Richard

The "magic steeper" or as it is better known here and in our archives
is Adagio's ingenuiTEA, it is decent for the purpose but with some
research in the archives meets with mixed reviews. They are neat and
do work for the intended purpose but just a bit clumsy and overkill. A
simple gaiwan and a tea cup/mug to pour off into once steeped serves
the same purpose and is a much more elegant solution.

If it was my comments as to greens and multiple infusions that is
being referenced I still firmly stand by my comment in that many
greens do not stand up well to multiple infusions, some do though as I
stated. I can make some really good Bi Lo Chun last for 3 maybe 4
infusions, I can also get one solid infusion from some gyokuro or
certain senchas or a number of Chinese greens. Same thing goes for
black teas, many die off after one infusion but there are numerous
exceptions.

- Dominic

I have been thinking about this lately, I have about five gaiwans and they
are nothing but a pain for me to do gung fu in, as far as pouring off the
liquid. I'll brew and drink from them (with pleasure) but using them as
brewing vessels for me is really difficult, partially because I have really
tiny hands but also because of the water temp. They don't have a spout so
my tea tends to go all over. If I do multiple steeps and decant them,
they're in a yixing pot or a piao pot anymore. (I don't do the greens in a
yixing obviously). Or I use a small glass pitcher/fair cup that I bought for
brewing greens specifically. But I've pretty much given up on gaiwans as a
purely brewing vessel, talk about making a mess...(in my case that is)

Oh and also, regarding greens, I do usually go for 3-7 steeps on a green but
I definitely go to the, er, not-bitter end with them, lol. I get about two
steeps that will stand up to milk and sugar with a red dian hong or other
chinese red tea. Oolongs vary by the tea itself, shui xians I can get about
4-5 out of these days. My favorites are the Taiwan oolongs where I can get
fragrance over quite a few steeps, 5-7. Of course how well this all works
depends on whether I'm actually doing the gung fu high-tea-leaf/low water
ratio or just trying to get a second steep out of a standard amount of
leaves for a cup (about 4 grams per 8 ounces for me these days)

Melinda