Using Tea Bags

On Dec 7, 2:08 pm, Kat.Ha...@ wrote:
> 1.) Is it a bad idea to microwave a cup of tea with the tea bag
> already inside it?
>
> 2.) Just curious, how many times do you use a tea bag? Just wondering
> if others use a tea bag for a cup of water and then fill the cup again
> and reuse the same bag.
>
> Thanks.

It is a bad idea to prepare tea using a microwave, period. The
microwave de-oxygenates the water and produces a noticeably inferior
brew. It's faster to use an electric kettle and your tea will also
taste better. Tea bags should only be used once.

microwaved water i feel taste not as good in tea.

tea bags i use as long as there's good flavor coming out
which is not often for fine chopped tea-most of the flavor goes out in
the first infusion

if you have 'loose leaf' teabags those might last longer...

On Dec 7, 2:08 pm, Kat.Ha...@ wrote:
> 1.) Is it a bad idea to microwave a cup of tea with the tea bag
> already inside it?
>
> 2.) Just curious, how many times do you use a tea bag? Just wondering
> if others use a tea bag for a cup of water and then fill the cup again
> and reuse the same bag.
>
> Thanks.

The only real difference is the amount of time the teabag is sitting
in the water, and/or if the metal staple will create havok with your
microwave. If you have to use a microwave just do the water the least
amount of time to get to temp, and then add the teabag.

It's a rare teabag that stands up to multiple brewings. Some of the
newer pyramid shaped bags which contain real tea leaves can.
Occasionally I'll reuse a regular orange pekoe teabag once because the
second brewing is sometimes better than the first... better being
relative.

HTH,
Dominic

On Dec 8, 8:18 am, "Bluesea" <thisadd...@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> <Kat.Ha...@> wrote in message
>
> news:a2e0cd76-2159-409b-a11c-ba8dc8b02b33@e23g2000prf..com...
>
> > 1.) Is it a bad idea to microwave a cup of tea with the tea bag
> > already inside it?
>
> From a safety standpoint, no, it's a good idea because doing so keeps the
> water from exploding.
>

Huh??

Bluesea wrote:
> I don't understand how a kettle can superheat water since it turns to steam
> when boiled and evaporates unlike a microwave which can heat water above 212
> degrees F with no loss of liquid or even boiling as we see it on the stove.

Same reason that water can be supercooled by tens of degrees when very
clean: boiling and freezing are both nucleation phenomena. That's why
microwaved water can geyser when agitated, and why some chefs use
boiling stones in a large kettle. The superheating isn't much, but
enough to have a large effect on expulsion of dissolved gases. There's
also a significant effect (absent in pre-boil microwaving) due to
"sweeping" of the bulk liquid by rising bubbles, a standard industrial
technique for removing gas from water, organics and even molten glass. I
speak as one who has had to degas all sorts of liquids with methods
ranging from simple boiling and helium sparging to freeze-pump-thaw to
ultrasound and other mechanical approaches.

-DM

On Dec 8, 9:19 am, DogMa <DogM...@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
> Fran wrote:
>
>
> The reasons could be important if one has reason to use a microwave -
> e.g., no alternative, as in many office situations - and can easily make
> better tea by taking better care. That's why I mentioned food odors,
> commonly present in microwave oven as they are fiddly to clean well. The
> step-drop in temperature I mentioned is simple to demonstrate. One
> might surmise that you don't like microwaved tea because the brew
> temperature is hotter than suits you. It's easy enough to check.

Good point about the food odors -- the main reason I avoid using the
microwave in the office for any reason. But even a microwave that
hasn't been contaminated with other foods does not make a great cup of
tea. I've never gotten any tea from the microwave that wasn't
undrinkably harsh. The microwave is the only thing available in my
office, so I've brought in my own electric kettle so I can get a
decent cup of tea a few times a day.

As for the temperature drop -- another good point. I think that is
the main reason why brewing tea in a teapot makes better tea than
brewing it directly in the mug. I only brew in the mug at work due to
the lack of facilities, but always preheat the mug and cover it while
the tea is brewing. This helps maintain the heat longer and makes a
huge difference in the taste of the tea.

I'm also a "milk in first" person because adding milk last tends to
scald it and just doesn't taste the same. Obviously when brewing in
the mug, "milk in first" is not an option, so when I'm at work, I
always wait a minute or two after brewing my tea to let it cool
slightly before I add any milk.


>
> Some of us here may appear as rigid fundamentalists, didactic,
> intolerant or otherwise inhibiting of tea art. A closer listening might
> reveal that we're trying to prevent the propagation of silly, untested
> or (in many cases) demonstrably erroneous "received wisdom" that
> actually gets in the way of beginners' experimentation to find their own
> best preferences.
>
> Have a cup of tea, and speak to personal experience.
>
> -DM

Fran wrote:
> I've never gotten any tea from the microwave that wasn't
> undrinkably harsh.

Not inconsistent with the overheating proposition, ne?

-DM

On Dec 8, 11:57 am, klu...@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Fran <claddagh1...@> wrote:

>
> No, the reasons are _very_ important. Once we know the reasons, we can
> prevent it from happening.
> --scott

We can prevent it from happening by not using a microwave to make
tea. <G>

On Dec 10, 9:54 am, klu...@panix.com (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
> Okay, now try making tea this way, putting it into a thermos, and shaking
> it for 20 seconds or so. Pour it into a cup and try it. Is it less flat?
>
> This is a quick way to re-introduce some dissolved oxygen.
> --scott

well i think that would be very inefficient in re-introducing a fair
amount of 'air' into the liquid.
as i see it it would only create lots of frothing from the splashing
and collision of liquid and the walls. i personally dont like frothy
tea.
also thinking about liquids with bubbles in them, shaking it wont put
more bubbles in, but just excite them out of the liquid.