Comments on: 7 Common Questions about Pu-erh Tea http://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/pu-erh-tea-faq/ Thu, 11 Mar 2010 07:13:19 +1100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.1 hourly 1 By: Willhttp://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/pu-erh-tea-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-407 Will Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:22:46 +0000 http://teafinelybrewed.com/?p=231#comment-407 Great introduction. I've found there is a wide variety of brewing times in different traditions. I read that Tibetans may brew their pu-erh overnight. check out my blog on this.http://www.pu-erhteas.com/preparation-of-pu-erh-teas/ Great introduction. I’ve found there is a wide variety of brewing times in different traditions. I read that Tibetans may brew their pu-erh overnight. check out my blog on this.

http://www.pu-erhteas.com/preparation-of-pu-erh-teas/

]]> By: adminhttp://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/pu-erh-tea-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-406 admin Wed, 06 Jan 2010 23:17:19 +0000 http://teafinelybrewed.com/?p=231#comment-406 I'm with Michael. I need to update this page with the Chinese techniques for brewing tea, but I don't think it's necessarily wrong to steep pu-erh in a more traditionally Western way. I've done it often enough myself, and while the tea doesn't end up being quite as interesting as when I brew it for a shorter period, I still really enjoy it. Plus, when I'm at work, I don't have the luxury of time, so doing it the brutish way works good enough for. I’m with Michael. I need to update this page with the Chinese techniques for brewing tea, but I don’t think it’s necessarily wrong to steep pu-erh in a more traditionally Western way. I’ve done it often enough myself, and while the tea doesn’t end up being quite as interesting as when I brew it for a shorter period, I still really enjoy it. Plus, when I’m at work, I don’t have the luxury of time, so doing it the brutish way works good enough for.

]]> By: Michaelhttp://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/pu-erh-tea-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-398 Michael Tue, 05 Jan 2010 21:49:00 +0000 http://teafinelybrewed.com/?p=231#comment-398 I prefer to distinguish between Western and Chinese techniques for brewing tea. I sometimes use about 3 teaspoons of Pu-Erh for a bigish cup of tea, steep it 2.5, even 3 minutes and get a dark, rich, beautifully clear brew with no bitterness. If I have more time, I go "Kung Fu" and use even more tea, do several infusions for only a few seconds, and use very small cups. It's a totally different experience -- color, smell, taste, and mood. It's wonderful to do with a friend, I think. But I also like the 2.5-minute Western way, too. It is true, however, that steeping the last infusions for a very long time can result in some bitterness, though nothing like with other teas. I suggest experimentation and multiple modes of enjoyment! I prefer to distinguish between Western and Chinese techniques for brewing tea. I sometimes use about 3 teaspoons of Pu-Erh for a bigish cup of tea, steep it 2.5, even 3 minutes and get a dark, rich, beautifully clear brew with no bitterness. If I have more time, I go “Kung Fu” and use even more tea, do several infusions for only a few seconds, and use very small cups. It’s a totally different experience — color, smell, taste, and mood. It’s wonderful to do with a friend, I think. But I also like the 2.5-minute Western way, too. It is true, however, that steeping the last infusions for a very long time can result in some bitterness, though nothing like with other teas. I suggest experimentation and multiple modes of enjoyment!

]]> By: Tylerhttp://teafinelybrewed.com/blog/pu-erh-tea-faq/comment-page-1/#comment-306 Tyler Wed, 23 Dec 2009 02:15:02 +0000 http://teafinelybrewed.com/?p=231#comment-306 Pu-Erh tea should never be steeped for 2 to 5 minutes. The only time you should steep it that long is after many shorter steeps, such as the 10th infusion. The first steep should be 10 seconds and thrown out as it cleans the tea leaves (They really are dirty, like rice or lentils), and opens up the leaves. The next 5 or 6 infusions should be brewed between 8 and 20 seconds, usually the lower end of that.You should also use quite a bit more leaves than you think you should.I can give you more information but this is the Gongfu style. It's traditional but it also has a very good utilitarian value in it as well in that it gives you the most steeps while retaining the greatest amount of flavour.The worst thing you can do is multiple steeps of a few minutes, which cooks the tea and renders it bitter. While many people say you can't ruin pu-erh by oversteeping, it's one of the hardest teas to brew right and is easily ruined. In fact, teas that are commonly thought hard to brew right like white teas are much easier to get right than pu-erh. Pu-Erh tea should never be steeped for 2 to 5 minutes. The only time you should steep it that long is after many shorter steeps, such as the 10th infusion. The first steep should be 10 seconds and thrown out as it cleans the tea leaves (They really are dirty, like rice or lentils), and opens up the leaves. The next 5 or 6 infusions should be brewed between 8 and 20 seconds, usually the lower end of that.

You should also use quite a bit more leaves than you think you should.

I can give you more information but this is the Gongfu style. It’s traditional but it also has a very good utilitarian value in it as well in that it gives you the most steeps while retaining the greatest amount of flavour.

The worst thing you can do is multiple steeps of a few minutes, which cooks the tea and renders it bitter. While many people say you can’t ruin pu-erh by oversteeping, it’s one of the hardest teas to brew right and is easily ruined. In fact, teas that are commonly thought hard to brew right like white teas are much easier to get right than pu-erh.

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