Beginner website
Is there a website where I can learn about all tea, like everything I need to know. I find that there are so many different types of teapots, used for many different things and ways and reasons. I'm just looking for a guide that can educate me in all aspects of tea, from basic to advanced. Is there such a thing? I find myself confused! Thanks!
Aug 30th, '07, 22:36
Posts: 334
Joined: Jul 8th, '07, 17:19
Location: Submerged in a good cuppa
To be honest, your best bet is research. There is no one absolute on any one given tea. It can be brewed in several different ways, according to your own taste.
Many vendor sites have at least brief descriptions of common brewing methods. And many tea blogs give such information, as well. But I'll give an extremely brief rundown:
Cup brewing: A few leaves in the cup, pour hot water over it, sip the tea. Repeat for further infusions.
Tea pot: Leaves into a tea pot, water over the leaves (heated then poured), steep, pour into cups.
Gong fu: High leaf-to-water ratio, small vessel. Pour water over the leaves, infuse for a brief period, pour into cups or sharing pitcher. Repeat -- a lot.
But there's a lot more to it, if you want there to be. Tea can be a beverage only, or it can be a consuming ritual and an escape from the rest of your world for a little while. It is what you make of it.
Many vendor sites have at least brief descriptions of common brewing methods. And many tea blogs give such information, as well. But I'll give an extremely brief rundown:
Cup brewing: A few leaves in the cup, pour hot water over it, sip the tea. Repeat for further infusions.
Tea pot: Leaves into a tea pot, water over the leaves (heated then poured), steep, pour into cups.
Gong fu: High leaf-to-water ratio, small vessel. Pour water over the leaves, infuse for a brief period, pour into cups or sharing pitcher. Repeat -- a lot.
But there's a lot more to it, if you want there to be. Tea can be a beverage only, or it can be a consuming ritual and an escape from the rest of your world for a little while. It is what you make of it.
Short answer...no. I cannot think of a single website that contains all the information in the world about tea. If you have the patience to muck through the forum posts here, though, you can learn a surprisingly large amount of stuff. Sure, there's a good bit of misinformation, but you'll learn what is BS fairly shortly.
Aug 30th, '07, 22:50
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
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Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
i do this method only i use a tea basket which i personally recommend... this way you don't need to worry about fishing the leaves out or drinking them. (both not appealing to me...)Eastree wrote:Cup brewing: A few leaves in the cup, pour hot water over it, sip the tea. Repeat for further infusions.
....... I have asked that question before in different ways..... and I know how you feel. The amount of information on tea is overwhelming at times. I am one of those people that wants to know everything NOW!!!! and I am very envious of the people here and else where that have such an extensive knowledge of teas. I appreciate that they are willing to let that knowledge out to the ignorant masses of which I am a card carrying member.
My suggestion to you and one that I have started to follow is take a type of tea (green, white, Oolong, black) and start researching, tasting, asking questions, and keep a journal of what you like and dislike (I do this not as often as I should) You will be surprised at how much information you will acquire in a short time.....
For me I have decided to take on Oolongs to start (not to say I am forgoing all other teas!) I have bought a guywain soon to arrive. I have found a few really good blogs that I read from time to time like this one http://anotherteablog.blogspot.com/
or
http://abx-tea.blogspot.com/
Both "locals" to tea chat and from what I can tell really know thier stuff.
As for basics try:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
http://www.tenren.com/fermentation.html
http://www.theteatable.com/Merchant2/me ... efinitions
again these are just a few of the sites out there I have tons more that are on my favorites list. Just keep looking you will find much.
My suggestion to you and one that I have started to follow is take a type of tea (green, white, Oolong, black) and start researching, tasting, asking questions, and keep a journal of what you like and dislike (I do this not as often as I should) You will be surprised at how much information you will acquire in a short time.....
For me I have decided to take on Oolongs to start (not to say I am forgoing all other teas!) I have bought a guywain soon to arrive. I have found a few really good blogs that I read from time to time like this one http://anotherteablog.blogspot.com/
or
http://abx-tea.blogspot.com/
Both "locals" to tea chat and from what I can tell really know thier stuff.
As for basics try:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
http://www.tenren.com/fermentation.html
http://www.theteatable.com/Merchant2/me ... efinitions
again these are just a few of the sites out there I have tons more that are on my favorites list. Just keep looking you will find much.
Aug 31st, '07, 18:00
Posts: 1559
Joined: Jan 28th, '07, 02:24
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Contact:
Space Samurai
Zip: Thanks for the mention.
I think he's right on about focusing on one type of tea, and again, not to necessarily to the exclusion of all others. And you can get a lot of mileage out of samples. My other segestion, if knowledge and experience is your goal, avoid tea blends. Tea blends will be vendor/supplier specific as far as taste profile, so stick to single estate or specific types, ie dragon well.
Black Tea: http://www.silvertipstea.com is a good place to get a variety of single estate black teas for good prices.
Green Tea: Many say that Ocha.com is the best, but they are more expensive. Rishi, Red Blossom Tea Co, and Teaspring are the three I buy from.
Oolong: Teaspring has great prices.
Puerh: talk to Hop_Goblin (www.ancientteahorseroad.com)
White Tea: I think Rishi has the best authentic white teas hands down.
And of course adagio has a vairety of teas as well.
I think he's right on about focusing on one type of tea, and again, not to necessarily to the exclusion of all others. And you can get a lot of mileage out of samples. My other segestion, if knowledge and experience is your goal, avoid tea blends. Tea blends will be vendor/supplier specific as far as taste profile, so stick to single estate or specific types, ie dragon well.
Black Tea: http://www.silvertipstea.com is a good place to get a variety of single estate black teas for good prices.
Green Tea: Many say that Ocha.com is the best, but they are more expensive. Rishi, Red Blossom Tea Co, and Teaspring are the three I buy from.
Oolong: Teaspring has great prices.
Puerh: talk to Hop_Goblin (www.ancientteahorseroad.com)
White Tea: I think Rishi has the best authentic white teas hands down.
And of course adagio has a vairety of teas as well.
Re: Beginner website
this isn't a website, but i'd suggest getting this book- that way you can lend it to friends. also check amazon for like books.mcmoogly wrote:Is there a website where I can learn about all tea, like everything I need to know. I find that there are so many different types of teapots, used for many different things and ways and reasons. I'm just looking for a guide that can educate me in all aspects of tea, from basic to advanced. Is there such a thing? I find myself confused! Thanks!
http://www.adagio.com/misc/a_guide_to_t ... fe6923eabc
I own the "Tea guide" book when I bought my starter set. Thanks for all the links! I've been reading them all, trying to absorb all the information in! I found another good website from the Might Leaf Tea company:
http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-culture.aspx
pretty good info there too.
I might buy a nice book on amazon too just to have.
Thanks for all the help! I know it will take time to become a master
http://www.mightyleaf.com/tea-culture.aspx
pretty good info there too.
I might buy a nice book on amazon too just to have.
Thanks for all the help! I know it will take time to become a master