On 21 Aug 2005 10:31:59 -0400, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:

>gomper > wrote:
>>Bluesea wrote:
>>>
>>> 1. Pour water.
>>> 2. Let steep for 30 - 45 seconds - no stirring required.
>>> 3. Pour water out.
>>> 4. Using fresh water, steep as usual.
<snip>
>This may not work well for something like a gunpowder tea which is in
>balls that need some soaking to open, because you won't have as good an
>opportunity to get the caffeine into solution.
>--scott

Hi Scott, I just posted something very similar to this in the puerh
caffeine thread. To rinse a ball type tea, or flaked but still
compressed pieces of puerh, I have found that it works well to do one
rinse, then let the tea sit for a minute or two so the compressed tea
can start to absorb some moisture and expand a little, then rinse it a
second time. The effect on the flavor of puerh, not sure about
gunpowder, is negligible.
Mike Petro
http://www.pu-erh.net
"In this work, when it shall be found that much is omitted, let it not be forgotten that much likewise is performed."
Samuel Johnson, 1775, upon finishing his dictionary.