tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post4302287089888666950..comments2024-02-15T05:45:04.193-06:00Comments on Cwyn's Death By Tea: Tea ScumCwynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-73851943005711297472017-03-17T15:32:16.040-05:002017-03-17T15:32:16.040-05:00eBay or thrift stores for inexpensive stoneware.eBay or thrift stores for inexpensive stoneware.Cwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-79560283580141115612017-03-16T11:28:33.951-05:002017-03-16T11:28:33.951-05:00Hey no problem! I just read your Tea Somm certific...Hey no problem! I just read your Tea Somm certificate, which was hilarious, bravo. Also I'm not too sure about borax (not sure if sardonic)(I think it's better for grease and not plant matter and tannic buildup, just a guess.) Also as I sure you are aware, wiping will still leave aromatics in the cup. I have Borax too but I've never used it on teaware just toilets, and I wouldn't really recommend it on teaware. Since washing soda breaks down pretty harmlessly and is dissociates pretty quickly in water. I prefer the Japanese take on teaware. <br /><br />I haven't tried Poland Springs yet, I'll pick up a bottle. <br /><br />Also do you know a good place to pick up medium-ish size clay that isn't exuberantly expensive? I want to do aging experiments in clay, but everywhere wants all my monies.<br /><br />Thanks, <br />DevenUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06108081731127024830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-58105662605697928962017-03-08T14:48:45.246-06:002017-03-08T14:48:45.246-06:00Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. I ha...Thanks for stopping by and for your comments. I have Borax but just don't think I need it for tea ware. Regular rinsing and wiping avoids any scum problems altogether. But if I needed anything really grainy I suppose salt works fine.<br /><br />As for water, such experiments have already been done. I recall a post by MarshalN when he sent tea samples round to several drinkers and all used the same water to brew them. I recall Poland Spring is one water that some view favorably for tea brewing. I am fortunate that my water has very little scale, so I don't have too much build up unlike other places I've lived in the past. Cwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-54586219164875674392017-03-05T10:09:42.751-06:002017-03-05T10:09:42.751-06:00Yes baking soda will scratch your porcelain (and d...Yes baking soda will scratch your porcelain (and develop a patina),glazed clay should not develop a patina with care (don't use the scrubby side of your dish pad, use the soft side or something soft like a damp paper towel). You need to do this http://www.ehow.com/how_5859235_make-washing-soda.html and use sodium carbonate aka Washing Soda. I heard that where you are they should sell washing soda in the supermarkets/grocery stores. Also hand towelettes are usually Isopropyl with some sort of buffer and scent so I wouldn't. Though Isopropyl (a type of alcohol) is good to clean other resinous "scum"/buildup on different kind of glassware. <br /><br />I personally dissolve 1/8 to 1/16 tsp. washing soda in a little amount of water and wipe with a paper towel that I reuse (it has developed an illustrious patina btw). And rinse. Though every once in a while tea ware should be sanitized. <br /><br />On another personal note, although expensive, I think you tasters and review/commentators should get together and decide on a water to use uniformly. Just a thought. ta taUnknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06108081731127024830noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-39318179850968614792017-03-02T19:53:12.381-06:002017-03-02T19:53:12.381-06:00Oh that's interesting, never would've gues...Oh that's interesting, never would've guessed. I'm going to give that a try with a pu I already know well. <br /><br />Also good tip above about baking soda scratching porcelain. Didn't realize that it would scratch it - guess I won't be cleaning my porcelain stuff that way anymore!impuerthoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065029213462907113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-85399687566098992672017-03-02T12:33:53.605-06:002017-03-02T12:33:53.605-06:00Thank youThank youolliebasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490772777635220134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-81279057806460228012017-03-02T10:36:23.621-06:002017-03-02T10:36:23.621-06:00After the rinses my next two steepings are long, b...After the rinses my next two steepings are long, because the leaves are not open. Quick steeps too early give nothing but colored water, so forty seconds or so for the first steep, then thirty. Fourth steep is flash brewing which I continue until the tea fades, after which I start adding time to the flash brew. It is significant for me to note when this point arrives. Mega steepers will flash brew tens steeps before I start adding any time. A cheaper tea might be cashed out at that point and need two minute brews. Really depends on the tea. Liu Bao is a short steeper, the money brews are the first four.Cwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-23115621197691974882017-03-02T10:30:33.898-06:002017-03-02T10:30:33.898-06:00For glass, baking soda is okay. I cannot recommend...For glass, baking soda is okay. I cannot recommend baking soda for porcelain as it will scratch and dull the surface (and teeth, don't use it for toothpaste). I ruined the finish on a porcelain sink with baking soda, so save yourself my mistake. Barkeeper's Friend or another cleanser meant for dishware is fine. Even toothpaste is okay, I use Gleem toothpaste on yellowed vintage plastics with good results, works on yellowed car headlights too.Cwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-61381721265694640072017-03-02T02:09:19.545-06:002017-03-02T02:09:19.545-06:00thank youthank youolliebasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490772777635220134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-8261352055274752762017-03-01T15:20:15.113-06:002017-03-01T15:20:15.113-06:00Nice article Cwyn. A tip for anyone having trouble...Nice article Cwyn. A tip for anyone having trouble getting the tea scum off of their porcelain/glass/stainless steel teaware: place your teaware into a container and add just enough warm water to cover. Drop in a denture cleaning tablet or two and wait (15 minutes or overnight). Most of the scum will dissolve right off and the rest should wipe off very easily. This _might_ interfere with patina development but I don't know one way or the other.<br /><br />Alternatively, a paste of baking soda and water works great but requires a little elbow grease. <br /><br />Cwyn, could you elaborate a little on what your typical steep times look like for sheng? I typically do 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 45, 60, 90, 120, and then I'll add a minute each time until the tea's done. Maybe I could be getting more out of my leaves?impuerthoughtshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07065029213462907113noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-37080564420630803672017-03-01T02:44:04.586-06:002017-03-01T02:44:04.586-06:00what js the best way to clean tea scum from clay t...what js the best way to clean tea scum from clay teaware?olliebasshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01490772777635220134noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-88223538740014038912017-02-27T07:03:33.894-06:002017-02-27T07:03:33.894-06:00Phongsaly has the Yiwu varietal, more east. Of cou...Phongsaly has the Yiwu varietal, more east. Of course whether or not it is "best" is probably hard to generalize. I just find Yiwu is easy to generalize while talking but really the teas end up more diverse in reality.Cwynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17990034926886208526noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4373256628108442713.post-41640219722400389102017-02-27T00:58:32.437-06:002017-02-27T00:58:32.437-06:00As far as I *currently* understand things, the bes...As far as I *currently* understand things, the best teas are all to the *west* of Guafengzhai village. There will be stands up to and over the border, just from self-seeding, but quality varies.shah8https://www.blogger.com/profile/04537529816304128000noreply@blogger.com