I've got a question. I know that different types of teas need different water temperatures and steeping times...but what do you do with a tea that's a blend of 3 different types
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If you ask me, Tazo teas are SUPER strong! I often leave all of my teabags in while I drink, but their teas have to come out after 2 minutes. Having 2 bags in there seems super overkill.
Try it with one, and for two minutes. I never follow their steeping instructions, they are so overkill.
you don't find even with non-tazo teas that the tea gets astringent when you leave the bags in? personally, i cannot tolerate the astringency of a tea steeped over 4 minutes.
It depends on the tea. I really enjoy flavoured black teas, and since I have quite a few of the Lipton variety lying around, I find that those don't get too strong in my opinion. Neither to Tim Horton's teas. It really depends on the brand.
I'll do that the next time I'm there. Luckily, I'm on friendly terms with my local baristas. =) Though, I don't know if they have a protocol for brewing sample teas. I know it's gotta be different from how they serve them, when ordered...'cause I've tried that. Hopefully they can give me an answer.
No idea about tazo teas, but I've heard that for a mix you should use the highest possible temperature from the tea that needs the lowest temperature. Erm... not sure that makes sense, let me try an example.
So if you have a blend of black, oolong and green, you'd go by the green, because both black and oolong usually need boiling water, green tea needs a water temperature between 90°C and 70°C. I'd try with 90°, because it should bring out the green flavour and still allow for the stronger black and oolong to develop. Hope this helps a bit?
Actually, it does. I'd wondered about that; I know that all three types take different times and temperatures, but I wasn't sure what to do about it. Like, do you cater to the fragilest tea? (Shorter times, lower temps) Or the most robust? Or do you have to find a middle ground?
I know that it can be done, somehow, with higher temps. (Because Starbucks only can give you super-hot water, and I got a sample made there that was good.) But I'm definitely going to try going cooler. Thanks for the tip. =)
As per the other comments, start with using only one teabag. Bag tea blends (and brewing instructions) usually assume you're using a 12-16oz mug, not a 6-8oz teacup.
Try your times and temps again with one bag, since it's going to have a very different taste with two.
Actually, the tea boxes I've read the instructions on *do* assume you're using 6-8 oz. They say so, specifically. (Both in the directions, and on the nutritional info.) That's one reason why I started upping to 2 bags; my favorite mugs are in the 14-16 oz. range. Using 1 bag is the next thing I'm going to try, though. Hopefully I'll have better luck. =)
Oh, weird. Alright, I stand corrected. I am still curious as to your results -- more so, now that I know that their brewing instructions are evidently wrong.
Also consider that some tea companies print the exact same brewing instructions on all of their tea packaging ;)
I know; tea box instructions are often weird. Though, in their defense, these two Tazo blends are the only ones that 2 bags have given me problems. All the other teas I've been drinking, I use two bags with good results. So, who knows. *Shrugs*
Oh, they totally do that. I can't even count the number of straight green teas that I've seen labeled with 'boiling water' instructions. XD
Such a "blended" tea is, by definition, a monstruosity, as each tea, as you realise, requires different brewing. One can only really "blend" tea with similar brewing requirements. . Not that this matters too much when you are using a tea bag. You never use boiling water with a tea bag. Use a medium temperature and do not over steep. . Better yet, throw the thing out and buy real tea.
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Try it with one, and for two minutes. I never follow their steeping instructions, they are so overkill.
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So if you have a blend of black, oolong and green, you'd go by the green, because both black and oolong usually need boiling water, green tea needs a water temperature between 90°C and 70°C. I'd try with 90°, because it should bring out the green flavour and still allow for the stronger black and oolong to develop. Hope this helps a bit?
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I know that it can be done, somehow, with higher temps. (Because Starbucks only can give you super-hot water, and I got a sample made there that was good.) But I'm definitely going to try going cooler. Thanks for the tip. =)
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Also glad it might have helped, good luck trying. Heh. And even Starbucks could let their water cool for a moment before putting the tea in. *ponders*
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*Ponders* I suppose they could, at that. I'm going to have to ask them the next time I go in...see if they know how they did it. XD
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Try your times and temps again with one bag, since it's going to have a very different taste with two.
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Also consider that some tea companies print the exact same brewing instructions on all of their tea packaging ;)
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Oh, they totally do that. I can't even count the number of straight green teas that I've seen labeled with 'boiling water' instructions. XD
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Not that this matters too much when you are using a tea bag. You never use boiling water with a tea bag. Use a medium temperature and do not over steep.
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Better yet, throw the thing out and buy real tea.
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