Getting the perfect water temperature without a temperature regulating kettle! (great for beginners)
We conducted an experiment to see whether it was possible to get the water temperatures you needed without a temperature regulating kettle. I used two standard mugs (at room temperature – 20C) and boiling water! Personally I prefer this method to looking for ‘crab eyes’ or some other eyes in a boiling kettle. I also think it’s more precise than just ‘adding a bit of cold water’.
Check out my video. Hope you like it!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ULJN_8vrd4
Sasha.
Nice demonstration. I used to use the same technique with a pyrex measuring cup when I had a stovetop kettle. The basic idea is every time you pour hot water into a cold vessel, the temperature drops by about 20 F. One pour gets you in the temperature range for oolong tea, two pours for green tea. The size and shape of the vessel also affects how the temperature changes as well as the height of the pour – higher pour aerates the water cooling it down faster.
Since I’m a little anal retentive, I couldn’t help but check with a thermometer to make sure and this method worked unfailingly almost every single time.
Haha, I’m so glad to hear that I’m not the only one that does this! That’s pretty much the same set of rules I follow. I also usually pour from a height, if I want to cool the water down, but have always wondered how significantly that actually affect the water temperature… Maybe an idea for another experiment? :)
Sasha.
There is a problem with your video that I am pretty sure is not my computer. I couldn’t understand a word the man was saying.
Thanks for letting me know Allan! Is it the sound, or is it the accent? :’)
Definitely the sound. For me not to understand a British accent it would have to be extreme. I could hear him somewhat but couldn’t make out what he was saying.
Sasha, I do really like the video and I don’t get the sound issue – good job.
I do wonder whether anyone else has tried to replicate this experiement and got similar/ different temperature results, as I know the rate at which the temperature of the water changes will depend a lot on the cup and the material!
So let us know guys!
Yulia X
I suppose the local weather conditions would also be a factor (e.g. resulting in different room temperature at different times of the year in different places). Still, since we are not looking for any high level of precision, this is one of the simpler methods of temperature control. This is also one that needs to be kept in mind even while using a temperature regulating kettle, like where you pre-warm vessels during gong fu tea preperation…
I could agree with you more Psyck. We tested so many factors. In all honesty a lot of the time its enough to just boil the kettle and pour the water into a cold gaiwan. There is also quite a lot of variation with regards to whether you tea ware is pre heater and ofcourse whether the mug had been pre heated first. We decided to leave this alone though for the sake of this video, just to keep it simple. Maybe we will do another video which goes into a little more depth in the future :)
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