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Feb 23rd, '09, 14:29
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by fencerdenoctum » Feb 23rd, '09, 14:29

Package received! Can't wait to try it!

Also, this patch thingy intrigues me. It a coaster or can I sew this on my gi? Har har.

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Feb 23rd, '09, 14:39
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by Victoria » Feb 23rd, '09, 14:39

fencerdenoctum wrote:Package received! Can't wait to try it!

Also, this patch thingy intrigues me. It a coaster or can I sew this on my gi? Har har.
Ha! Yes I was ummm surprised when I got those. When I was at Imen's store I saw her using one as a "coaster" under her teapot. Actually in the water bowl. It was the exact design. But when they came ... ummmm??? They look like patches? Yet being called coasters. So I'm as confused as you. Would look cool on the back of a jacket ... ummm gi.

:)

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0257067383

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Feb 23rd, '09, 14:40
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by Chip » Feb 23rd, '09, 14:40

Package received, thank you very much!
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!

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Feb 23rd, '09, 21:23
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by joelbct » Feb 23rd, '09, 21:23

Hmm i guess CA to FL shipping prob takes a while... waiting for an Ito En shipment too... ah and specialteas got that fujian golden buddha in... arg i'm broke tho, tea or food, tea or food... hmmm....

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Feb 23rd, '09, 21:30
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by Victoria » Feb 23rd, '09, 21:30

joelbct wrote:Hmm i guess CA to FL shipping prob takes a while... waiting for an Ito En shipment too...
Joel, my delivery confirmation shows it was delivered on Feb 20th.
Strange???

Feb 24th, '09, 00:19
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by Pentox » Feb 24th, '09, 00:19

Victoria wrote:
joelbct wrote:Hmm i guess CA to FL shipping prob takes a while... waiting for an Ito En shipment too...
Joel, my delivery confirmation shows it was delivered on Feb 20th.
Strange???
Shhh you're not supposed to expose my mail interception!

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Feb 24th, '09, 23:57
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by joelbct » Feb 24th, '09, 23:57

Pentox wrote:Shhh you're not supposed to expose my mail interception!
Nice! Ha, it actually had arrived last Friday, but my newfound Florida roomies hadn't brought the mail in... cheers!

Had the old-bush ginger-fragrance today at work. Brewed the whole contents at ~190 for 4 minutes or so... came out well. My notes are: delicious, floral (was it actually spiked with blossoms?), full, guessing around 50% oxidized, or less... tho I am no expert. I liked it, thanx! Will try the other one shortly...

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Feb 24th, '09, 23:59
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by Victoria » Feb 24th, '09, 23:59

Yikes that was 15 grams, I hope you used a big pot!!

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Feb 27th, '09, 10:54
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by TIM » Feb 27th, '09, 10:54

Da Wu Ye - Big Dark Leaf 2008. Starting at: $30.00

Leaves:
1. From which vendor, farmer, source: Imen
2. Date of Harvest: 2008
3. Elevation: middle
4. Soil based: Soil/Rock
5. Which area: Phoenix mountain range
6. Varietal. eg: Ginger Flower Fragrance. Big Dark Leaf
7. Fired level: light 15%
8. Bush age: 100 yrs+
9. Grade: 1st (only harvested in late April or early May) Once a year?
10. breathing tea before brewing: 3 days

Brewing vessel, water:
1. Water source: Poland Spring
2. Aged or fresh: 3 days
3. How you boil your water: Electric Water Boiler
4. Temp. for the first 5 steeping: Shrimp eyes, rinse, 1-5th brew.
5. What kind of brewing vessel: 80s yixing 22 Characters SP. 120 ml.
6. What kind of cup to drink from, eg: Tall Japanese blue and white before WW2

Brewing Parameter:
Amount: 6g
Rinse time: Flash
Set time: 30 sec
infusing time: 5 sec. till 3rd then add 15 sec
Height of water pouring: stomach level
Hitting spots: Rims around

Result of the brew:
Color: light pale golden
Aroma: Subtle, delicate, flint ginger/rose flower, Floral, brown sugar sweet, .
Texture: almost full, clean
Mouth feel: Refreshing, awaken, sweet and flowery perfume, light mint at the back
Effects of the brew: short, understated, old bush soft, not rough. Best brew after 5th. Hint of yancha character.
How many brews: 8th stop, not too good for stomach....

Weather:
Drinking time of the day: Afternoon after snack
High/low humidity: 50s% hum, 45s temp
Rainy or sunny? Sunny. mild with clouds

End notes:
A very gentle DC, Beautiful leaves: old bush, healthy, big and strong. If this is more high fired and airless aging will be wonderful. Not a bold tea.

Thanks again Victoria for a wonderful tasting : )

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Mar 1st, '09, 02:39
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by bi lew chun » Mar 1st, '09, 02:39

Just posted some notes. Thanks Victoria, this was a nice introduction to Tea Habitat.

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Mar 1st, '09, 02:46
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by Geekgirl » Mar 1st, '09, 02:46

The Da Wu Ye sample is fantastic. I am using a wee little pot so I can do 3 different sessions with it. The first one was amazing.

The Houde tea was interesting. The first few steeps (post-rinse) were a bit on the sour side, the first steep being nearly undrinkable (but I drank it anyways :lol: .) But the longer it went the sweeter it got, with some very nice flavors, not very complex, but very enjoyable. I gave up before the tea did, maybe after a dozen steeps.

Very nice, thanks!

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Mar 2nd, '09, 02:33
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by Victoria » Mar 2nd, '09, 02:33

Thanks for the nice reviews everyone!

I thought I'd share with you a little piece of Imen's email to me:

"I am glad you love the Da Wu Ye, it is one of my favorite DCs. Ginger flower aroma is the most priced DC's in Chao Zhou. If I can get my hands on a small sample of the mother ginger flower tree late Spring 09, I'd host a tea tasting, so everyone in LA could have a taste of what $6000 tea taste like. :D"

I probably won't be mailing that one out ... you'll just have to take my
word for it, or fly out here.
:twisted:
.

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Mar 2nd, '09, 10:58
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by fencerdenoctum » Mar 2nd, '09, 10:58

Ticket purchased. I so call dibs on the couch.

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Mar 4th, '09, 16:21
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by scruffmcgruff » Mar 4th, '09, 16:21

The Da Wu Ye is an absolutely lovely tea, Victoria. I posted some notes on my blog if you would like to read them.

I've only brewed the Hou De tea once and didn't think much of it at the time (especially in comparison to the Da Wu Ye), but I will give it another shot. It was fun to look at, anyway! :D

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Mar 4th, '09, 23:14
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by Victoria » Mar 4th, '09, 23:14

Thanks Scruff, nice review!

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