water temperature

wrote

Normally I do watch the thermometer because for me this is a part of the brewing ceremony. However when I am very busy, I use a wireless electric meat thermometer with a beeping alert for a pre-set temperature. It sounds very sofisticated, but it is quite useful when you do not have the time or the patiency. I boil the water, stick the sensor in the water, set the desired temperature whereafter I can go without thinking more about it. Next time I have to think about it is when the alert sounds because the water has reached the right temperature.

Gyorgy

I don't really like the thermometers myself. But if you're looking to use one, you can get a meat thermometer for a couple of bucks that you can stick in the tea. Should work pretty well. I just listen to the sound of the sizzling water. When the little bubbles are rising quickly and it sounds fizzly, it's usually about right for greens. After that the water quiet downs and a minute later begins a rolling boil. Too hot for greens.

I use an instant-read thermometer that I got at Wal-Mart.

yup

They are a little expensive but I can personally attest that the Zojirushi water kettles maintain perfect water temperature. You can select from 3 different temps and it will maintain that temp VERY precisely. I have been using one for a year now and I love mine.

Mike Petro

I don't doubt it but the gentlemen (or women) who started the post may not be ready to invest that kind of money. I have a 'cheaper' temperature-controlled kettle for around 75AUD but it is still about 5 degrees celcius too hot at each setting.

As long as you are aware that temperature is hard to measure and that your instrument may not be absolutely accurate, you won't have a problem. Your own experience is important with whatever method you use.

Adrian

That's not adapted. The candy thermometer is accurate in a range of temps your water will never reach. A small, cheap, LCD cooking thermometer is OK.

I don't let it boil.

If you brew the same sort of tea regularly, you don't need to use a thermometer each time.

I measured at what temp my kettle starts to make a zzzzz noise. The next times, I know it's about *** degrees without measuring. For my kettle, half-filled, in this season, it's about 90 degrees. For green tea, I get water from the drip machine. I measured it once, it's

I do that too when I want a different temp than 70 ot 90 degrees. The first time, I measure the temp to decide what volume of hot water and what volume of cold water. Another trick is to pour from the kettle into a jar, then from that jar into the pot. That lowers the temperature of a few degrees.

My microvawe heats precisely the water at the required temp.

Kuri

Try this: Heat some water to a full rolling boil and let it cool back to room temperature. Then taste it side-by-side with some water from the same source that hasn't been boiled.

What I'm getting at here is, don't boil your water.

I use a digital meat thermometer from Sur La Table; I don't remember what I paid for it (I bought it for cooking steaks and chickens and such, but it works great for testing water temperature as well.) I use an electric kettle and heat the water to 190-200F for black teas, less for oolongs and greens. Yes, you have to stand sentry over it, but to me it's worth a good cup of proper tea.

stePH

-- GoogleGroups licks balls.

sea level! i was quite horrified by the accuracy!

yes that's a crucial factor. I agree, trial and error is the best approach. you'll soon get a feeling for what works for each tea.

another method that is used is to observe how quickly the steam rises from the water. for a delicate green or white tea cool the hot water until you see moderately slow wisps of steam - it shouldn't be shooting up. for oolongs the steam would rise faster. again, you can observe and experiment with this method and you will soon get a feeling for how hot the water is.

Adrian