Wednesday TeaDay 1/13/09 ... the chicken or the egg?

[Cuppatea]

The tea...and I chose the tea first.

That being said, I was thrilled to see that Starbuck$ just started to carry Tazo WHOLE LEAF tea! I tried the China green, and it wasn't bad! I definitely noticed a difference in quality between the Tazo China green tea dust bags and these.

I also recently found a nice green jasmine tea from Two Leaves and a Bud on clearance at Pier 1, which was good enough to brew and sip at work (although not as nice as Adagio's Jasmine pearls).

[geeber1]

Always the tea for me, I'm not much of a collector. But I do like my "regular" cups and use them every day.

Nilgiri Nonsuch again today.

[Seeker]

Very good question. At first I was certain it is the tea for me, but as I read through the posts, I began to wonder.
So, I think mostly it is the tea - for example, I know I'm going to have matcha before I begin to consider which chawan. Same with whites, puerhs, oolongs, etc. So, yeah, mostly I choose the tea first, then the vessels.
But I suppose occasionally, I become aware of being strongly drawn to a particular pot or cup or bowl, and that is where I begin, mostly the tea first tho for me.
Horai-no-mukashi 1st this morning, followed by organic silver needle in my cup now.
Cheers.
ps - my licensing exam draws near (2 wks away) and so I may be scarce here for awhile (tho maybe not or maybe not totally absent) as I go into high gear preparing. Probably not gonna be many photos, if any.
another thought about cup and tea - each element (cup and tea) is very important to me, and regardless of which I choose first, there is definitely a gestalt formed by the two as they dance together, becoming much more together than either alone.

[artmom]

Very good question. At first I was certain it is the tea for me, but as I read through the posts, I began to wonder. . .
another thought about cup and tea - each element (cup and tea) is very important to me, and regardless of which I choose first, there is definitely a gestalt formed by the two as they dance together, becoming much more together than either alone.

Well said, Seeker.

[Chip]

Great replies, wish I had time right now to reply directly to at least several posts, too busy at the moment. Hopefully later.

Hmmm, you guys might be swaying me a bit. I am still sticking with my original thought as I came up with the question. The tea makes the cup. It beautifies the cup and gives it purpose ... for which it was usually designed. I always pick the tea first as well, then actually the pot, and ultimately the cup, this is not indicative of importance. Maybe a future TD topic ...

The tea is the woman, the pot the music, and the cup is the man asking the woman for the honor of the dance. OK, some guys bearing straight jackets are here to take me away ... and the music plays on and on ...

Began the TD with a sample tasting of Fukamushi Kabuse-cha from a member and GreenTea-Japan in a well suited Seigan SO #5 Blue Hagi (a lovely couple) The music was a Kenji Tokoname Kyusu (a lovely piece) ... mild and very pleasurable. SweeTea approved, while a herd of felines watched the dance at the TeaTable.

[leiche2]

Tea, and I always choose the tea first. I mostly try to rotate through my collection of cups/teaware, but sometimes I do feel the urge to use a particular piece over the others.

Lazily brewing up cheap but tasty oolongs in my Koryo cup from Rishi today.

[Ebtoulson]

Most of my cups have a minimalist feel to them so I'm going to say tea definitely makes the cup for me.

Drinking some meng shan yun wu I got for free from Dragon Tea House. Pretty good for a chinese green

[JBaymore]

I enjoy picking out a different cup everyday, what tea to have usually comes after that.

There is a reason that we are potters.

best,

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

[cls46]

I like teaware. It's fun, but drinking tea I think has to be all about the tea! I like drinking out of my little teacups or special teapots but I would rather have great tea in my University at Buffalo mug than some bad tea in an beautiful tea cup. Assam Gold today

[brad4419]

The tea, I choose the tea first and then a cup to complement the tea.

I love teaware but its still all about the tea. If I could choose to drink good tea from a styrofoam cup or drink crappy tea from a nice teacup I would choose the good tea any day. Luckily I don't have to make that choice and enjoy good tea from a nice cup

earl grey cream today

[Dreamer]

Tea first. Then the mug/cup/chawan depending on the tea, season, time of day, etc. Usually

Great question and really though-provoking answers here on the TeaDay!!

Today's teas: Black Spirals at breakfast in a normal American cup. Thai Blend at work in my favorite work mug. YM sencha in my sweet little glass cups this afternoon/evening.

Dreamer

[Seeker]

The tea is the woman, the pot the music, and the cup is the man asking the woman for the honor of the dance. OK, some guys bearing straight jackets are here to take me away ... and the music plays on and on ...

Began the TD with a sample tasting of Fukamushi Kabuse-cha from a member and GreenTea-Japan in a well suited Seigan SO #5 Blue Hagi (a lovely couple) The music was a Kenji Tokoname Kyusu (a lovely piece) ... mild and very pleasurable. SweeTea approved, while a herd of felines watched the dance at the TeaTable.

[Chip]

the music is still playing ... ... they're coming to take me away, haha hehe ...they're coming to take me away ...

Well, this is the most lopsided poll result I can recall.

Next up, Matcha tasting in a Cory Lum Chawan with DW. The tea definitely beautified the Chawan which was beautiful to begin with. Finishing the TD with Anji Duet from Adagio in simple Chinese porcelain dragon motif cups. The cups cost a buck each, but they look quite regal with Chinese green (or is this white, hmmm) tea.

As always, enjoyed rereading everyones TD posts. Thanks for stopping in.