Re: Using Tea Bags

On Dec 8, 9:19 am, DogMa <DogM...@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Fran wrote:


The reasons could be important if one has reason to use a microwave -
e.g., no alternative, as in many office situations - and can easily make
better tea by taking better care. That's why I mentioned food odors,
commonly present in microwave oven as they are fiddly to clean well. The
step-drop in temperature I mentioned is simple to demonstrate. One
might surmise that you don't like microwaved tea because the brew
temperature is hotter than suits you. It's easy enough to check.

Good point about the food odors -- the main reason I avoid using the
microwave in the office for any reason. But even a microwave that
hasn't been contaminated with other foods does not make a great cup of
tea. I've never gotten any tea from the microwave that wasn't
undrinkably harsh. The microwave is the only thing available in my
office, so I've brought in my own electric kettle so I can get a
decent cup of tea a few times a day.

As for the temperature drop -- another good point. I think that is
the main reason why brewing tea in a teapot makes better tea than
brewing it directly in the mug. I only brew in the mug at work due to
the lack of facilities, but always preheat the mug and cover it while
the tea is brewing. This helps maintain the heat longer and makes a
huge difference in the taste of the tea.

I'm also a "milk in first" person because adding milk last tends to
scald it and just doesn't taste the same. Obviously when brewing in
the mug, "milk in first" is not an option, so when I'm at work, I
always wait a minute or two after brewing my tea to let it cool
slightly before I add any milk.



Some of us here may appear as rigid fundamentalists, didactic,
intolerant or otherwise inhibiting of tea art. A closer listening might
reveal that we're trying to prevent the propagation of silly, untested
or (in many cases) demonstrably erroneous "received wisdom" that
actually gets in the way of beginners' experimentation to find their own
best preferences.

Have a cup of tea, and speak to personal experience.

-DM

.

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