Wednesday TeaDay 8/12/09 First Flush Tally?

[depravitea]

Not many, in fact, just one.
The Yutaka Midori from O-Cha, I've been told, is a Shincha, so I guess that's a first flush.

Speaking of Yutaka Midori, that's what I'm having this morning.

[sriracha]

I voted "1" and then immediately a couple more came to mind. Dumb.

One shincha(the ubiquitous YM), one Darjeeling so far...a couple other oolongs. Another Darjeeling in an unopened bag...hm.

This morning: Golden Nepal. No tea after that for many many hours since I've been out and about. A quick n dirty cup of flavoured black on coming home because I was rather desperate. Tie Guan Yin of medium quality after dinner.

[Maitre_Tea]

Even though FF is generally associated with when the tea was gathered/processed, shouldn't it be associated more with when the tea is consumed? I mean, you can cold-store a stockpile of FF Shincha, but wouldn't the flavor deteriorate slowly and no longer have the same flavor as it did when it was just processed?

[MASALACHAAAAIIIIII]

6-7 Gonna try out whatever is left out there when I reorder soon!!! WEEEEEEEE. Highlight was FF darjeeling Risheehat for me, I really liked it. The shinchas and white/yellows were great as well. YM, Sae Midori, Fukamushi supreme were nummy nummy in da tummy. Silver needles from Seven cups is pretty good too!

I tried Darjeeling Gopaldhara Wt-1 1st flush from Camellia sinensis, too bad my palate was sorta numb at the time. Gonna give it another try later today, hopefully won't be force fed some peanut butter again by some crazy friends...ugh!

Having a cup of masala chai at the moment, probably a FF next hee hee!

I've been a total bum lately, besides cycling and running around ALOT,classes are beginning soon quite ready to learn some new material, but not changing my sleep patterns again ahahaha. EVERYONE HAVE A SCHAAAAA WEEEET TEA DAY!

[Chip]

Even though FF is generally associated with when the tea was gathered/processed, shouldn't it be associated more with when the tea is consumed? I mean, you can cold-store a stockpile of FF Shincha, but wouldn't the flavor deteriorate slowly and no longer have the same flavor as it did when it was just processed?

Well, since I mentioned 2009 harvest, FF ... shincha ... whatever counts at this point. If it was a leftover 2008 FF of any kind, nah.

88 Nights SHINCHA in my cup currently and very tasty.

[Riene]

The Hibiscus is nice

These are hibiscus? My mother always called this a "Rose of Sharon" bush. We used to have one in the backyard and I've always wondered what it was.

[Herb_Master]

Yes Hibiscus - the national flower of Malaysia where it is called 'Bunga Raya'. The Malaysian version is originally from China Hibiscus- Rosa-Sinensis.

Rose of Sharon seems to be a catcvh all for many different plants one of which is a Hibiscus from Syria, which strangely happens to be the national flower of korea.

My Hibiscus is a variety that has been bred to withstand european winters, I do not know from which original version, but the colour blue is not found in Malaysia.

[Intuit]

Blue is an unusual color in many flowering plant families. According to the Hibiscus.com website, 'blue hibiscus' is in fact, a not a hibiscus nor is it blue, but a related Alyogyne family member of the genus Alyogyne. The clue lies in the business end (sexual reproductive organs, center of flower).

http://www.hibiscus.org/species/ahuegelii.php

Herb's cultivar is gorgeous, as is his 'blue corner' of the garden.

Per the TD query: I have just a few 'first flush' teas (greens). I don't count the lightly oxidized oolongs in this category. I'm really just learning how to properly brew these teas - they require more attention, with less leaf, temperature and time, to avoid astringency. I'm really starting to enjoy greens, after many decades of drinking more traditional blacks and oolongs, with the occasional poorer quality greens because that is what we had access to in Mainstream America in the last quarter of the 20th century, if one lived outside of many populous metro areas.

Moving into high end oolongs (many quite green) and greens has meant changing brewing habits and teaware. All for the good, because it's pushed my conceptual boundaries and palate.

SpecialTeas Fine Sencha in my cup. Great bang for buck Japanese green.

[Intuit]

Dang it, should read: "related family Malvaceae member of the genus..."

It would be *useful* to be able to edit our posts. That capacity (or more likely, the button is out of view in the adjacent column) is absent in the new TC software Firefox browser version.

[Herb_Master]

Not to worry, but the 'edit' button should be there, just to the left of the 'quote' button.

My cultivar is indeed a 'REAL' Hibiscus from the Syrian Original

Hibiscus syriacus Blue Bird (Oiseau Bleu)

Bought at a local garden centre but can be bought online

http://www.gardeningexpress.co.uk/Produ ... uctID=1128

Magnificent, hardy, erect shrub with bright green leaves. Requires absolutely no attention and is one of the most prolific flowerers from late summer into the autumn. This deciduous shrub has an exotic feel to it but is just at home in a herbaceous border as it is in a tropical-style garden. 3 litre pot, around 50cms+ tall.

Meanwhile - in my cup Wanling UK's 'Jiu Jiu Jiu' Tie Guan Yin

[Cinnamon Kitty]

These are hibiscus? My mother always called this a "Rose of Sharon" bush. We used to have one in the backyard and I've always wondered what it was.

We always called them "Rose of Sharon" as well, though Herb's lovely specimens seem to blooming a bit more nicely than the ones that we have in our front garden. We have a very similar colored one, as well as a white and pink one in our yard.

As for first flush tally, I counted three that I have tried so far and at least two more in storage, but I am not sure of the harvest dates of all the green tea that my father brought back from Japan. I'd like to try some of this year's oolong crop, but I haven't quite gotten around to getting any yet.

In my cup is iced Jasmine Green tea from Wegmans. It is cold though not too impressive beyond that.

[Victoria]

I'm saying more than 20, but I can't remember them all!

As for Shincha that would be the very popular Sae Midori

I have had quite a few FF Darjeelings this year, and most of what I had was excellent!
Balasun
Soom Estates
Sungma
Gopaldhara
Puttabong
Risheehat
Adagio Spring Darjeeling
Arya
Probably a couple more I am forgetting
and these from Nepal:
Himalaya Gold
Saphir Himalaya

Gopaldhara Wt-1 1st flush from Camellia Sinensis wins my vote as best, with Mariage Frères Saphir as a close second.

And then there are the Spring oolongs -
AliShan and LiShan and
Baozhong
Shan Lin
Mayuan Shan
Anxi Tie Guan Yin
And several more I'm sure. It's been quite a Spring for me.

Started this morning with a favorite from last year - Glenburn Estate Vintage Darjeeling. Then on to ALiShan and later some Baozhong.

[silvermage2000]

No not really.