i think taste is the most important, however, smell, then sight are close behind. all of the senses are very important for my enjoyment of tea.
this morning no tea since i was in a rush, but that is making me kinda grumpy.
Jun 24th, '08, 11:49
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I almost said that, but I am a simple person who is all about the taste! And there are some pu ehr that smell and taste completely different . . . to me.scruffmcgruff wrote:I said smell. Why? Mostly because I'm being Mr. Smarty-Pants.Smell defines so much of what we taste--
Hey, the click of your Utilitea when the water reaches temperature. That's where the excitement starts!scruffmcgruff wrote:Hearing could work, I suppose, if you judge water temperature based on how it sounds. I can't imagine how this would be anyone's highest priority as far as sensations go, but to each his own.
While taste is obviously important, I must say something for each sense.
The smell of dry tea leaves clues me in on aftertaste. Different colors of leaves changing/revealing other colors is like a mini magic show every time. The entire tea-making process is full of sounds - water heating up, water splashing, teaware interacting with surfaces, tea leaves landing in the vessel - all very musical. It's also fun hearing nuggets of rolled teas rattling in the tea canister. And touch - well, don't tell my tea sources that I sometimes pour tea leaves onto my palm, tilting them all around to get a good look, then dump them into my gaiwan. I promise I wash my hands before I do this
The smell of dry tea leaves clues me in on aftertaste. Different colors of leaves changing/revealing other colors is like a mini magic show every time. The entire tea-making process is full of sounds - water heating up, water splashing, teaware interacting with surfaces, tea leaves landing in the vessel - all very musical. It's also fun hearing nuggets of rolled teas rattling in the tea canister. And touch - well, don't tell my tea sources that I sometimes pour tea leaves onto my palm, tilting them all around to get a good look, then dump them into my gaiwan. I promise I wash my hands before I do this
Jun 24th, '08, 14:52
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My sense of smell is returning today. A good thing!
Taste/smell...then sight and touch...and hearing a distant last. My reply here has largely been "stolen" by others. I was suprised how many hit on the touch aspect...of the cup (and for me, also the pot!). It has to feel right in the hand, right texture(s), heft, and shape...it also has to feel right as I taste the tea against my lips.
Smell, taste and sight...all very integral. Hearing. I have started using the "count up" feature on timers instead of the beeping "count down" that seems to ruin the natural moment with artificial sound. The sounds of tea are nice...even the slurp as I taste the first sip of tea.
Day began with Keemun Concerto from adagio. Moved onto Hatsumi. With the return of my sense of smell, this changes the tea so completely. I will never underestimate the importance of smell in the enjoyment of tea. I join the other "smart pants" on this one.
Taste/smell...then sight and touch...and hearing a distant last. My reply here has largely been "stolen" by others. I was suprised how many hit on the touch aspect...of the cup (and for me, also the pot!). It has to feel right in the hand, right texture(s), heft, and shape...it also has to feel right as I taste the tea against my lips.
Smell, taste and sight...all very integral. Hearing. I have started using the "count up" feature on timers instead of the beeping "count down" that seems to ruin the natural moment with artificial sound. The sounds of tea are nice...even the slurp as I taste the first sip of tea.
Day began with Keemun Concerto from adagio. Moved onto Hatsumi. With the return of my sense of smell, this changes the tea so completely. I will never underestimate the importance of smell in the enjoyment of tea. I join the other "smart pants" on this one.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
Jun 24th, '08, 15:30
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I won't drink a tea that doesn't taste pleasing in some way. That being said, the other senses are significant to my enjoyment of tea, and of course this is a repeat of what everyone else has already said 
:
Sight: I love the beauty of quality leaf, especially after it has been steeped. I'm particularly fascinated by rolled or twisted teas, and how the leaf can appear whole and undamaged after the steep. Also important is the esthetics of my teaware. Lovely cups, pots and accoutrements increase my enjoyment of tea. There's very little visually pleasing about tossing a teabag in a roadside attraction mug, but pouring tea from a small pot into a handmade cup is a huge part of my pleasure in tea. Also high on my "joy of tea" list is seeing fully unfurled leaf filling a glass gongfu vessel, or peeking out of the mouth of a yixing pot.
Touch: Again this gets back (primarily) to teaware for me. Cups that fit perfectly in the hand, teapots that are well-balanced and well-weighted, utensils that are ergonomically pleasing. (Ha! The massage therapist in me - ERGONOMICS!!!)
Smell: I choose most of my looseleaf teas by smell if I'm in the teashop. While I will use online sources, it takes away a little of the pleasure to not be able to "sample sniff" the merchandise. The aroma of the tea is especially important to me with scented teas. If it reminds me of walking past those flowers in the garden, it's a winner.
In my cup today: 500 Mile Chai ToT, iced. My cup: a gorgeous light blue Yunomi I just got in the mail today from a pottery craftsman here in the States. Beautiful. Pictures later. (Crappy work p & s can't get the color on this one.)
:Sight: I love the beauty of quality leaf, especially after it has been steeped. I'm particularly fascinated by rolled or twisted teas, and how the leaf can appear whole and undamaged after the steep. Also important is the esthetics of my teaware. Lovely cups, pots and accoutrements increase my enjoyment of tea. There's very little visually pleasing about tossing a teabag in a roadside attraction mug, but pouring tea from a small pot into a handmade cup is a huge part of my pleasure in tea. Also high on my "joy of tea" list is seeing fully unfurled leaf filling a glass gongfu vessel, or peeking out of the mouth of a yixing pot.
Touch: Again this gets back (primarily) to teaware for me. Cups that fit perfectly in the hand, teapots that are well-balanced and well-weighted, utensils that are ergonomically pleasing. (Ha! The massage therapist in me - ERGONOMICS!!!)
Smell: I choose most of my looseleaf teas by smell if I'm in the teashop. While I will use online sources, it takes away a little of the pleasure to not be able to "sample sniff" the merchandise.
The aroma of the tea is especially important to me with scented teas. If it reminds me of walking past those flowers in the garden, it's a winner. In my cup today: 500 Mile Chai ToT, iced. My cup: a gorgeous light blue Yunomi I just got in the mail today from a pottery craftsman here in the States. Beautiful. Pictures later. (Crappy work p & s can't get the color on this one.)
What is the sound of tea cooling in a teacup?...
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Ritual of tea is very Zen for me. It requires a mindful attention of all senses. The taste is most important to me, followed by smell, sight, and feel. But sound should not be discounted either, as many people pointed. Sometimes I am lucky to have a sound of silence and peace to go with my tea. The quiet and the tea enhance one another in a way that is difficult to describe.
Sorry, couldn't resist!
Ritual of tea is very Zen for me. It requires a mindful attention of all senses. The taste is most important to me, followed by smell, sight, and feel. But sound should not be discounted either, as many people pointed. Sometimes I am lucky to have a sound of silence and peace to go with my tea. The quiet and the tea enhance one another in a way that is difficult to describe.
Jun 24th, '08, 17:19
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What I meant by 'integrate':
Tea is a holistic/gestalt experience for me. I can't rate any of the senses above the other because that idea destroys what I'm striving for. The moment is the total experience, and the broader and deeper my awareness of it, the less distinct a particular sensation is and the more vibrant my direct experience of the total sensational moment is. As soon as you ask this question the broad and deep awareness of the moment dissipates into quantification and qualification.
This question is the anti-zen. Boo.
Tea is a holistic/gestalt experience for me. I can't rate any of the senses above the other because that idea destroys what I'm striving for. The moment is the total experience, and the broader and deeper my awareness of it, the less distinct a particular sensation is and the more vibrant my direct experience of the total sensational moment is. As soon as you ask this question the broad and deep awareness of the moment dissipates into quantification and qualification.
This question is the anti-zen. Boo.
Do something different, something different will happen. ( Gong Fu Garden )
I will have to go with equality here.
I love smelling the dry leaves before they are brewed and the aroma that rises off of them when the hot water is poured over the leaves. I also enjoy finding the differences in the scent of the tea itself and the leaves that it was brewed from. I enjoy watching the leaves unfurl as the tea steeps and viewing my tea ware, deciding which one to use for today's tea. I also love handling my tea ware, especially the pieces that seem to fit perfectly in my hands. The taste of the tea is very important too, but the other senses make tea a fuller experience than just the taste of the liquid.
So far today, I have only had two steeps of Oolong #8.
I love smelling the dry leaves before they are brewed and the aroma that rises off of them when the hot water is poured over the leaves. I also enjoy finding the differences in the scent of the tea itself and the leaves that it was brewed from. I enjoy watching the leaves unfurl as the tea steeps and viewing my tea ware, deciding which one to use for today's tea. I also love handling my tea ware, especially the pieces that seem to fit perfectly in my hands. The taste of the tea is very important too, but the other senses make tea a fuller experience than just the taste of the liquid.
So far today, I have only had two steeps of Oolong #8.
Jun 24th, '08, 18:27
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Yeah, whoever wrote that question is no zen master!!!CynTEAa wrote:Aw, maybe we should have a "describe your zen tea experience day."tenuki wrote:This question is the anti-zen. Boo.
Did someone ban tea drinking today and forget to tell me?
Matcha Manten a little while ago
And now Fukamushi Houryoko...
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!
Jun 24th, '08, 18:29
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Earl Gray this morning. Milk right now.Chip wrote:Did someone ban tea drinking today and forget to tell me?
Matcha Manten a little while ago
And now Fukamushi Houryoko...
Next will be sencha. And while I was typing, a kitty got into my milk and now it smells like kitty breath. Ugh. Looks like the sencha is now.
