Iron Buddha

It’s taken most of the box of these inexpensive little bags to accept the fact that you let the water get cool to tepid, you drag the bag leisurely through the water 6, definitely no more than 8 times, and that’s it. STOP. Otherwise it gets a bitter barb at the end of the sip.

Self-control in steeping tea. There’s a concept I need to practice…

This is a nice little bagged oolong, but I’ve ruined it more than I’ve gotten it right. Today’s goof involved completely forgetting the bag at work—a good 15 minutes later, it could have peeled lead paint off a cast iron stockpot. Gently with this one!

I have a perpetual wrestling match with this one. I’ve finally figured out the prime timing — about 2 minutes, definitely less than 2 1/2. Now if I can just find the confounded temperature sweet spot. Cold brew doesn’t work; anything hotter than tap water seems to make it bitter.

I want this one to work; it’s got potential and it’s a Cheapster Steepster. But I’ve blown through nearly a third of the little box and not gotten a cup right—at least to my taste buds.

Air Force One just flew over my house. Seriously. Prez in town for high school graduation.

This is a quintessential, solid, inexpensive oolong with a nice little fermented whang to it. Wonderful hot. Not so much cold-brewed. Tried it this afternoon, took a nice big swig after a brisk walk, and the tastebuds said, “oolong…oolong…oolong…OOH.” Went bitter at the end.

So I served it to my spouse, the household over-brewed-meister . He liked it. Hey, Mikey…