Tuesday, November 23, 2021

Tea For One

 


Tea for One.

I had received a few questions about drinking tea for one person......how much tea do I drink in one session and what is the size of the teapot or gaiwan used.

These questions are important as many of us brew and drink Chinese tea alone at home.

When I brew tea for just myself, I would normally use approx a 90 -100ml size teapot. I do use a gaiwan occasionally to brew my tea as well. Such a size, to me is good as it allows me to drink up to 6 to 8 infusions in one sitting.  It is a lot of tea as the tea may add up to half a litre (the tea leaves expands after every infusion) and I estimate the overall tea I drink would be close to half a litre.  

I normally go a quick double rinse with pu erh and once for oolong. I use boiling water for each infusion. 

Drinking 6-8 infusions of tea can be a leisurely affair for me. I would be reading the newspapers, check on my measly investment portfolio or listening to some music.  I normally finished my tea session within an hour.    

You would have noticed I used 2 teacups In the pix as each cup can accommodate 2-4 sips.  

You can also use a large teapot (about 500ml), add some tea leaves and boiling water and enjoy the tea like in a dim sum restaurant. 

I am thirsty.  


 



Sunday, November 7, 2021

2004 6 Famous Mountain Pu erh Yellow Label









There are many things I like about this tea.  This is a 357g pu erh cake produced by 6 Famous Mountain Tea Factory.  Stored in Singapore for more than 16 years, the hot and humid South East Asian climate had done much to help age this cake to a mature and sophisicated tea session.

The tea brews very strong. I could use less tea and yet get 10-12 dark amber infusions. Spicy, woody with a nice faint sweet aftertaste. The added complexity of the tea can be detected from a much subdued smoky camphor profile.  I will reach out for this tea on quiet afternoons, where I do my work while savouring every sip. 

I always believed that pu erh tea should be drank old and this tea had supported this thinking.