This was a present. It’s a pretty decent mug for general teas. I do not like using this for green teas (as the shape is not ideal for good infusion) but for herbal teas it is pretty decent imo. Especially if you’re looking for something quick and convenient.
Today I had a terrible cold and felt generally sick and grumpy. I certainly didn’t want to go through the whole deal of brewing tea in a pot with a proper and careful method. I just wanted to drink my ginger tea and go to bed. So I broke out the cup. It took 5 mins (all of which was steeping time), my tea stayed hot for about a good 15 mins and the ginger-green rooibos blend made me feel a thousand times better.
This teacup’s good to have around for times like this. But if you are looking for great infusion results this is not the cup for you.
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“(as the shape is not ideal for good infusion)”
Please elaborate. What shape would you prefer? Thanks!
I’m not a connoisseur by any means so feel free to correct me. I’m going by personal experience and I really do think tall cups are inconvenient for green or oolong teas. Like I said it worked really well with the ginger-rooibos blend. I think it’s something to do with the shape – that because it’s such a big, wide-mouthed mug, it cools down my greens (which I brew at about 70-80°C or 160-180°F) really quickly and not very gradually. I think this really affects the texture of the tea or at least that’s how it tastes to me. I drink mostly green tea but I think this would be a problem for most oolongs, whites and maybe even some blacks. I really do taste a huge difference in small, porcelain cups and I believe every sip is always consistently good in those – consistent in warmth and texture.
Reviews written from first-hand experience are what make Steepster so valuable.
A wide-mouthed mug definitely has more surface area and thus will cause the tea to cool faster than one with a smaller diameter. You’re correct that heat-retention is very important to maintain proper brewing temperature. Did you use the lid during brewing?
DAVIDsTEA also offers a “Nordic Mug” with what appears to be a smaller-diameter mouth compared with their “Perfect Tea Mug”. However, the Nordic is 16 oz.: http://www.davidstea.com/citrus-grove-nordic-mug?&TF=69F219E5A1A1&DEID=. Whereas, their “Perfect” model has been offered in both 12 and 16 oz. sizes.
You’re also correct that porcelain is preferred by many tea lovers and is the typical material in Chinese gaiwans for its thermal properties. The DAVIDsTEA description doesn’t mention the material used: http://www.davidstea.com/teal-perfect-mug?&TF=69F219E5A1A1&DEID=. l assume it’s ceramic since that’s what’s used for the similar ForLife mugs: http://www.forlifedesign.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index.php&main_page=product_info&cPath=49_57&products_id=38&do=check&zenid=gfgnnngse2eai03kii62s50jq5.
I agree, it would be great if someone offered a similar covered-mug w/infuser made from porcelain with a narrow mouth.
Another option is to use a German-made Finum Brewing Basket in your choice of porcelain mug: http://steepster.com/teaware/finum/29177-brewing-basket.
Thank you! The brewing basket looks really convenient. My current infuser is not the best and I didn’t know what I could get and this sounds like it’s just what I need.
I do always use the lid on the perfect mug which works decently well on teas with a higher brewing temperature. But it still completely wrecks my green teas.
You’re welcome! A Finum BB is very convenient. Now if it only came supplied with a porcelain lid!
“(as the shape is not ideal for good infusion)”
Please elaborate. What shape would you prefer? Thanks!
I’m not a connoisseur by any means so feel free to correct me. I’m going by personal experience and I really do think tall cups are inconvenient for green or oolong teas. Like I said it worked really well with the ginger-rooibos blend. I think it’s something to do with the shape – that because it’s such a big, wide-mouthed mug, it cools down my greens (which I brew at about 70-80°C or 160-180°F) really quickly and not very gradually. I think this really affects the texture of the tea or at least that’s how it tastes to me. I drink mostly green tea but I think this would be a problem for most oolongs, whites and maybe even some blacks. I really do taste a huge difference in small, porcelain cups and I believe every sip is always consistently good in those – consistent in warmth and texture.
Reviews written from first-hand experience are what make Steepster so valuable.
A wide-mouthed mug definitely has more surface area and thus will cause the tea to cool faster than one with a smaller diameter. You’re correct that heat-retention is very important to maintain proper brewing temperature. Did you use the lid during brewing?
DAVIDsTEA also offers a “Nordic Mug” with what appears to be a smaller-diameter mouth compared with their “Perfect Tea Mug”. However, the Nordic is 16 oz.: http://www.davidstea.com/citrus-grove-nordic-mug?&TF=69F219E5A1A1&DEID=. Whereas, their “Perfect” model has been offered in both 12 and 16 oz. sizes.
You’re also correct that porcelain is preferred by many tea lovers and is the typical material in Chinese gaiwans for its thermal properties. The DAVIDsTEA description doesn’t mention the material used: http://www.davidstea.com/teal-perfect-mug?&TF=69F219E5A1A1&DEID=. l assume it’s ceramic since that’s what’s used for the similar ForLife mugs: http://www.forlifedesign.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index.php&main_page=product_info&cPath=49_57&products_id=38&do=check&zenid=gfgnnngse2eai03kii62s50jq5.
I agree, it would be great if someone offered a similar covered-mug w/infuser made from porcelain with a narrow mouth.
Another option is to use a German-made Finum Brewing Basket in your choice of porcelain mug: http://steepster.com/teaware/finum/29177-brewing-basket.
Thank you! The brewing basket looks really convenient. My current infuser is not the best and I didn’t know what I could get and this sounds like it’s just what I need.
I do always use the lid on the perfect mug which works decently well on teas with a higher brewing temperature. But it still completely wrecks my green teas.
You’re welcome! A Finum BB is very convenient. Now if it only came supplied with a porcelain lid!