Monday TeaDay 1/25/10 Dry leaf satisfaction?

[olivierco]

do you ever find satisfaction in looking at your dry tea leaves before they are forever changed by the addition of hot water? What are the most striking leaves you ever saw?

Satisfaction maybe it is a too strong word. Nice leaves are of course an important factor when choosing a tea.

Kaboku sencha this evening.

[teashionista]

Almost always, especially with Chinese greens and oolongs, and always with new teas. I don't pay a lot of attention to leaves I know and have been drinking consistently (well, the bottom of that 4-oz Goomtee Estate Darjeeling bag, for example)

Started the day with a sample of Uji Sencha from Lupicia. My New Year's resolution was to drink through my existing tea stash before buying anything new, so I'm discovering things in my cupboard I didn't know I have!

[Victoria]

Yes, pretty often for me. Not always in the morning if I am rushing and it is a black tea. But oolong is a thing of beauty. Actually I have some lovely large leaf Darjeeling that I quite admire too.

CS AliShan in my cup this morning.

[kymidwife]

Occasionally yes... not because I don't appreciate the dry leaf, but because most of the time I am hurrying, running late, or otherwise distracted by something and don't take the time. I also think some types of leaf are more pleasing to observe than others... most black teas don't wow me, but I love the appearance of the rolled and wiry oolongs, Gyokuro needles (I always eat a dry one before brewing... crunchy), and the dragon pearls... love how each of these change as they brew.

I've not had nearly enough tea today... busy busy busy with domestic duties. Trying to get my condo clean, organized, and possibly ready to show for sale.

Sarah

[brad4419]

Yes, pretty often.

Speaking of pretty often, I often like to write a song to my dry leaves... you know, to give them transformation inspiration.

Lies.

I actually do an interpretive dance for them.

Drinking a smoothie now. Tea to come.

Yes, every time. I always admire the tea leaf and almost always smell the leaves in the bag or brewing device before infusing them. I even enjoy some of the dry leaf smells more than during the brewing. The best ones are wuyi, Chinese greens and silver needles to sniff on.

[Seeker]

Enjoying some Jasmine White Peony from rishi.
Thought I'd share a look at the leaves...

[brad4419]

Thanks for sharing your picture Seeker.

Having some peach oolong tonight. I really need to start getting up earlier for work to make sure I have time for tea.

[Seeker]

Cheer up, Mr. Encourager, I am sure you will give it your all and will do very fine!

Thank you Chip.
Woh , my anxiety is very high - clearly this exam means a lot to me.
I can't tell you how much your kind encouragement helps - wow, really - everyone who has offered kind support (even if "silent")!
Thank you so much.

Breathing now, remembering to breathe.
In gratitude.

[AdamMY]

Quite often I feel the better the leaves look the better the tea is going to be, I hate tiny broken up leaves when the leaves are supposed to be large whole leaves.

Sencha seems to be the exception as I'm always baffled as how to gauge the quality of Sencha-s leaves just by looking other than it being tea dust.

I will try to get around to posting pictures more often soon.

[artmom]

. . .Woh , my anxiety is very high - clearly this exam means a lot to me.
I can't tell you how much your kind encouragement helps - wow, really - everyone who has offered kind support (even if "silent")!
Thank you so much.

Breathing now, remembering to breathe.
In gratitude.

Seeker, may I suggest taking a large leaf of tea with you to the exam? Once I found I calmed myself by taking in a lovely maple leaf that had floated to earth in front of me. I found by focusing on it, my anxiety was much lessened. (P.S. I aced the exam. )

[LauraW]

Ok, so a busy (but awesome) TD today.. like I said earlier, started out with Lady Grey at work, then Earl Grey this afternoon (a little too strong for me, might have to be given to my boyfriend for him to enjoy), then some amazing CurrantBerry (see my signature blends for details) after dinner, finished off the evening with some Wuyi Oolong.

Now, off to bed.

[Chip]

Nice TD continued with a tasting of Zencha Fuji SP and finished with a trial tasting of O-Cha Kabusecha.

Great looking leaves all day!!!

[Seeker]

...may I suggest taking a large leaf of tea with you to the exam?

Thank you artmom - great idea! (if they'll let me - as it is a state licensing board exam, they are very, VERY strict - when I took the first exam last year, they came in and took my sweater when I took it off, you have to use their earplugs, pencil, scratch paper, only 1 piece of scratch paper aloud, period ; oh and I don't think I can wear a watch; maybe I can create a bracelet with the leaf in plastic wrap or something ).

[LauraW]

(if they'll let me - as it is a state licensing board exam, they are very, VERY strict

I don't know if this would help, but sometimes (depending on state/exam/person) if you let them examine it, they'll let you keep it. It's a tea leaf, what'd you do, write answers on it? I don't think so.

[Seeker]

Thanks L - good point.
I went to the site to check it out today (Tue), make sure about getting there correctly, met the proctors/attendants.
Good thing I went! Found out I have to be a particular amount of time early, and can't wear any clothes that have pockets above the waist. Also, no watch, no keys, wallet, etc (they keep all that in a close-able folder).
I have a necklace I can wear under my shirt - and it opens - I'm thinking of putting a leaf or bud in there - and they won't know about it. I won't be able to take it out (pretty sure they'd freak - and understand from today's meeting that they follow the rules strictly - and there are cameras! -- but I'll be comforted knowing the tea is abreast ).
Cheers.
(it's Tuesday, just finished a cuppa Teance Anxi #1 Oolong).