Tuesday, 2/19/08, TeaDayyyyyyyyyy

[Chip]

2nd tea...Ding Gu Da Fang...this is the Long Jing replica green from Anhui Province.

I am finding I like this probably more than Long Jing costing many times more. It has a nice slightly bolder character than almost all LJ too. This would make a great everyday green if you really like Dragon Well...if you can find it!!!

Tea 3 will likely be Gyokuro I just received.

[Salsero]

Tea 3 will likely be Gyokuro I just received.

This is a step away from the ordinary for the Chipmeister, no? Isn't the plunge into Gyokuro a little like that not-so-long-ago flirtation with Matcha? Are you making a new course, Captain? Perhaps beyond the final frontier?

Wesli just passed his 1,000th post; and I, my fourth matcha.

Wooot!

[Cinnamon Kitty]

After my large mug of Casablanca Twist, I went through two more large mugs of Vanilla Rooibos before settling down to some guricha. The first and second steeps of the guri made my six page paper so much easier to write. Off to make the third!

[horsencl]

This morning I had daily green tea from the republic of tea. Right now I'm trying a sample of Yogi sweet mexican chili herbal tea. All I can say is yuck...and my mouth is on fire

[Victoria]

Right now I'm trying a sample of Yogi sweet mexican chili herbal tea. All I can say is yuck...and my mouth is on fire

Yikes! Grab some oolong and put that out!

On my second steep of the TQY. I'm slowing down, this one is not going to three either.

[Chip]

Tea 3 will likely be Gyokuro I just received.

This is a step away from the ordinary for the Chipmeister, no? Isn't the plunge into Gyokuro a little like that not-so-long-ago flirtation with Matcha? Are you making a new course, Captain? Perhaps beyond the final frontier?

Wesli just passed his 1,000th post; and I, my fourth matcha.

Wooot!

LOL, it's all Japanese, Sal!!! I drink 'em all, just more sencha than the others.

I received this in a swap. It is from a domestic vendor. I have to question if it is truly gyokuro. Often domestic vendor gyo is kabuse cha or blended with sencha. This does not give me that rich gyokuro sensation that I have been spoiled by.

Next time, I will brew it like sencha which might be more enjoyable.

Congrats to Wesli on his milestone post!!!!

[tenuki]

handpicked honey aroma ali shan from hou de - last of it
alishan from teahome - yeah!!! what yummy tea and I still have lots.

[Victoria]

Just got my matcha chasen from Japan, yay!

My 4th brew of the day is white peony.
Looks like I won't make it to 5 after all.

[Salsero]

Just got my matcha chasen from Japan, yay!

And the matcha cries out "Beat me! Beat me!"

[Wesli]

2006 ming-yuan hao. Not as yummy as the 05, IMO. The 2006 is a mellower brew, and lacks complexity. Quite boring actually, although pleasant to drink.

About to cook up either some white tea... nahhh I'll make some den's guricha. yum.

[Warden Andy]

Todays teas were Rosamonte "super especial," long ding (dragon tip) from red blossom, silueta(more yerba), zhu ye qing, and tie luo han.

And I am anti-technology for tea brewing. For me, it just takes away from some of the enjoyment of tea.

[Eastree]

I normally just weigh the tea, for a general idea of either how much is going to the pot or how much is left, depending on what I'm brewing, my mood, how I'm brewing it, etc.

For example, I had just a little bit of a certain pu recently. Before I put it away, I weighed the reminder to guestimate how many more sessions I could get from it.

I weight rooibos, mostly out of habit.

And I haven't measured the temperature of the water in quite some time.

[Mil]

Yikes. After posting about my "no ceremony" tea ceremony yesterday, I'm almost embarrassed to admit how much tech I use. I've got a variable temp kettle, a thermometer, a scale, and even a nifty little silver tea scoop. Granted, the thermometer isn't digital, the scale is just an ordinary kitchen scale, and the scoop was purchased mainly to prevent accidental use of the coffee scoop (ick!), but still. I don't have a separate timer, but that's only because Adagio's free downloadable version does the job just fine.

[ABx]

I'm finishing off my day with some aged rou gui from 2002. Good stuff, though I've been having some problems getting it to come out right.

I had to say that I eyeball everything, but I do occassionally use a scale and thermometer if I'm having problems with something or want to help someone with specifics. Since I use a Zoji, I'm also always aware of the water temp. At some point I also plan on getting a timer, which I will likely use quite frequently as I do a lot of counting right now.

[Chip]

Wow...are you enjoying our discussions as much as I am???

I really appreciate the good nature of everyone.

Trying to think of my final impression of the Gyokuro I had earlier. Well, one try is not enough, but I find it hard to believe it is truly gyokuro.