Interesting steeper on the market

[khlara]

So I have a steepster account (a sort of tea blog/twitter/log site for those who don't know about it. www.steepster.com for more info). My steepster account is linked to my twitter account. So invariably whenever I make a steepster post, it goes onto twitter and some bot or another suddenly friends me within seconds

Comments

[alagbon]

I've gotten three steepings out of a green, and generally get five or six from an oolong or a puerh. With gongfucha it's unusual to go above eight steepings but I've heard of people doing up to 16!

[alagbon]

I'm puzzled as to what exactly makes this all that special, although it looks like it would be convenient for work.

And the number of steepings would most certainly depend on the tea, regardless of method used; with an oolong or puerh you'd get more than from a green. It looked to me like she was using a good Fujian oolong with enormous leaves, in the video.

[iguanahey]

I've used similar devices before and they're not quite as convenient as they say. Yes, it's nice to have a filter compartment for the tea leaves, but what does that buy you above a strainer basket that many tea mugs have?

The problem with canister tea makers like this is that once you've brewed it and unscrewed the top, it's uncomfortable to drink from directly (your lips rest on the screw threads), and it dribbles if you pour it into a cup. Not convenient at all.

Regarding steeping repetitions, sure you can get 6-8 infusions out of most good teas gongfu cha style, and some REALLY good oolongs or pu-erhs more than a dozen steepings, but that gongfu cha style with small infusions and lots of leaf. The way they're demonstrating here with a large canister and comparatively small leaf compartment (compared to gongfu cha leaf-to-volume ratio) I can't imagine you'd EVER get more than 6 steepings with any tea before it weakens appreciably.

[iguanahey]

If you want convenience for tea on the go, and yet want total control over the tea infusion process, I recommend a "push-button" infuser like the one here: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Glass-Tea-Pot-Infuser-1000ml/dp/B001G8LXMY

Or it you want something that looks really stylish, I also have one of these (the top one on this page): http://www.finum.com/tea-cups.htm Feels great on the lips and the double-walled glass make it comfortable to hold. The filter is really, really fine and durable (perforated gold-colored metal, not a wire mesh screen) - it's hard to see how high quality these are from the photos.