Wednesday TeaDay 8/17/11 A new FreeDay!

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends, welcome to a FreeDay TeaDay.

Yesterday we discussed CURRENT fave cups. Please continue to discuss yesterday's topic.

Please drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Also feel free to start a topic for discussion in this topic.

And have a great TeaDay.

[IPT]

I do not have a favorite cup. I guess I could say my favorite cup is the one I am currently using. I am in the office, so am using one of my Petr Novak cups. I wish I had a photo to share because it is a beauty. I am drinking Xishan Green Tea, which is a little known tea from Guangxi Province. I like it very much.

I hope everybody has a fantastic tea-filled day!

[Herb_Master]

The Sun is shining

The Damsons in my garden are taking on a nice purple colour, it looks like there will be a bumper crop.

In previous years they have all been left to nature! But last night, I stepped onto the Internet and ordered Jam Making equipment
Pan
Spoon
Thermometer
Funnel
Strainer
Muslin Bags
Kilner Jars
Le Parfait Jars
Waxed Discs
Labels

and researched Damson Chutney Recipes

Started constructing a Hot and Spicy Damson Chutney Recipe

Drinking some Teance Anxi Tieguanyin #1

[Chip]

Hmmm, never heard of damsom. Will have to look it up. Ahhh, a type of plum! Learn something new everyday. You will be sharing your plum preserves?

A reminder, today is the last day to PM your TeasureHunt guesses to me. I need to have them by 6 pm Eastern USA time.

Kettle is boiling ...

[debunix]

Jam is fun, bet chutney is too. Sunday night's tea (mostly iced) accompanied preparation of applesauce from 20 pounds of gravenstein apples.

Today, not canning anything, but starting the day with sencha from my Petr Novak kyusu, without my Yuzamushi, so from two cups. The little guinomi and larger flared cup are vying for favortism this morning. The little guinomi might be tops of the heap this minute, as it feels so nice in my hand, warm with Aoi sencha.

[AdamMY]

While heating up lunch, I poured myself a glass of cold brew Chinese Supermarket Dong Ding that I have since re roasted a few times, but now I am just trying to get rid of it.

[gargoylekitty]

Been so busy lately haven't had much time for here, though always still time for tea. Having some gyokuro kin while trying to figure out the next step in this art project I'm working on/waiting to be dragged off to take some photos.

[Herb_Master]

Gravenstein

I have never come across this type of Apple

Will have to look it up. Ahhh, a type of plum! Learn something new everyday.

http://www.orangepippin.com/apples/gravenstein
Learn something new everyday.

An old apple variety from Denmark which remains very popular in both Europe and North America on account of its high quality flavor.

- - - Gravenstein is an attractive high-quality dessert and culinary apple- -

Sounds my sort of apple

Oh Dear

Possibly because of its triploid nature Gravenstein seems to have a greater degree of variability than most varieties.

The real problem with Gravenstein is that it is prone to many diseases and therefore has never achieved the popularity it deserves. As so often in the world of apples, it seems that the apples with the best flavor are often the most difficult to grow.

That explains why the supermarkets around here do not stock it
The bulk of customers don't appear to care what an apple tastes like, justr as long as it looks good
So the shops are full of uniform, bland tasteless French (subsidised) Golden Delicious apples, forcing our Orchards to uproot all their very, very tasty, ugly, gnarled heirloom varieties

[JBaymore]

My "tea day" today revolves around throwing chawan.

Some sencha I brought back from Japan in the American style cup next to the wheel.

best,

.............john

[AdamMY]

After a rather horrid attempt at some young Puerh, I am now having a Korean Oojeon in a celadon teabowl.

[IPT]

My "tea day" today revolves around throwing chawan.

John, you should not throw them. They could break.

[Skippyandjif]

I have good news. I may have actually turned my brother into a tea drinker! He's been hanging around whenever I make tea, and the other day we were at dinner with my aunt and uncle and I let him try some of the chai I'd ordered (he like it very much).

So this morning, I was making some Yunnan black tea, and he actually asked if he could try some, so of course I poured him a cup...and he actually liked it! Success!

Today's teas were Yunnan black tea, a lot of iced tea because I was packing to move back into my dorm and was running up and down stairs all day, and a yummy chrysanthemum tisane.

[IPT]

Congratulations Skippyandjif! That is a wonderful feeling, is it not? I have done that to a few people myself and love it!

[JBaymore]

My "tea day" today revolves around throwing chawan.

John, you should not throw them. They could break.