Why add tea to TC?

[spbingham]

hi again, this is problem a silly newbie question but ive gotta learn someway, why do you add tea to turbo cider? i see everyone doing it on the TC topic. Wot does it do exactly? thanks in adv

[boingy]

In a word: tannin.

[Trunky]

[tractor]

i wondered why people use tea as well so thanks for that.

just as an a side, would it make any difference if i added tannin after fermentation? my cider is a little acidic but has already been conditioned and ready to pur out the keg.

thanks

[FlourPower]

I use tea because it means the only thing I need from a home brew shop is VWP.

[grumpysod]

Once you start adding anything other than sugar and bread yeast to apple juice it's no longer TC. You're on the slippery slope to becoming a real brewer

[Trunky]

[Mitchamitri]

I never realised we had got to the stage with TC it has an official qualification – it’s gone from moonshine vs whisky to scotch vs malt!!!

[DREADSKIN]

the evolution of tc on this forum has been a wonderous thing

[boingy]

I do like the "no limits" approach of some of the TC brewers on here. If it's on a shop shelf or growing in a garden they look at it and think "I wonder if I can ferment that...."

[Buddy-Matt]

Indeed - hence the "Turbo Perry" bubbling away upstairs now. (Lidl pear nectar + nutrient + yeast)

Interesting post on the Tea though - will definitely be adding some to my next brews now Or maybe proper tannin (I don't like the thought the tea might affect the taste in some other way)

[timothio]

Of course the main reason for adding tea isnt anything to do with tannin, its so you can break the 12 o'clock rule without feeling guilty...

[Spud395]

Indeed - hence the "Turbo Perry" bubbling away upstairs now. (Lidl pear nectar + nutrient + yeast)

Interesting post on the Tea though - will definitely be adding some to my next brews now Or maybe proper tannin (I don't like the thought the tea might affect the taste in some other way)

I add the tea for exactly the oppisite reason.
I know whats in tea and drink it every day, what exactly is 'proper tannin' same reason I will add lemon juice instead of citric acid.
Might not be as efficient, but.
Oh I also add raisans/sultanas instead of nutrient.

By the way I add huge amounts of tea, full mug with 3 bags in 4.5L and get very nice results with no taste of tea off it

[jason123]

Being a tea lover I've always found that a good leaf tea never gives the really dry after shock that common mass produced sh1t tea bags give, especially when drunk without milk. so cheapo tea bags it has to be as the dryness I'm told comes from the tannin. Please correct me if that is wrong.

To get that really, really, strong taste that goes with the tannin I find rather than just 3 bags in a cup, get the saucepan on the hob and boil the bags for at least 5 minutes. That should yield plenty for the brew. Convert to leaf tea in a pot for a decent cuppa though.

[Spud395]

AFAIK the dryness comes from all the sugar being fermented out.