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Cool story with an interesting ending (to me at least).

Just a tiny nit... Should "Brewed as directed for 4 minutes in boiling water." be "Brewed as directed for 4 minutes in boiled water." Was the tea sitting in water that was boiling or placed in water that just boiled? The later is how I brew my teas.

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Left in previously boiled water for 4 min. We can deduce this from the second sample, which simulates forgetting your tea bag in the mug for 15 min.

I think GP meant in the tea instructions

Isn't boiled water what goes up into the air?

The boiled water (assuming even heating throughout) is what reaches boiling temperature, 100°C, which is the entire pot. Additional energy applied to the pot/water after that point turns at some rate the already-at-100°C-boiled-water into water vapor/gas/steam. If you stop heating before all the already-at-100°C-boiled-water disappear, you have left what is or will have been "boiled water".

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