Monday TeaDay 5/3/10 TeaCultures?

[gingkoseto]

I say extremely. I once thought about this, I like tea as much as I like rice and cucumber, but there seems a lot more to read and learn about tea. There must be something special in tea.

[Victoria]

I've had an interest in Asian cultures since grade school. That interest has grown over time. I have been drinking tea a long time too, but only since I have really gotten into tea have I been so interested in Asian teaware. But I say no.

In my cup this morning another Darjeeling Estate Sample.

[olivierco]

I would say "I just like tea".
I have admittedly a real interest for Japanese culture and Japanese greens are my favorite teas but I don't have any strong interest for Chinese, Taiwanese or Indian culture although I often drink teas from these countries.

Keemun Mao Feng Imperial in a few minutes.

[geeber1]

I liked tea first, any interest in TeaCultures came afterward, but I wouldn't say that I have an overwhelming interest in those countries.

Nilgiri Glendale OP here at work today.

[Skippyandjif]

I said extremely, although it's kind of extremely both... I've been interested in Asian (mostly Japanese, thanks to watching copious amounts of anime) and British culture for as long as I can remember, but I've also liked tea for as long as I can remember, so I have always felt compelled to learn more about the tea cultures of those places. However, learning more about the tea cultures leads me to try new teas and new methods of brewing, so it's kind of a feedback loop...

Oddly enough, I'm doing a paper on tea culture for one of my classes. No coincidence that my consumption of tea has increased, heh.

On my second cup of rose congou right now. It's hot out, yes, but the tea calls me.

[karmaplace]

Vice-versa for me. I'm an East Asian Studies major, and I've lived in Korea. I've been interested in Asia for almost ten years! But, even while I was in Korea I didn't drink a lot of tea..

I've always liked tea, but I wasn't an enthusiast until my mother bought me my first teapot this past Christmas (a pretty little 16oz purple beehive), and she bought me the teapot because a) she knew I drank a lot of bagged tea and would like looseleaf even more and b) because it was made in Japan, and I love just about any gift that comes from Japan or Korea.

[Tea_Rex]

Today drinking Muzha Tiequanyin from Floating Leaves and Eastern Beauty from Red Blossom.

Used to be more interested in Japanese than Chinese culture but that has reversed over the years. And since my visit to India in 1972, I have yearned to go back.

Here's my "tea culture" encounter of the day: I was just in our kitchen at work where I said hello to one of my Chinese coworkers who speaks very little English. While I was heating my food, she opened the cabinet next to me and took out a large jar full of grandpa style tea. I managed to communicate that I sometimes brew that way and invited her to stop by for some tea - I think she understood. The funny thing is, that a few months ago, I started asking the many Chinese people I work with, most of them from China, about gong fu brewing and not one of them knew what I was talking about. And only a couple of them recognized my gaiwan. I'll bet there are jars of grandpa tea stashed all over this building as there are probably 50 immigrant Chinese people working here.

[artmom]

Tried Adagio's Vanilla Oolong. A pleasant cup; not particularly my cuppa'. It did its job, though, it refreshed me.

[Chip]

While still waiting for some shincha to arrive, hitting some samples, etc. that have been patiently sitting around. Today some oolong from Hankook followed by Kukicha from Den's.

As always, enjoying reading everyone's replies!

[LauraW]

I liked tea first, any interest in TeaCultures came afterward, but I wouldn't say that I have an overwhelming interest in those countries.

Geeber, you've stated this quite nicely for me as well! Tea definitely came first, with some interest in the cultures that has definitely come second.

Oh and Chip, just to clarify: anything that I cook that features tea doesn't count?

As for today... started out with MF Marco Polo again - wanted to see how long it would go before the flavor waned - got a solid 4 mugs-worth, so I was pretty happy! Just finished up a slightly-oversteeped mug of Winter White Earl.

[Skippyandjif]

Currently drinking some pouchong with the girlfriend while studying for finals. I'm on my second cup right now... Yummmm. I have to get some more of that soon.

[Ebtoulson]

while studying for finals.

I feel your pain...got a final thats worth 40% of my total grade tomorrow.
Second cup of genmai.