"Bluesea" > wrote in message

> > >WHOA! Stop right there 'cause you're scaring me. Are you aware that a
> > >microwave oven can super-heat water beyond the 212F boiling point w/o
it
> > >ever creating a shimmer much less a bubble?

No, it can't. Use your thermometer to check (I did). Microvawe is not magic.
The bubbling occurs at the same temp. whatever you use to heat your water,
the exception is when you do it in a pressure cooker.

>>>And, if conditions are right,
> > >it'll explode spontaneously and scald you.
> >
> > Naw. I've been doing that for 30 years. Never had one explore or even
> > erupt. My microwave might be too wimpy. It's almost 30 years old as
> > well. But the concern is touching. ;-)
>
> Please don't be complacent about it. The microwave that exploded my water
> was 24 years old and had never done it before.

How does water "explose" ? A microwave is basically a water heating device.
If it is not fit to safely heat water in a pyrex glass, you are entitled to
sue the maker and that of the pyrex. Now after 24 yrs, the "explosion" may
have another cause, like the electric circuit being too old and breaking. I
had that in an old non-microwave oven, I heard "bang", saw like a fire-work
and the stuff inside reduced in a sort of paste. That meant it was time to
buy a new oven. And the new one is great as it heats the water at any temp I
select from -5 degree celcius to get ice not too hard, till 100 degree
celsius, which is the maximum as after that the water becomes steam as I'm
at the level of the sea.
Well, I admit I'm not a big micro-wave fan, I didn't want any but I took a
oven/wave combo as no other model of oven had the size required for my
kitchen. As I got it, I tried all the options....and I was wrong, that's
great. No comparison with my Mum's horrible 20 yr old microvawe.

To Top Spin :
About astringency, I avoid it by brewing my black teas with cooler water.
Some will say it's an heresy, but I really like them that way. In this
season, I brew Darjeelings at 70 degree celsius. In Summer, I put them for
at least 20 minutes in cold water. I find that I get more flavor and less of
the bitter/acid taste.
For the smoky taste, some teas have it, it's done "on purpose" as there are
amateurs of such teas. If you don't like that, you should avoid them.

Kuri