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[theinevitable]

yeah, I think it is definitely that I am buying some weak-ass tea. I left the teabag in for 5 minutes at a coffee place the other day and basically had to throw the tea out because it was so gross.

[smick]

Sugar in tea doesn't make you an infidel!

Some teas are totally meant for that.   It's not like you're saying you put flavored non-dairy creamer in your tea!

(Don't... I ran out of soymilk at work, and tried to use one of those things... so afwul)

[side_show]

Steep times vary a lot.  Bagged tea takes much longer as far as I'm concerned, but not always because of quality - in a bag everything is compacted and doesn't have as much space to expand so it takes longer for the leaves to saturate.  Swishing it around or dunking it helps speed things up.

Loose Black teas: 3-5 mins  (in my experience assams need a lot less time than other variates, being so small)
Loose Greens: 5+ mins
Loose Oolong: 3-5 mins, but only after a first flush to open the leaves
Loose Herbal: 8 mins

Bagged black teas: 7-15 mins
Bagged Green tea: 15 min plus
Bagged  Oolong:  I have no idea - the whole point of Oolong as far as I'm concerned is to allow the whole leaves to unfurl fully for best flavour, which is impossible in a bag
Bagged Herbals:  I just leave the bag in the whole time until it's all be drunk.  Especially for chai, which in my opinion is best was pungently strong.

[Nabubrush]

Dave Byrne is down with some sugar in his tea.

[wombat]

What is the deal with those Assams that are in teensy tinsy pieces? I used to drink one that came in normal sized leaves and then I ordered a sampler from Upton of several kinds and they were all tiny and I didn't like any of them. And then Nabu gave me one for Secret Santa that is really good and it's normal sized leaves, and that is the one I order now.

[pmcd9]

Whiskey in your water, sugar in your tea?  What's all these crazy questions you're asking me?

[smick]

Dave Byrne is down with some sugar in his tea.

Just put it right there on his tongue.

[side_show]

What is the deal with those Assams that are in teensy tinsy pieces? I used to drink one that came in normal sized leaves and then I ordered a sampler from Upton of several kinds and they were all tiny and I didn't like any of them. And then Nabu gave me one for Secret Santa that is really good and it's normal sized leaves, and that is the one I order now.

I onced watched a lady process tea, and it involved gently rolling the undried leaves around by hand on a rounded surface under her open palm and fingers until they turned into tiny balls.  I've heard of some tea being called pearls, but I'm not sure if that's what these little Assam bits are, as the ones I've seen labelled specifically as pearls are typically larger than the little assam bits you mention.  If I look at the assam I drink both before rehydrating and after, they don't appear to be balls of leaves (which would unfurl when hydrated), but semi-solid bits that expand, but don't change shape when used.

[Nabubrush]

Just put it right there on his tongue.

You know you deserve a can but I can't give you one.

[AugustWest]

how long do you steep your tea? The internet says around 5 minutes, but that makes my tea taste like leaf-water instead of TEA. I normally put it in my travel mug and leave the bag in on the drive to work, ~15 minutes. Maybe this is because I have crappy tea.

The cool asian market near my house has the loose-leaf version of the tea I like, so maybe I'll try that one day soon.

Check out the instructions on the box of tea I just bought at the K-roger:

Bring fresh cold water to a rolling boil.  Let  water cool 5 to 7 minutes after boiling.  Pour water over one tea bag and steep 1 to 2 minutes.

You know, if I wanted lukewarm tap water I could get it from the kitchen sink.

[greenkoolayd]

"this Frisbee is not a floatation device."

"fried pork skins do not prevent STIs."

"look, fucker, we are not responsible if you try to cook a hot dog with this taser."