When taking leaves from a cake, I tend to break off as much as I need, and let the heat of the water break it down into component leaves rather than separate it into individual leaves with my tuo pick. Will I have a nicer tea if I separate into individual leaves?
Breaking pu
- Thread starter R-James
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I think so. Having the tight cubes of tea makes it hard to get a hearty brew sometimes, because you're effectively brewing it with much less leaf. I find it erratic and hard to control the bitterness if I do it that way.
If it's a super-hard tiebing or rock-solid Xiaguan tuocha then don't bother attempting to separate the leaves, as it will just cause damage. If you can do it without tearing them, you'll probably encounter a nicer brew.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
If it's a super-hard tiebing or rock-solid Xiaguan tuocha then don't bother attempting to separate the leaves, as it will just cause damage. If you can do it without tearing them, you'll probably encounter a nicer brew.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
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Right, I've had the 8 infusions I want from this tea, and later on I will attempt to take some time out and separate a bit better
wow, from the title of this thread I got the impression the ex-lax worked....
so, let me get this straight, some tea comes in cakes? I probably should keep up in the tea threads more, but I'm afraid of the repurcussions ( -$$$ )
so what's the story with tea cakes?
so, let me get this straight, some tea comes in cakes? I probably should keep up in the tea threads more, but I'm afraid of the repurcussions ( -$$$ )
so what's the story with tea cakes?
The other trick you can play with recalcitrant chunks is to let the rinsed leaves sit for a minute or two after you pour the water off and before you add water for your real brew. The steam will help things soften, and then a pour from water on high will often break things up further. Of course, this assumes that you have something that retains heat well like a Yixing pot,etc.
interesting
The Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy has this to say about Pu:
Breaking a pu is a royal pain, what with all that small change.
HHGTG said:
Breaking a pu is a royal pain, what with all that small change.
this is still a funny thread title...but even still, I find myself more and more drawn into trying pu'erh
I think so. Having the tight cubes of tea makes it hard to get a hearty brew sometimes, because you're effectively brewing it with much less leaf. I find it erratic and hard to control the bitterness if I do it that way.
If it's a super-hard tiebing or rock-solid Xiaguan tuocha then don't bother attempting to separate the leaves, as it will just cause damage. If you can do it without tearing them, you'll probably encounter a nicer brew.
Toodlepip,
Hobbes
+1 To the extent that the tea cake will pull apart without damage, I separate the leaves. Otherwise, it may be infusion number four or five before the tea starts to show its real character. YMMV and all of that...
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