On May 5, 5:13 pm, Melinda > wrote:
> Guizzy wrote:
> > Hello, I have a question about the steeping process that maybe you
> > fine folks could help me with.
>
> > I suppose it is the case for most, but when I drink tea at home, I
> > prefer to enjoy my tea in a calm place; usually either at the dinner
> > table or in my living room. For large brewings this isn't a problem.
> > But I am mostly a chinese tea drinker, and I usually drink them either
> > gongfu style or with the help of a zhong, so I'm doing many small
> > infusions. I find it quite bothersome to drink my small tea cup, walk
> > back to the kitchen reheat the water a few seconds in the electric
> > kettle to raise it back to the right temperature and re-steep my tea.
>
> > Is there any more elegant solution to bring water with me at a
> > reasonably hot temperature so that I can at least make a few infusions
> > without having to re-heat my water? I'm thinking maybe a thermos, but
> > I'm not sure it would be able to keep it hot enough (10 degrees are
> > not too important for a coffee or a soup, but quite so for a tea).
>
> I have a stainless steel thermos that I use ONLY for water and it does a
> perfect job of keeping water reasonably hot (too hot at first in fact)
> for greens at my desk. If you go the thermos route I'd recommend getting
> a new one and never putting anything but water in it, and no milk or
> milk tea either...they (thermoses) are (in my experience) nearly
> impossible to get entirely clean once you do. I also can use the water
> in this thermos for greener oolongs when it's first hot. I do shui Xians
> with it too but it may be at a lower temp than ideal. That's the
> trade-off for the convenience for me though. Mostly I use it for greens
> and whites.
>
> Get a good thermos though, not one of the cheap plastic things with the
> vacuum glass bottle inside.
>
> Also, my method of steeping doesn't require me to open and close the lid
> a lot (I tend to brew a larger amount, say 8-10 Oz, at a time) so that
> may be a factor in your decision.
>
> Melinda
>
> P.S. I've never heard the term zhong for a gaiwan before, is that
> regional or...? What is it's literal translation? I'm happy to learn a
> new tea term!

I've used and heard both terms, but I'm sorry I don't know why some
refer to it as zhong or as gaiwan. According to Wikipedia, the literal
translation would be "hot-steeping vessel".

As for the thermos, I guess most people recommend them, so I'll be
looking for one. I'm particularly interested in the Thermos pump pots;
might be useful to avoid making a mess and to not have to open the
lid.

Thank you all for your recommendations.