"Janice" wrote in message
...
On Nov 24, 1:56 pm, "Bluesea" wrote:
"Janice" wrote in message


...

I'm fairly new to loose tea and haven't decided yet about buying a
scale. That might seem over-the-top to a new tea drinker, since we
tend to be more casual.

What would you think if someone gave you a scale?

Since you're fairly new and haven't decided about buying one, would it
seem
less OTT if a scale was given to you? Would you be more, or less,
willing to
try using one, to experiment to see if your tea came out any better?


I had to give this some thought but now that I've pictured myself
weighing out the fluffy Silver Needle tea leaves on my little scale it
seems less obsessive and more practical. It's really just a way of
measuring weight directly rather than using volume as a proxy.

Thanks, much.

--
~~Bluesea~~
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Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On Nov 24, 8:29 pm, "Bluesea" wrote:
I'm planning on giving a household of three adult teabag-users three Bodum 8
oz. mini travel tumblers, three Finum brewing baskets, an instant-read
thermometer, and an assortment of loose tea samples.

My question: Would I be going overboard by including a scale in the gift
package or should I let them use a measuring spoon? I don't want to
overwhelm them by such attention to the details of brewing tea that they
think it's too much trouble, I want to turn them on to loose tea, not
confirm that teabags are the best way to go, but we know it makes a
difference and they're in a location where small scales like we use aren't
available and they don't have an ISP to shop online (they didn't shop online
when they used to have an ISP, anyway).

--
~~Bluesea~~
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Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

I think I will drop the thermometer and ignore the scale. You don't
need either to make good tea.

MarshalN
http://www.xanga.com/MarshalN

[Bluesea]
I'm planning on giving a household of three adult teabag-users three Bodum
8 oz. mini travel tumblers, three Finum brewing baskets, an instant-read
thermometer, and an assortment of loose tea samples.

My question: Would I be going overboard by including a scale in the gift
package or should I let them use a measuring spoon? I don't want to
overwhelm them by such attention to the details of brewing tea that they
think it's too much trouble, I want to turn them on to loose tea, not
confirm that teabags are the best way to go, but we know it makes a
difference and they're in a location where small scales like we use aren't
available and they don't have an ISP to shop online (they didn't shop
online when they used to have an ISP, anyway).


I think you're doing just fine, giving what they need plus just a bit extra. Your thinking on the scale is on the money; you don't want to overwhelm them. Save the scale until next year. Also, I hope you're including teas that tend not to oversteep -- foolproof teas -- such as a high quality Yunnan Gold.

For that matter, you could drop the thermometer as well, as MarshalN suggests, but be sure to tell them about getting the feel of the heat by touching the side of the vessel as the Koreans do, or some such. You might not need a thermometer to make good tea, but you sure can ruin good tea if you aren't careful about temperature, right?
Michael

"Michael Plant" wrote in message
...

[Bluesea]
I'm planning on giving a household of three adult teabag-users three
Bodum
8 oz. mini travel tumblers, three Finum brewing baskets, an
instant-read
thermometer, and an assortment of loose tea samples.

My question: Would I be going overboard by including a scale in the gift
package or should I let them use a measuring spoon? I don't want to
overwhelm them by such attention to the details of brewing tea that they
think it's too much trouble, I want to turn them on to loose tea, not
confirm that teabags are the best way to go, but we know it makes a
difference and they're in a location where small scales like we use
aren't
available and they don't have an ISP to shop online (they didn't shop
online when they used to have an ISP, anyway).


I think you're doing just fine, giving what they need plus just a bit
extra. Your thinking on the scale is on the money; you don't want to
overwhelm them. Save the scale until next year. Also, I hope you're
including teas that tend not to oversteep -- foolproof teas -- such as a
high quality Yunnan Gold.

For that matter, you could drop the thermometer as well, as MarshalN
suggests, but be sure to tell them about getting the feel of the heat by
touching the side of the vessel as the Koreans do, or some such. You might
not need a thermometer to make good tea, but you sure can ruin good tea if
you aren't careful about temperature, right?
Michael

Thanks, you made a good point - leave something to give them next year!

Your observation about the Koreans made me LOL because the oldest of the
household is Korean, the first generation born in the U.S. of parents who
came from Korea. She's so Americanized, I wonder if she knows the first
thing about how they made tea, she's that much of a coffee-drinker. I'm
thinking her parents must have made tea while she was growing up, though. Ma
ybe the tea I send will bring up good memories for her.

Thanks, again.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.