCG, plus it lowers LDL cholesterol, so it’s worth getting the good stuff.

As regards temperature, a less cheap approach might be to buy an infrared thermometer like chefs use, which is multipurpose and starts at $50 on Amazon. One could work out a technique to ensure that the tea water is always within a certain range when removed from a microwave oven. For instance cold tap water is usually around ground temperature, so zap that for let’s say 4:30 (depending on the microwave oven) and it may be just right.

Personally I would try to borrow the infrared as I don’t need it otherwise.

]]> By: Adrian Bye http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-7099 Adrian Bye Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:06:19 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-7099 Interesting feedback, thanks for posting. I do like to make my tea at the right temperature and notice a big difference between properly heated and tea steeped for the right amount of time. Overall I don't see $200-$300/year on tea as a major expense, but perhaps we see things differently. Interesting feedback, thanks for posting. I do like to make my tea at the right temperature and notice a big difference between properly heated and tea steeped for the right amount of time. Overall I don’t see $200-$300/year on tea as a major expense, but perhaps we see things differently.

]]> By: Skeptic http://adrianbye.com/2009/05/01/how-to-make-tea/comment-page-1/#comment-7098 Skeptic Fri, 26 Jun 2009 12:50:22 +0000 http://adrianbye.com/?p=123#comment-7098 I see a large emphasis on gear and expense here and I'd like to point out it's just not necessary. I can take a bus ($1) to my local rundown Korean market and buy a Pu'erh tea brick for $7 and the tea tastes about the same with hot or warm water. If I really care about temperature I can use a candy thermometer ($4) to make sure the temp is just right. I have an oversized tea ball that was a splurge at $4. To summarize, there is no need for expensive gear or much gear at all. If the goal is to buy gear to show off to friends well, the money'd be better spend on a shrink, that's what I say. I see a large emphasis on gear and expense here and I’d like to point out it’s just not necessary. I can take a bus ($1) to my local rundown Korean market and buy a Pu’erh tea brick for $7 and the tea tastes about the same with hot or warm water. If I really care about temperature I can use a candy thermometer ($4) to make sure the temp is just right. I have an oversized tea ball that was a splurge at $4. To summarize, there is no need for expensive gear or much gear at all. If the goal is to buy gear to show off to friends well, the money’d be better spend on a shrink, that’s what I say.

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