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SimplyJenW

209 Followers / 175 Following

China Keemun Mao Feng - ZK98 from Upton Tea Imports

SimplyJenW drank China Keemun Mao Feng - ZK98 by Upton Tea Imports

My tea of the morning.

I am now down to half a mug of coffee in the morning. My Hubby likes to gradually work on eliminating coffee in the summertime. A hot drink loses its appeal for him in hot weather. I have not really noticed that for me this year…I still prefer my tea hot. We are even contemplating giving up the coffee altogether as my beverage of choice is now consumed by tea. (His beverage of choice is beer, but I have a feeling that would not be good for morning consumption!) I guess we will have to see what happens in the Fall. A single cup coffee maker is starting to sound like a good idea!

Anyway, this is not the best Keemun Mao Feng in my cupboard, but it is good. It falls under a mid range for price, which makes it a good budget choice for me. It has all of the attributesof a good Keemun…slightly smokey, cocoa notes, roasty, and is a very good tea. 24 oz pot, 3 level perfect teaspoons (or 4 1/2 actual tsp.), freshly boiled water, 5 minute first steep. Second steep coming up for 7 minutes.

I am getting a variable electric kettle for my birthday (and an early tin of Harney’s Wild Wuyi) next month! So excited!

2011-06-23 11:04:29 -0400

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5 min 0 sec

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LadyLondonderry 2011-06-23 11:23:34 -0400

As well you should be! I received the Pino Digital Kettle Pro for Christmas and now I don’t know how I lived without it. It is my constant tea-brewing companion whenever I am at home.

ashmanra 2011-06-23 12:14:18 -0400

Hmmmm, I did read in a history of tea that the British wanted tea drunk with milk and sugar in the mornings to sustain them, because the tea was replacing ale as the main breakfast drink. Don’t think it works out well so much these days, though!

SimplyJenW 2011-06-23 12:26:50 -0400

ashmanra..that is too funny! I guess he was just born in the wrong time. However, he brews his own beer several times a year, and loves trying new ones. (He happens to currently be going through an IPA phase…) I imagine the variety wasn’t so great back then.

I love his beer hobby. It makes a 60 cent cup of tea seem like a bargain!

teawing 2011-06-23 14:15:24 -0400

I have pretty much cut coffee out myself, I turned to tea for health reasons, a bunch of them, then fell completely for loose leaf. QuiltGuppy has helped shape my tastes. I was a coffee snob, French Press, whole bean, even roasted some of my own…I still drink a cup now and then, sometimes, I just need a good Guatemala Antigua, or some Kenyan Estate, but I am 95% tea now.

QuiltGuppy 2011-06-24 02:11:21 -0400

I’m married to a Colombian and don’t think I’ll ever be able (or allowed!) to stop drinking coffee. ;) (I haven’t had any in a few weeks, though.) That being said, he fully supports my enjoyment of tea and even bought me the Breville to surprise me. I wonder if he’d support it as much if I decided I needed a nice ale in the morning… ;)
@SimplyJenW – Ooh, nice angle! Don’t you love it when that works out? :D

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Tea enthusiast, trying to keep up my cardio for the zombie apocalypse. I have come to accept that I am a western brewing black tea drinker as that is where my ‘tea heart’ lies. I started on loose leaf as a way to have my dessert and not suffer the caloric issues. Once I tried it, I was hooked.

I drink what I like, which is mostly China blacks, traditionally scented blacks and Earl Greys, plus a few other flavored teas. I don’t mind spending a bit on premium varieties on occasion, but an expensive tea has to deliver. My favorite places to order are Harney & Sons and Upton Tea Imports. TeaVivre is great for Chinese tea.

My ratings are pretty subjective. If it falls under 70, I may not take the time to post about it unless I had something specific to say. If it is 70-80 I like it, but I will probably not rebuy. Favorites are over 80 and up, but sometimes the less expensive or more easily obtainable version of a similar taste will win out for my cupboard space.

Usual teapot steeping method: 24 oz teapot, 3 perfect scoops of tea (4 1/2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual mug steeping method: 15 oz mug, 1.5 perfect scoops of tea (just over 2 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, 4 minutes. Lightly sweetened.

Usual pan method: 1 1/2 cups water, 2 perfect tsp chai (3 actual tsp). Simmer for 3 minutes. Add 2/3 cup skim milk. Simmer for 2 more minutes. Strain and sweeten.

Usual pitcher method:
5 or 6 Perfect Spoons of tea (this means about 7-9 actual tsp), freshly boiled water, brewed essentially double-strong in my 24 oz teapot for 4 minutes. Fill my Fiestaware Disc pitcher (about 60 oz.) halfway with ice. Add brewed double-strong tea to the pitcher. Stir it a little and enjoy. No additions.

(*SRP is my Sample/Stash Reduction Plan starting on April 12, 2012. I got so far, but just decided it was too fussy to keep track.)