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I've been averse to reusing tea bags. I've tasted coffee after water has been run through the grounds twice, and it's really bitter, so I figured that tea can't be much different. But then I got some loose lemon spice tea and the can explicitly stated that it was all right to reuse it. Is this generally OK with tea? |
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I drink Good Earth Rooibos tea (and I don't get a kick back from them, either!) and I always reuse my tea bags. Just one extra time though. I've never tried it a third time, but the second time always requires a longer steep, so I figured I'd get diminishing returns after that. Rooibos is a lot like black tea, but the kind I get has cinnamon in it, it's lovely. A milder tasting tea might not steep as nicely the second time -- your mileage may vary! One tea I got at Teavana was a "white ayurvedic (avurvedic) chai." (Side note: I probably won't do that again; that place was VERY expensive.) But they made a point of noting that the water temperature should be 175 deg F. I wonder if there's a reference somewhere for determining the proper steeping temperature for other teas that (a) might make the teas taste better and (b) might make steeping twice work better.
(Nov 26 '09 at 07:23)
mbhunter ♦♦
Interesting. Maybe I need to add a little candy thermometer to my office lunch supply shelf? But on the other hand, ayurvedic medicine's been around a long time. Maybe they're onto something.
(Nov 28 '09 at 05:21)
Dogfood Provider
There are tea snobs, just like wine, single malt, and Yankee fans...Learning to appreciate expensive teas would be self-defeating to us personal finance bloggers, huh! I think over steeping is the greatest danger, not the temp-leave the leaves or bag in too long-increases the "stringency". Maybe I better shut-up before I get accused of being a tea snob...
(Nov 30 '09 at 02:38)
Dr Dean 1
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I used to always make two cups with one bag. I didn't think it tasted any different, but I am not a tea snob. I now use an electric tea pot to boil water, and has a basket for loose tea. Loose tea can be bought in bulk online. I usually buy a pound of English Bkfst, Earl Grey, and a couple of varieties of green tea. I have decaf green tea that is very mild but tasty for the evenings. Pour the pot into a thermos after a three minute steep. I take the thermos with me to work, or sip on during the day. No more soda's, and less coffee. I've come to like tea more. When I drink it I usually drink caffeine-free teas but I may venture into caffeinated teas. As I'm writing this I have a diet soda (caffeine-free, admittedly) but those probably aren't doing me much good.
(Nov 26 '09 at 07:18)
mbhunter ♦♦
Most caffeinated teas, are lightly caffeinated-so not much buzz-which is a good thing. It is an acquired taste, like most things. I don't add sugar or milk as the brits do.
(Nov 30 '09 at 02:34)
Dr Dean 1
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I think it is okay with tea. But I also drink weird non-caffeinated herbal teas and they hold up pretty well. I usually don't go more than two uses. What is weird? Just wondering...
(Nov 06 '09 at 15:43)
Dr Dean 1
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Everyone at work comments on my warm beverages of choice since I can't drink caffeine (migraine trigger and no interest in it). So I always come in with some mix of twigs that looks more like a cup of blood than what they believe is tea. Then I sweeten it with agave nectar, so that puts me higher on the "weird" scale since I hate those awful artificial sweeteners. gah.
(Nov 06 '09 at 15:50)
Frugallawyer
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I usually make tea by the pot since MDT and I go through it pretty quickly--we're caffeine addicts apparently. But I only use 2-3 bags for the whole pot and it's always plenty strong, just let it steep a bit longer than usual. |
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When I use tea bags, I reuse them once, making sure not to steep too long either time. When I brewed loose Jasmine tea for my dad, a couple spoonfuls of those leaves would last for probably three pots without losing flavor as long as you serve and resteep within a reasonable amount of time. But I'm not a tea connoisseur, either, so YMMV. Haven't had a lot of Jasmine ... some green, black, and herbal though.
(Feb 13 at 07:44)
mbhunter ♦♦
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