Top Spin wrote:
On Sat, 06 Nov 2004 14:47:04 -0500, Darren
wrote:


A cup of tea should be made fresh every time. NEVER microwave your tea.
When you microwave tea, it changes the chemical composition of the tea
and thus, the taste and purity.


Exactly what changes occur to the chemical composition?

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(11/03/04)

Research could be done on the precise changes that tea undergoes
when microwaved. I do not have the equipment or expertise to carry out
such a study. I will, however, quote you what I have found from a well
regarded professional Tea taster:


"Tea should be made in a lidded vessel to contain the volatile and
vital aromatics it contains, not in an open cup. And, further, the
teapot or lidded cup should be appropriate in every respect to the tea
which is being infused inside of it."

"Volatilization or degree of evaporation (retro-nasally) is
dependent on many factors. The temperature of the tea and the surface
area of the cup or spoon changes both volatility and evaporation rate.
If I cup a tea using a cup with a surface diameter of 9 cm and an exact
tea cupper's spoon and at a temperature of 200 degrees, and if you, at
home, use a cup with a surface diameter of 7 or 11 cm, a tablespoon and
at a temperature of 130 degrees, are we then cupping the same tea?
Obviously, we are not. Can you understand how the dynamics of the flavor
profile will change?"

"Volatile flavor components can be generated in a number of ways.
Fermentation causes one type of flavor, as esters, as well as alcohols,
and trace sulfur and other components are formed. Oxidation is another
avenue of flavor component generation. Heating, cooking or browning
causes yet other flavor components to be generated..."

source: http://www.teatalk.com/general/taste.htm

Again i tell you, Tea is very delicate. My own experience with tea tells
me that a microwaved cup of tea or tea thats been sitting on a slow
burner all day, is a much different tasting and LOWER quality tea than a
freshly prepared cup.

Tea preparation should be considered an art form. Subtle changes in the
way we brew tea lead to better tasting, more enjoyable cups. Americans
especially, where tea drinking is gaining in popularity, need to make
sure we arent treating tea as something to be consumed carelessly.

Darren