Tea drinkers

[tigercat]

Microwaved tea really does taste different than kettle tea. I also use a tea infusor and tea leaves instead of tea bags. I do bring tea bags with me when I go to the States though as the tea with the tea bags in teh States tastes yukky to me. I will be gone for 3 weeks the end of Jan first of Feb on a cruise and Disney so will be bringing a lot of tea bags with me. My Mum and Dad used to have a winter home in Florida and she brought all her tea bags with her.
tigercat

 

[MushyMushy]

I'm going to have to try this tomorrow to see what the difference is. Although I don't have a kettle -- can I just boil it on the stove and pour it over instead?

I've always done it in the microwave. Two minutes, dunk the bag for 5 minutes, sugar, then sip.

 

[Jennasis]

Have made tea both ways and never noticed a difference in flavor. I prefer the one-cup-nuked method.

 

[MonkeyDishwasher]

I drink TONS of loose leaf tea, but I either use my Keurig for hot water at home, or I'm fortunate enough that at work we have a Hot Water dispenser. Teavana has adorable 2 oz. containers for tea that allow me to bring tea (and rock Sugar) along with me when I need them to travel.

 

[disneyred]

personally i find tea tastes better when I boil the water but when its been sitting on the counter and got cold.. i would then nuke it ....

 

[Planogirl]

I've done it both ways and I can't taste the difference. My every day tea is Twinings English Breakfast and I have my microwave method down to a science.

 

[tink1969]

I don't know the science behind but I do know that when we use the microwave to heat or boil water it always taste like soap. Even after letting the tea bag steep extra long it still tastes like soap.

ditto

 

[denisenh]

microwaved anything is "odd". microwaves tear molecules apart; it’s the nature of the beast really. the friction of vibrating molecules heats the product.
it is convenient and acceptable to use a microwave though, but not the best way to heat or cook anything.it ruins good food at the molecular level. yum.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

The real problem is that if you try to boil your water in a cup in the microwave you have to have your timing just right. If you do not heat it enough it will not come to the full boil needed for the proper brewing temperature, but if you heat it too much is will boil over and make a mess of things.

 

[tink1969]

Originally Posted by mefordis
Thank you. I just am puzzled because the tea drinkers who come to my house insist that I get my kettle out and heat their water that way. When I drink tea I just heat it in the microwave -- no biggie.

A good hostess knows what her guest's likes and dislikes are. Why would you serve something to your guests if you know they don't like it?

 

[ready123go]

microwaved anything is "odd".

Agree. I can always taste the difference between nuked anything and traditional (oven or stove) heated. Things nuked cool down faster, too.

 

[RNMOM]

I don't care for water heated in the micro for tea. I too bought an electric kettle this fall and we just love it. My old enamel kettle was chipped and always spattered with food from my boys cooking (adults) and I was tired of cleaning it off. The kettle sits on the counter top beside the sugar bowl and we all are drining more tea and cocoa. It actually heats faster than the microwave for smaller amount. Mine holds 1.5 liters but you can do smalls amounts easily.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I think it tastes better in a kettle. I also like the "girliness" of the kettle whistle and the teapot. I am also a pot-warmer.

I'd never go to someone's house and insist my host do it my way.

 

[disykat]

A good hostess knows what her guest's likes and dislikes are. Why would you serve something to your guests if you know they don't like it?

Seriously? Unless it's something you've discussed before, how would you expect a hostess to know that their guest didn't like microwaved water? It's certainly the first time I've ever heard anyone say it makes a difference.

 

[Bunchkin]

I use my Keurig to make hot tea. To me it's the same taste as using a kettle. I don't like using microwaved water, it always gets kind of foamy on the top after I put in the tea bag.

But to each their own.

 

[bicker]

Cold, fresh water, brought to temperature in a kettle.

Why cold water? Hot water has passed through your hot water heater, which may add mineral deposits to the water which make the water taste funky. (By the way, the same goes for coffee.)

Why fresh water? Heavily filtered water, or water that has gone through reverse osmosis without adequate re-mineralization, doesn't have the fundamental building blocks of good-tasting water, and may actually be less able to extract flavorants from tea leaves. (Again, the same goes for coffee.)

Why not microwaved? First of all, many varieties of tea are not supposed to be made with boiled water, but rather with water just below the boil. Oolong = 190F; Green Tea = 155F; etc. It's very difficult to tell what the temperature of the water is in a microwave. Also, microwaving water tends to leave the water in place, while a kettle tends to heat water from the bottom up, and the water rises when heated, thereby agitating the water to ensure even heating.

 

[John VN]

Cold, fresh water, brought to temperature in a kettle.

Why cold water? Hot water has passed through your hot water heater, which may add mineral deposits to the water which make the water taste funky. (By the way, the same goes for coffee.)

Why fresh water? Heavily filtered water, or water that has gone through reverse osmosis without adequate re-mineralization, doesn't have the fundamental building blocks of good-tasting water, and may actually be less able to extract flavorants from tea leaves. (Again, the same goes for coffee.)

Why not microwaved? First of all, many varieties of tea are not supposed to be made with boiled water, but rather with water just below the boil. Oolong = 190F; Green Tea = 155F; etc. It's very difficult to tell what the temperature of the water is in a microwave. Also, microwaving water tends to leave the water in place, while a kettle tends to heat water from the bottom up, and the water rises when heated, thereby agitating the water to ensure even heating.

Someone who understands the proper method for brewing different teas.

Very good reply.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

I'm way too impatient use boiling (or near boiling) water. By the time it cools down enough to drink, I don't want it any more.

I drink at least five cups of tea a day... mostly microwaved.

People like what they like. If that's what my friends wanted, that's what I'd do. Of course, that usually just means bottled beer vs cans But that hostess thing goes both ways. I want my guests to be happy, but they all know that if they want coffee they're gonna have to stop at Tim Hortons and buy a cup because I can't the smell of it brewing. I don't own a coffee maker. On the other hand, if I were a guest in someone's home, I wouldn't be making demands.

 

[Simba's Mom]

LOL, this reminds me of the time I went on a tea tour with a CM from the Twinings Shop. When I asked him about microwaving my tea water, he looked at me in such horror, like I'd suggested killing my mother or something. He also told us that it's not "correct" to bring your water to a full boil for tea. Oh, well-2 minutes in the microwave for me. Just don't tell the CM!

 

[marcyinPA]

I'm way too impatient use boiling (or near boiling) water. By the time it cools down enough to drink, I don't want it any more.

I drink at least five cups of tea a day... mostly microwaved.

People like what they like. If that's what my friends wanted, that's what I'd do. Of course, that usually just means bottled beer vs cans But that hostess thing goes both ways. I want my guests to be happy, but they all know that if they want coffee they're gonna have to stop at Tim Hortons and buy a cup because I can't the smell of it brewing. I don't own a coffee maker. On the other hand, if I were a guest in someone's home, I wouldn't be making demands.

Totally agree! I nuke my water, for myself, because I don't like wasting time for the water to boil in a kettle.

But, I do have a kettle, and when I have guests, I will boil the water for them. I also have a variety of sweeteners and honey and different flavors of tea, plus decaf and regular bags on hand. (we also drink coffee, so I have that too). If I know I'm having company ahead of time, I stock up on nice things

For just myself, though, I'm not fussy.