tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post808279377023082958..comments2024-03-20T16:34:04.414-04:00Comments on Alex Zorach's Tea Blog: Very Long Steeping TimesAlex Zorachhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-31023883526810350482010-07-08T01:12:45.862-04:002010-07-08T01:12:45.862-04:00I have to admit to being a whimp when it comes to ...I have to admit to being a whimp when it comes to my tea. I don't like any bitterness so I tend to avoid the teas that are prone to it or use cream and sugar with them.Shai Williamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16625514249141386180noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-65224232691931747772010-06-13T14:58:22.887-04:002010-06-13T14:58:22.887-04:00Hi Ben!
There are a whole bunch of other tea blog...Hi Ben!<br /><br />There are a whole bunch of other tea blogs out there...it's actually a surprisingly large niche...each has their own perspective / focus too.<br /><br />=)<br /><br />I have not heard of Theriaca...but I just looked it up and it looks pretty diverse and to have an interesting history. There's a decent <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theriac" rel="nofollow">Wikipedia page under Theriac</a>. Let me know if you write about it and feel free to post a link here in the comments. Also...if you know of any commercial sources of it, please contact me on <a href="http://ratetea.net" rel="nofollow">RateTea.net</a> and I can list it there and possibly make up a page on it there too!Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-16071195785482378642010-06-12T18:39:20.811-04:002010-06-12T18:39:20.811-04:00Hi Alex, nice blog - interesting for me to see suc...Hi Alex, nice blog - interesting for me to see such a 'niche' blog. I've only just discovered blogs quit recently after starting one myself...<br /><br />I'm an Englishman living in Slovenia. I don't drink much black tea, except when I need a pick-me-up.<br />I drink a lot of a tea called Theriaca - have you heard of that? It's a herbal tea with about 20 different rare ingredients. Very good taste and also extremely healthy.<br /><br />Now that I think of it, I might add a page to my blog about it!<br /><br />Cheers,<br />BenAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08265527983913325411noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-74930946821758181422010-06-11T15:32:42.563-04:002010-06-11T15:32:42.563-04:00That is really odd and fascinating. I have defini...That is really odd and fascinating. I have definitely noticed that many Assams acquire a huge amount of astringency if you oversteep them...but I've never tried continuing to steep. I tend to avoid CTC Assams.<br /><br />One trick I've found, if oversteeping a black tea like Assam that becomes overly tannic, is to add lemon. Just the tiniest dash of lemon eliminates most of the harshness...but too much totally changes the character of the tea.Alex Zorachhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08335878680429494039noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8825055425170299721.post-78152996240142693612010-06-11T15:01:13.722-04:002010-06-11T15:01:13.722-04:00High quality Assam tea, if steeped for 4 or 5 minu...High quality Assam tea, if steeped for 4 or 5 minutes can sometimes be awful. Too astringent and too bitter.<br />But sometimes a longer steeping can eradicate the bitter qualities, which are from the caffeine.<br />Assams, over time, will release a chemical into the brew that counteracts bitter qualities.<br />So, if you accidentally leave an assam for five minutes, wait until it has been steeping for 8-9 minutes and see if there is a change.<br />Usually only works with full leaf assams. CTC assams might but I have not tried it.Sir William of the Leafhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15366359211931253914noreply@blogger.com