Friday TeaDay 9/18/09 Demonstrating tea?

[Maitre_Tea]

I love talking about tea to the "uninitiated," but I have the tendency to overwhelm them with technical talk and the more esoteric details of tea history, culture, and brewing.

No tea yet, roasting some Dong Ding in prep. for long-term aging...a delicious Oolong aroma is permeating my entire house.

[Victoria]

Well six hours down and six to go, so fun these long work days.
Now for my well deserved tea break!
Tea Masters Subtropical Baozhong.

Victoria, what did you get? I'm happily awaiting my first Hagi pieces.
So far Yunnan Gold. Maybe some sencha next as I feel a cootie coming on...booo!

I posted one piece already on the Hagi thread. My first Kashun guinomi. I have aother I will be posting tomorrow, if I can get some good pics.

Fight it off girl, more tea!!! And a hot bath tonight!
Take care!

[JazzNGreenTea]

I voted "maybe" for this one because it would really depend on many factors. I am no where near ready to share knowledge in a formal setting, or with anyone who knows anything at all about tea! I already do share very basic information informally to friends and family as I posted yesterday, and I enjoy that very much. I really like that most people I talk to find the topic of tea very interesting and want to know more. Not one of them has been turned into a tea fanatic....yet.

Considering that I managed to turn a decidedly anti beer friend into a beer fanatic it's only a matter of time before I work my magic with tea.

In time, maybe I could take that to the next level and be comfortable in another setting.

[Drax]

It looks as though most people are leaning more toward the positive sign. I suppose that's a good indicator for spreading the word of tea.

I decided to go with a cooked pu'erh that I had bought months ago but haven't yet had the chance to try. It's a 2006 CNNP 7581 (brick). It's very nice, and just what I need to help with this cold. I'm glad I can still taste!

[CynTEAa]

Victoria, what did you get? I'm happily awaiting my first Hagi pieces.
So far Yunnan Gold. Maybe some sencha next as I feel a cootie coming on...booo!

I posted one piece already on the Hagi thread. My first Kashun guinomi. I have aother I will be posting tomorrow, if I can get some good pics.

Fight it off girl, more tea!!! And a hot bath tonight!
Take care!

Oooo - Hagi thread! And thanks- fighting the good fight!

[LindenIsland]

Hee, I haven't even gotten much loose leaf tea yet and I'm already planning a tea party with my friends. :3 I enjoy educating others! History of tea, little fun facts, the brewing and appreciation of tea- it's all viable for me. I think I'd be a good college professor.

I mean, I've only had a taste of fine tea and tea culture, and I'm already hooked. Also, glee, I received a cup-sized strainer/infuser from my grandmother. She never used it. Muuuuuch better than paper filters. Shudder.

Oh, and I've only had a cup of Lipton Chai (to soothe my throat this morning) and a bit of good Earl Grey my neighbor gave me. She's got a pantry full of good tea~ I wanna steals it.

[Dreamer]

Oh yes, I would love to show others how I make tea...nothing "formal" or according to any "ceremony"...just how I make the kinds of tea I drink using the tools that match that tea, etc.

This morning Ceylo Nuwara Eliya...I did think this tea was too mild, but by the time I got to what was in my bullet thermos it was afternoon and I enjoyed it...maybe it is more of an afternoon black...tastebuds gotta be fully awake!

Haven't had time for tea since then...gotta remedy that soon.

Happy Friday,
Dreamer

[Riene]

I said "maybe." It would depend on the group and the type of tea.

Mainly iced tea in the glass today...

[murrius]

In zen culture, there is an old saying that, you can't pour tea into a cup that is already full. When we visit others and bring a cup already full, we can't accept any new stuff, tea or ideas.

I love that. Very wise and true!

[brad4419]

small group of family and or friends I would love to, people I don't know or large amount, never. Im admitting that I have a problem with crowds especially 10+ people. Its my kryptonite

wuyi xiao hong pao today, Its ok, not at all what I expected and not a favorite from the first tasting. I had such high hopes for this one because I love nutty chinese greens so I thought nutty oolong sounded good but I just can't taste anything nutty.

[Intuit]

The Nuwara Eliya region in Central Ceylon has the highest elevation tea gardens. This isn't a robust tea, but it can have quite a nice flavor. You want more zing, brew it longer with a bit more leaf.

This IS your archetypal afternoon tea, Dreamer. You want a tea with more malty body and bite for Fall early mornings, as the light levels diminish along with your energy levels.

A Little Science:
The amino acids that confirs the trait of 'malty-ness' also rev up energy production and heat release via mitrochondria in your cells. Not so good to have elevated body temp in your large muscle mass groups and core in the warm weather, but hunky-dory in cooler winter weather, when lower light levels in temperate zones slow down cellular activity in winter, when you're more sedentary and sluggish.

Maybe that explains why naturally malty teas of Assam/S China were in ancient times reserved for medicinal purposes. Don't need that much warmth in the dry season in the tropics.

[silvermage2000]

Earlier had a fairly big cup of california tea house roobios tiramisu. I just have been drinking a cup of hawaiian natural tea pineapple strawberry.