Friday TeaDay 1/21/11 How important is it anyway?

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends! Welcome to a new TeaDay! We are hoping you will drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day!

Yesterday we discussed "What percentage of your annual TeaBudget would you estimate will go to NEW HARVEST TEAS?" You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Given our recent discussions, it occurred to me, I wonder how much importance do you place in harvest information anyway? Please be sure to share.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[auhckw]

I like to know more about the tea that I'm drinking... makes it fun.

[IPT]

I like to know when they were harvested, but it really comes down to how the tea tastes. Spring teas are generally the best, but not always. Sometimes the fall harvest surprises you and are better than the spring ones. It's rare, but it does happen. So, I picked maybe.

[Nenugal]

I'm always interested to know more about the tea I drink, so I prefer shops where I can get information about where and when it was picked. For green tea, I am reluctant to buy if this information is not available for reasons of freshness as well.

[Joey Peters]

This is the topic where you put what tea you drink today, right?

I'm making some pu-ehr with cacao en jasmin. This is the second bowl of pu-ehr I'm drinking. I kind of like the earthy tones in it.

It's a premix. It also has some caramel in it. It's steeping right now. The pack says 5 minutes, but I'll make that 7.

The loose tea smells a bit like pot-pouri.

On to the tasting... It's hard to describe. I certainly detect the chocolate in it. Especially after adding some sweeteners. Not sure what to think of it.

Sort of like an evening drink.

[Trey Winston]

I like to know more about the tea that I'm drinking... makes it fun.

+1. The more info the better the experience, I think.

Having some White Peony today.

[artmom]

Important, affects tea buying decisions; but only since I joined TeaChat! And does not affect ALL buying decisions.

More snow during the night; but main roads are okay. Not that it matters to me!

[brlarson]

Not terribly important to me as I'll still be drinking tea during an off harvest. I trust that my tea vendors will find the best of what is available during a difficult year. However, the taste of teas that I receive will affect what I repurchase during the year.

Tea Gallery Keemun this morning.

[solitude]

The information about the tea I purchase is more and more important for me but it is not a criteria. This morning I opened YM supreme from o-cha. Many of you already wrote very nice things about this tea, and I must agree it kicks ass. I will play little bit with the brewing parameters than I will write my experience more in detail.
Currently in work. For the evening I am planning to have mao jian.

[Poohblah]

The more information about a tea that a vendor gives, the more likely I am to buy.

[hopeofdawn]

I'd say it's more important for me for any online tea purchases, where I can't taste what I'm buying. Buying from a teashop, not so important--my tastebuds make the final decision there.

Drinking the last of my Dragonwell today--guess I'll be in the market for more soon!

[TwoPynts]

Important, but not necessarily a deal breaker.

Yunnan Golden Curls on the tongue today!

[JBaymore]

I like to know when they were harvested, but it really comes down to how the tea tastes.

+1

best,

..........john

[Marco]

Buying tea online needs a good description
And information about it and some pictures give a lot of fun to the virtual shopping tour. Works as an appetizer.

Today there is Premium Gyokuro from aiya in my cup. It smells delicious and tastes real great. I can't say if part of it is that I had no gyokuro for about four months.

[msurads06]

Harvest information is important but wont nessecarily prevent me from buying a tea if i want to try it. I prefer to know when a tea was harvested because it can give an idea of freshness. I am less likely to buy from a vendor that does not provide harvest information, especially since joining teachat. But i do still buy from vendors like rishi and i just cleaned up at special teas close out clearance. I do think that harvest information increases a vendors credibility (assuming they are truthful).

Starting the day with norbu's taiwan ruby tea.