JacquelineM said 2010-03-18 11:02:03 -0400

Making Samovar's Four Seasons in the Wee Pot

My Samovar Steepster Select order came yesterday!!! but I am completely mystified about how to make the tea in the little pot! The Samovar website gives directions for 10-16 oz water, but I’m assuming you put the amount of tea for 4 oz of water in the pot and put in 4 oz water (and rinse) then keep on steeping 4 oz of water for each steep?

So in a nutshell, for the 4 oz pot:

-how much leaf should I use?

-how long should I steep for the first time?

-how much time should I increase for each steep?

-what temp water are you all using?

I know everyone has different tastes and will come up with their own preference for leaf amount and steeping time/temp, but I just wanted a jumping off point :)

6 Replies

Cofftea said 2010-03-18 11:15:59 -0400

This http://shop.samovarlife.com/Four_Seasons_Oolong_Tea_p/0301fose.htm video says to use 1tsp for 10-14 oz of boiling water so I’d start w/ about 1/3-1/2tsp for your small pot then adjust up or down as need be.

JacquelineM said 2010-03-18 12:16:23 -0400

I was thinking 1/2 teaspoon but wanted to see what everyone else was doing incase my logic was faulty!

Cofftea said 2010-03-18 12:18:46 -0400

I haven’t tried this, I just crunched some numbers:)

Cofftea said 2010-03-18 15:50:14 -0400

1tsp for 10-14oz to me seems insanely light. Maybe as much as 2/3 of a teaspoon?

teabird said 2010-03-18 15:41:27 -0400

Mine just arrived! I’m so excited. I was going to use the proportion on the tin (though not the exact quantity, obviously – so tiny!) because I feel like this conflict between tin and video directions has come up before. So, 1-2tbsp for 16oz → 1/4 – 1/2 tbsp for 4 oz, which is 3/4-1.5 tsp. _{sorry I like math}

I’m going to try 1 tsp/4oz; near boiling water, because I think it will cool quickly in the tiny pot; short steeps the first time (maybe 1 minute), to see how many infusions I can get out of it. But, obviously, I’m new to this one too!

JacquelineM said 2010-03-18 15:47:40 -0400

Tea Bird – I can’t wait to read your review!! I am saving my first try for sunday afternoon because I think I will have a stretch of time then where I am working on a paper and can do a zillion infusions :) I will look for your result before I do mine for words of wisdom :)