Tea drinkers

[Poohbear123]

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.

So do I, and I have used the Electric Kettle, untill it started to shock me, than I threw that away and went back to the microwave.

 

[bicker]

As long as you stop and stir the water every 20-30 seconds or so, the microwave actually should be okay.

 

[krcit]

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.

Yes!! That weird foamy stuff. blech

 

[tigercat]

Simba's Mom how did you do a tea tour?
tigercat

 

[Carly_Roach]

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.

Exactly! I'm a tea aficionado as well and can taste the difference between microwaved water and boiled water. I can also tell when green tea has been overcooked by incorrect temperature methods and oversteeped by leaving it in the pot too long (bitterness - blech).

I am one of the boil the water for tea in a kettle group. I also strongly believe that tea should be made in a teapot, not in a mug. I can tell the difference by the taste. A teabag in a mug with boiling water poured over it just doesn't taste right, science or not.

Agreed! DH got me a gorgeous everyday teapot for Christmas. I have a plain one for work that stays there and I've been using the "company" teapot here at home for years. Now I can put the "company" one away and use the plain one for every day.

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.

Would you cook a prime rib steak in a microwave instead of broiling, grilling or searing it? After all, the microwave gets it as hot as the grill does, it comes out hot and it's quicker and easier, yes?

I think I would be "insisting" that said guest help themself to the kettle and boil it themselves as I have a "serve yourself" house.

Believe me, I have done that in houses where they can't tell the difference between microwaved water and properly prepared tea. I wish I got commission on electric kettles when the hostess samples her own tea cooked correctly then goes out and buys one.

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?

I agree. I do tea MY way, but if a guest wanted it prepared a particular way I'd do it their way because, after all, they are a guest and I'm a good hostess. I'd be happy to boil their tea water in the microwave no matter how much it made me cringe inside.

 

[Christine]

There's an explanation somewhere out on the internet as to why microwaved water can make tea taste "off." I am a huge hot tea drinker and I can definitely tell the difference.

At work I used to microwave my water as I had no other option. That cup of tea was definitely not as tasty as the tea I made in the afternoon when I got home.

A few years ago, I got an Breville Electric Kettle. Best thing ever. I finally bought one for my office and now I get a good cup of tea in the morning.

There's something about how the microwave heats and what the molecules do as opposed to boiling in a kettle but I can't quite remember.

 

[John VN]

Some people prefer a 1982 Chateau Lafite Rothschild at $4,000.00/bottle and I like wine from a cardboard carton.

To each their own. Do as you wish for yourself as for me if a guest prefers boiled or microwaved, I will oblige.

 

[Planogirl]

I never allow my microwaved water to get too hot. I wonder if that matters?

I'm heating water in a pan right now (don't have a kettle nowadays) and I'm going to see if I can tell a difference.

 

[Planogirl]

I just drank my tea made out of boiled water and I can't tell the difference. I do have constant allergy issues though so maybe that's why.

 

[mhsjax]

Someone who understands the proper method for brewing different teas.

Very good reply.

But said by someone that doesn't have the water that we do here in Jacksonville, FL. I wouldn't and don't give that water to my dog, much less use it for brewing the optimal hot tea. lol.

I feel the same way about crock pots that most of you feel about microwaves and tea. I don't drink hot tea so I personally can't judge the taste but as I said I don't like the taste of crock pots so I can certainly see that there may be a difference between micro water and boiled water. Don't use the water where I come from, unless you have a fondness for chlorine and chemical tastes in you tea.

 

[mhsjax]

Yes!! That weird foamy stuff. blech

YOu mean the spit glob. YUCK. I make tea for my DD and she can't look at it until I remove it for her, we both stand there and gag.

I didn't read correctly. OU r foamy stuff comes from our Keurig. It is nasty looking.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Simba's Mom how did you do a tea tour?
tigercat

It was a free offering during the Flower and Garden Festival a couple years ago. The only problem was that you couldn't pre-register, you had to show up at the time of the tour and hope. Oh, I don't think I said where-at the Twinings shoppe. Anyways, I think I saw the relief on DH's face when we showed up to find out there was just one spot left. He was more than happy to browse around and meet up with me again in about 30-40 minutes. Not only was it free, but at the end of the tour, we each got a tea bag of a not-so-common flavor to try at our convenience.

 

[LuvCuteBoys]

It was a free offering during the Flower and Garden Festival a couple years ago. The only problem was that you couldn't pre-register, you had to show up at the time of the tour and hope. Oh, I don't think I said where-at the Twinings shoppe. Anyways, I think I saw the relief on DH's face when we showed up to find out there was just one spot left. He was more than happy to browse around and meet up with me again in about 30-40 minutes. Not only was it free, but at the end of the tour, we each got a tea bag of a not-so-common flavor to try at our convenience.

That sounds like fun!!!! Do you remember what flavor you got? My favorite Twinings tea is the Four Red Fruits. Yummy!

I have no idea what foamy stuff you guys are talking about! I wonder if it depends on the water? I personally can't tell the difference between cooked in a kettle vs the microwave. I tried it earlier to see what the fuss was about. LOL.

Then again, I like our tap water here. I drink it straight with no filtration...

 

[tigercat]

Was that at Epcot at Britain? I love going there and getting tea. I do know that I want to get a couple tins of Darjelling tea. I got one tin last time and love it. I managed to buy the tea bags at a local British store here but it doesn't taste the same as the tea leaves.
tigercat

 

[Bunchkin]

YOu mean the spit glob. YUCK. I make tea for my DD and she can't look at it until I remove it for her, we both stand there and gag.

I didn't read correctly. OU r foamy stuff comes from our Keurig. It is nasty looking.

I was referring to the foam created by microwaved water once you put the tea bag in. Nothing funky comes out of our Keurig!

 

[Diznygrl]

Usually I just use the hot water from the coffee maker for my tea. Is that wrong?

 

[MistressMerryweather]

If you put something microwave safe in the cup, like a straw or plastic spoon, the surface tension is broken and the water cannot explode.

Oh dearie me! Putting plastic straws or plastic spoons in the microwave is *not* a good idea.

 

[momrek06]

I drink allot of tea and mostly it's P&G Tips for me! I never ever microwave my water ever! Every morning I fill my whistling tea kettle with cold water and boil it on the stove until my kettle whistles!

I agree with those that say that microwaved water just tastes different! My Mom and my MIL are just like me, tea lovers and they always boil their tea water!

 

[bicker]

Oh dearie me! Putting plastic straws or plastic spoons in the microwave is *not* a good idea.

The recommendation I've seen is to use a food-grade wooden skewer. Actually, a cinnamon stick would probably work too, and provide some additional flavor.

 

[lovesmurfs]

That sounds like fun!!!! Do you remember what flavor you got? My favorite Twinings tea is the Four Red Fruits. Yummy!

Not sure if you know, but the Twinings website (www.twinings.com) sells its tea at really reasonable prices ($2.99/box, $1.99/box for the tea of the month). If you sign up for email, they send a 20% off code every so often (or free shipping). I do large orders about 3 times per year.

My current bag favorites are the Christmas tea (tea of the month for December!) and the Apple Spice Chai. I get Lady Grey and Darjeeling loose leaf as well.

ETA: I have a tea kettle that I love! Like a PP, I will zap old tea in the microwave, but when I make it fresh it's in a tea kettle. In addition to the taste, the water doesn't seem to stay hot as long when it's been microwaved (but I notice that with food as well).