• From: Los Angeles, CA
  • Registered: 2008-10-29
  • Posts: 284

Topic: adding cold water to hot - good or bad

So one very minor, but also fairly controversial topic is whether to use up all of one batch of water before putting in more, or not. I know in Aaron's article in one of the first AoT, he says to always use up all the water before adding more. However, I've seen many people advocate the exact opposite; adding new, presumably more oxygenated water so that old (reboiled) water isn't too flat. I usually fall into the second camp.

It seems impractical, unless you're using a really small kettle (the sort used with a charcoal stove for gong fu cha) to use up all the water, and many kettles don't take kindly to having water (re)heated when there's less than a certain amount in the kettle. I'm not hopeful that we'll arrive at any sort of "correct" or scientific answer, but just curious what you all do and why.

Also, for those who keep their water in a ceramic container, what kind is ideal - just any of those big Chinese porcelain jars, with some sort of cloth put over the top? And then a ladle to get the water out? Does the container have to be cleaned occasionally to keep funky stuff from growing in it?

  • Registered: 2008-11-07
  • Posts: 68

Re: adding cold water to hot - good or bad

The clay water jar is actually a traditional component of the Japanese tea ceremony. I don't have much more to add about this having not used one myself, but Matt from Korea writes about his jar here: http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/0 … g-ree.html

Matt speaks in rather unscientific terms, but he claims the jar absorbs unwanted minerals, softening the water. This is contrary to Aaron's take on stoneware jars and kettles, especially purion or the volcanic clay mixture used by Chen Qi Nan. These are said to re-mineralize water in a manner "similar to bamboo charcoal".

Here is a very interesting piece from Lin's purion collection, a 5 gallon water jug with tap. http://www.alibaba.com/product/tw104632 … on_II.html

brandon's Website

  • From: Los Angeles, CA
  • Registered: 2008-10-29
  • Posts: 284

Re: adding cold water to hot - good or bad

brandon wrote:

The clay water jar is actually a traditional component of the Japanese tea ceremony. I don't have much more to add about this having not used one myself, but Matt from Korea writes about his jar here: http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/0 … g-ree.html

Matt speaks in rather unscientific terms, but he claims the jar absorbs unwanted minerals, softening the water. This is contrary to Aaron's take on stoneware jars and kettles, especially purion or the volcanic clay mixture used by Chen Qi Nan. These are said to re-mineralize water in a manner "similar to bamboo charcoal".

Here is a very interesting piece from Lin's purion collection, a 5 gallon water jug with tap. http://www.alibaba.com/product/tw104632 … on_II.html

Yeah - I've seen the Lin's one before; probably pretty expensive to ship, though (and it's not cheap in the first place, either).

Also, I've heard that certain stuff (heavier minerals) may settle to the bottom, and that's why you usually skim the water off the top. I would wonder if having a tap on the bottom like that might not be a bad thing. I'm not sure if it's completely contrary to say that something both mineralizes the water and absorbs unwanted minerals... also, Matt does say in his post "The water is at home cuddling close to the Mool Hang A Ree, absorbing its minerals and natural deposits." I think people have made the claim that certain materials can both add helpful minerals and also remove harmful substances. Whether this is backed up by any sort of hard science, I can't say. :> I have heard a lot of anecdotal evidence of ceramics of various sorts (glazed or unglazed) improving the taste of water at various stages of the game.

Anyone know a US source of glazed or unglazed water jars? I think for the glaze one, probably any sort of large porcelain jar would work; locally there's a shop that sells a lot of reproduction antique Chinese porcelain, but a lot of their stuff is kind of garish. The ones Matt has pictures of are great.... do any of the Korean potters he puts pictures of up have stuff available online (btw, saw an electric brazier similar to, though not as beautiful as, the ones he posted on his site when I was at Hankook this past weekend)?

I have seen the unglazed ones too, but I think the Chinese ones are usually porcelain; I was thinking about this sort:
http://theteagallery.blogspot.com/2008/ … r-tea.html
http://themandarinstea.blogspot.com/200 … water.html

I'm not sure if these are purpose-made for water storage, or if they're just generic vase / jar type things. I have heard that they should be covered with a piece of cloth or something like that.

  • Registered: 2008-11-07
  • Posts: 68

Re: adding cold water to hot - good or bad

Cross posting the newer TeaChat thread here for the record, as it contains perhaps some additional information.
Feel free to comment either place on my intended test.

http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?p=112327

brandon's Website

  • Cael
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  • Registered: 2010-12-15
  • Posts: 7

Re: adding cold water to hot - good or bad

Personally, I have lately been using my electric tea kettle that keeps the water at about the same temperature as you set it so that you can go back for more water later. I will usually add in more water than I will need and keep the kettle on. However, I add new water each time I turn it on. I guess that puts me somewhere in between. I do a little bit of both. I know it's kind of an old topic, but I thought I'd just leave a comment.