It is the day before the Chinese New Year (although at 11 am eastern time, it will strike midnight in China so, do we celebrate it today here in the USA, or do we wait til tomorrow, February 7th?), so, let's celebrate together over many cups of TEA. Remember to come to TeaDay throughout the day and share what is in your cup and see what everyone else is sipping. If you cannot check in during the day, reflect back on your TeaConquests.
Yesterday's TeaDay thread was a lot of fun, and there were 51 posts at last check. I really enjoyed reading each one, and I hope everyone else is enjoying this TeaSharing as much as I am!!!
Today's TeaPoll should be fun...feel free to share with us your methods of clearing out teas you won't drink. Don't forget to vote in the poll!
You can review previous days' polls and posts.
Feb 6th, '08, 03:22
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Wed 2/06/08 What to do with teas you you will never drink?
Last edited by Chip on Aug 7th, '08, 19:06, edited 1 time in total.
Todays first cup is a Huang Shan Mao Feng brewed in a gaiwan. I prefer long infusions, so did two infusions, a 2 minute one and a 2,5 minute one. Very delicious, had some very interesting roasted notes in the taste, and a pretty strong roasted aroma from the brewed leaves.
If I don`t like a tea, I will give it away to someone who does. However, not encountered a tea I don`t like yet. I will have to drink something many times before I can decide for sure that I don`t like it, some things are acquired taste and that requires time.
If I don`t like a tea, I will give it away to someone who does. However, not encountered a tea I don`t like yet. I will have to drink something many times before I can decide for sure that I don`t like it, some things are acquired taste and that requires time.
Tea trading is really the best thing to do for situations like these.
1) You share teas you DO like.
2) You share teas you were so-so about. And maybe the person you share it with might like it. In the case, you found a worthy home.
3) You get teas you may or may not like. But, you get to widen your pallate. You shouldn't expect to like everything. I've often found that certain teas (orthodox greens, for example) I didn't like in the very beginning, but now enjoy very much.
Best of all.. this is usually free (or the cost of shipping if you're doing it long distance - which I have done).
1) You share teas you DO like.
2) You share teas you were so-so about. And maybe the person you share it with might like it. In the case, you found a worthy home.
3) You get teas you may or may not like. But, you get to widen your pallate. You shouldn't expect to like everything. I've often found that certain teas (orthodox greens, for example) I didn't like in the very beginning, but now enjoy very much.
Best of all.. this is usually free (or the cost of shipping if you're doing it long distance - which I have done).
My tea will belong in the smithsonian. Well, except any remaining puerh. That stuff won't be rotting further in some american museum.
I woke up with a sore throat, so I went with sencha superor instead of yerba mate as my morning tea. Tastes...more roasted than I remember.
I woke up with a sore throat, so I went with sencha superor instead of yerba mate as my morning tea. Tastes...more roasted than I remember.
Super elite tea facist....
I don't give up easily on a tea but when I do, it's hard for me to pass along something I think is terrible. Don't have any tea friends I'd do that to.
My private blend arrived last night, so that's in my cup right now. It's a blend of Assam Melody, Peach Oolong, Hojicha. It's drier and bolder than I expected, the aroma from the moment the tin was opened filled the air. I'm going to love this in the mornings.
Have a lovely day all!
My private blend arrived last night, so that's in my cup right now. It's a blend of Assam Melody, Peach Oolong, Hojicha. It's drier and bolder than I expected, the aroma from the moment the tin was opened filled the air. I'm going to love this in the mornings.
Have a lovely day all!
Last edited by Victoria on Feb 6th, '08, 10:14, edited 2 times in total.
First pot of the day is yet another attempt to recreate the very tasty blend which they serve in my local noodle bar, which I know for a fact to be a blend because I spoke to the owner. I don't think it's made with any really special teas, definitely a green tea base with a hint of Jasmine, but something I can't quite replicate. So far I've mixed tried various blends of Jasmine, gunpowder and oolong which have all made tasty blends, but not quite right...
Can anyone suggest anything else that is common in popular Chinese blends which I should tryout?
Jack
Can anyone suggest anything else that is common in popular Chinese blends which I should tryout?
Jack
I voted "Other" because I do a lot of things. If it is something I just kinda don't like, I will power through it and drink it but I will always be looking for people who like it more and will give them some if I have a lot. If it is something I don't like at all and will just sit there I will usually send out a message here (I have done that) or on various other tea (live journal) communiTEAs and will either just give them outright to people who are interested or trade them. There is always someone who will like the thing you don't.
Today's first tea was a half cup of wuyi ensemble to finish it off and chalk up another empty tin for the week. My second tea was that resteeped with some Teavana peach oolong added in. Another I-am-just-trying-to-get-through-it tea.
Today's first tea was a half cup of wuyi ensemble to finish it off and chalk up another empty tin for the week. My second tea was that resteeped with some Teavana peach oolong added in. Another I-am-just-trying-to-get-through-it tea.
Teas for trade:
Feb 6th, '08, 10:48
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
Crap tea get's thrown away, for example, say I sample out a package of tea from work, say Two Leaves and a Bud or something. I'll drink a bit of it, so I can review it on the blog and know what I am selling at work. But its not very god tea, so if the wife doesn't want it, into the trash it goes. But the packaging goes into recycling. 
Life is too short to drink bad tea.
For the most part when I buy tea, I stick to 30 g samples; much easier to finish off and not waste.
Life is too short to drink bad tea.
For the most part when I buy tea, I stick to 30 g samples; much easier to finish off and not waste.
Feb 6th, '08, 10:54
Posts: 23
Joined: Jan 27th, '08, 14:12
Location: New Jersey
Contact:
FoxMackenzie
I had a cup of mightytea organic earl grey - it's about to be subjected to a second steeping as well. Had a rough day yesterday and I need my fix. *twitch*
I find teas I know damn well I won't drink make excellent housewarming gifts.
-Fox
I find teas I know damn well I won't drink make excellent housewarming gifts.
-Fox
Try the romantic "1 heart" blend! Chocolate, strawberries and jasmine tea..mmmm.
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Eh, since I do my best to guzzle my tea before it gets too bad, I don't usually have the problem...but I'll likely just throw it out.
I agree it's best to stick with smaller sized orders so your tea won't be as likely to go bad, but I think aside from white, green and (especially) matcha there's probably not a big risk anyways (depending on your poll position on the last poll, lol). Plus, some online stores don't exactly have the best rates on shipping - I'd rather order enough so I won't have to keep re-ordering and continually paying shipping charges, but also not so much as to have tea going to waste; and of course using proper storage techniques. If I feel I'm not going to finish a tea before it goes bad, I try to figure this out way before the time it goes stale...then I'd just hand it off to someone else.
Started off the day with Makaibari 2nd Flush today. Very nice.
I agree it's best to stick with smaller sized orders so your tea won't be as likely to go bad, but I think aside from white, green and (especially) matcha there's probably not a big risk anyways (depending on your poll position on the last poll, lol). Plus, some online stores don't exactly have the best rates on shipping - I'd rather order enough so I won't have to keep re-ordering and continually paying shipping charges, but also not so much as to have tea going to waste; and of course using proper storage techniques. If I feel I'm not going to finish a tea before it goes bad, I try to figure this out way before the time it goes stale...then I'd just hand it off to someone else.
Started off the day with Makaibari 2nd Flush today. Very nice.
I've been known to pass along a lot of teas to friends and family in efforts to expose them to better tea. When coming back from a trade show- that is when I usually have a large stock of tea to go through. Many I do want to try, but just never get around to it, and most are some that I picked up because they were free, and I like free things 
I passed along a bunch of keemun and yunnan and lapsang souchong I had to an old coworker who was looking for a suitable tea to drink his scotch with, so happy faces all around.
Today started off with fancy formosa oolong...I just can't get enough. I'm still, STILL, trying to get over this cold, so hopefully this helps. I am also going to try to do some blends today.
I passed along a bunch of keemun and yunnan and lapsang souchong I had to an old coworker who was looking for a suitable tea to drink his scotch with, so happy faces all around. Today started off with fancy formosa oolong...I just can't get enough. I'm still, STILL, trying to get over this cold, so hopefully this helps. I am also going to try to do some blends today.
If i get a bad tea, it goes in the trash. I don't know anyone locally to give away or trade tea with.
For the past few days I've been consuming mass quantities of green tea. Some nasty bug made it past my tea defenses and got me sick. Worst part of it is, I can't really taste any of this good tea.
Currently drinking Guricha.
For the past few days I've been consuming mass quantities of green tea. Some nasty bug made it past my tea defenses and got me sick. Worst part of it is, I can't really taste any of this good tea.
Currently drinking Guricha.
Me too JT, but fortunately I can still smell and taste. I just can't breathe! Hope you feel better soon!JT wrote: For the past few days I've been consuming mass quantities of green tea. Some nasty bug made it past my tea defenses and got me sick. Worst part of it is, I can't really taste any of this good tea.
In celebration of the Chinese New Year - I have switched to TKY. Sounds like a good excuse.