Taste testing strategies

What is your goal for the test: getting to know the tea better or quickly finding good parameters for brewing the tea? What I generally do with a "new" tea is to start with some standard brewing parameters and then going to the extremes pretty radically: double and half the brewing time (and then double/half again) Brew colder/hotter in 10 C (20 F) steps... These tests teach you about the character of your tea and will tell you how "flaws" in your brewing methods show up in the taste of the tea.

If you are searching for an optimum, you should make a matrix and test several combinations of Leave/Water ratio, temperature and steep duration; but that could lead to a lot of tests: 3 different weights, 3 different temperatures and 4 different steep times gives 3*3*46 tests. (Keep notes of your tests!)

If you make smaller pots (mug-size), you can do more experiments (and drink the resulting tea) in a day... Yes, the previous tests influence what you taste and it is hard to properly evaluate a weak cup if you've had a much stronger cup before it. Going from weak to strong should not be a problem.

When you see tea tastings by professionals judging many different teas at a time consistency is the norm for brewing ie all teas are made the same way. I am so consistent I brew all teas the same way ie a couple of grams in a cup, add boiling water, and wait an indeterminate about of time depending on visual and aromatic feedback. You develop a taste for tea that is independent of the way it is brewed. Every tea can be said to have a sweet spot. For me it is not worth pursuing varying this and that. I think it eventually comes out in the wash so to speak anyway. It takes me about six months of on and off again tea tasting for it to make an impression one way or the other. I go to tea tastings at shoppes. All I come away with is being tea drunk with a headache.

Jim

PS I just came across an interesting Ceylon grade I had stuck away. It is what I would call needle grade tea which I only find in Chinese greens. Half of the needle is white and the other black based on the length not the tip. Very unusual. I was expecting a quick brew but it took several minutes based on feedback cues. Intimacy is the best brewing method.

So, what's been the findings? And just to clarify, 15 seconds may be a bit quick for many teas... I'd say around 30 seconds is a good lower range. Doesn't have to be long or elaborate, I'd just like to hear what you liked, what you didn't, and how the two vendor's teas stacked up in your opinion.

- Dominic