Hello!

Please introduce yourself here to our membership


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Jun 21st, '08, 14:20
Posts: 465
Joined: Jun 19th, '08, 23:03
Location: Midwestern USA

Hello!

by Riene » Jun 21st, '08, 14:20

I didn't know it at the time, but my journey into tea began in high school. My parents would often have people over "for coffee," and although I liked the aroma, I could not stand the bitter taste. They had an old--probably 20 years old at that time--can of Formosa Oolong, and I grew into the habit of making myself a cup of that tea when I joined the conversation.

In college, when my classmates were beginning their pot-a-day coffee habit, I discovered black teabags--Lipton's, of course, but it was a start! A trip to the UK after I was married introduced me to real tea, and I've been addicted since.

There are very few options to purchase quality bags or any loose tea where I live, here in the midwestern USA. The supermarkets are getting better about having a variety, but I purchase most of my tea online. I have nine teapots in various sizes and either glass or porcelain, a library of tea books, and a collection of tea tins. I prefer hot black tea in the mornings, iced tea with lunch or dinner, and have recently discovered green teas, which I drink in the evenings.

I'm glad to discover a place where I can learn more about specific teas and meet other people who like it as well!

Jun 21st, '08, 16:09
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Joined: Jun 13th, '08, 15:00
Location: Phoenix, AZ

by themadhatter444 » Jun 21st, '08, 16:09

Cool story. Welcome!

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Jun 21st, '08, 16:14
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Joined: Feb 8th, '08, 02:10
Location: France

by olivierco » Jun 21st, '08, 16:14

Welcome!

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Jun 21st, '08, 17:11
Posts: 1936
Joined: May 22nd, '06, 11:28
Location: Trapped inside a bamboo tong!
Contact: hop_goblin

by hop_goblin » Jun 21st, '08, 17:11

Welcome!

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Jun 21st, '08, 20:34
Posts: 8065
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Location: Southern CA
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Contact: Victoria

by Victoria » Jun 21st, '08, 20:34

Welcome! Please come join us on TeaDay,
and tell us what is in your cup currently!

Welcome,
Victoria

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Jun 21st, '08, 23:42
Posts: 465
Joined: Jun 19th, '08, 23:03
Location: Midwestern USA

by Riene » Jun 21st, '08, 23:42

:D Thanks for the welcome!

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Jun 22nd, '08, 00:09
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
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by Chip » Jun 22nd, '08, 00:09

Share your cup with us on TeaDay

Welcome to TeaChat...here is hoping you stick around and enjoy the forum for years to come and share many many cups with us.

I enjoyed you OP. Please share more with us.

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Jun 23rd, '08, 04:23
Posts: 338
Joined: Jan 27th, '08, 15:19
Location: Houston, TX

by Sam. » Jun 23rd, '08, 04:23

Welcome to TeaChat, it's a great community!

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Jun 23rd, '08, 08:35
Posts: 465
Joined: Jun 19th, '08, 23:03
Location: Midwestern USA

by Riene » Jun 23rd, '08, 08:35

I take it that most people here are fans of greens, and Asian-style teaware? I have a lot to learn in that area.

Is there a "dictionary" here anywhere? I keep finding all sorts of terms for the teaware that I don't know, and a few for steeping methods I'm unfamiliar with.

Really cool site--lots to learn here!
:D
Although my neighbors are all barbarians,
And you, you are a thousand miles away,
There are always two cups on my table.
--Tang Dynasty

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Jun 23rd, '08, 11:44
Posts: 281
Joined: Mar 6th, '08, 18:02
Location: immersed in tea
Contact: trent

by trent » Jun 23rd, '08, 11:44

Most people are fans of Asian Teaware, but I wouldn't say that we are all green obsessed.

You'll run into a few Japanese Green Heads (Me, Chip, Pentox, Olivier & others).
Some Oolong Queens (Victoria & others)
&
Some Pu Erh Pigs (bearsbearsbears and I'm blanking out on the rest)

(to the people I mentioned, sorry if I put you in the wrong category)

What kind of green teas are you drinking, Chinese or Japanese? If you haven't tried Japanese yet, I would highly recommend that you do. O-cha is a good vendor and I would recommend their shincha (http://www.o-cha.com/green-teas/shincha/)

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Jun 23rd, '08, 12:17
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by Salsero » Jun 23rd, '08, 12:17

Riene wrote:Is there a "dictionary" here anywhere? I keep finding all sorts of terms for the teaware that I don't know, and a few for steeping methods I'm unfamiliar with.
Lew Perin put together Babelcarp, a wonderful dictionary of Chinese tea terms, mostly the names of teas. It is available at http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.html

Kam at FunAlliance has some tutorials called Chinese Tea 101
http://chineseteas101.com/

Several of us TeaChatters assembled some material in Brandon's wikiCHA
http://wikicha.com/index.php/Main_Page

Finally, Scruff McGruff, has some great guides in the Teaware Guides section of his blog TeaNerdd http://www.teanerd.com/search/label/Teaware%20Guides

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