Saturday TeaDay 9/20/08 Blog writer/reader?

[silverneedles]

+1 for Stephane's blog

[chamekke]

chrl42, I agree with Trey. Your English is just fine, and I would rather read a tea blog of yours sooner than have to wait until some unspecified future time!

I have a tea-related blog, which I'm way behind in updating, and I also read several tea blogs - although not as many/not as often as I'd like. (Life has been especially hectic over the last month, so I've fallen behind in just about everything!)

In my cup: Yunnan Gold.

[Maitre_Tea]

I have my own tea blog, and follow other tea blogs to get a sense of what to do, because I've just started.

Enjoying some Fo Shou Oolong from Hou De

[Victoria]

I follow, although somewhat inconsistantly the bloggers from this forum. Occasionally I will read another one that is linked here. Overall if I don't "know" the blogger, I really don't care what their opinion is and I'm less interested in what they have to say.

This morning's cup Bohea Black tea from Tao of Tea.

Happy Saturday everyone!

[Jack_teachat]

I don't have a tea blog but I used to write a beer one http://jackmockford.blogspot.com. I really used to love writing about beer but have not updated it in about a year. Reason?... I found myself needlessly moaning about stuff (in the typical critic kind of way!) and decided it was actually spoiling my enjoyment of beer to an extent. I also wrote a few beer pieces for my university newspaper last year which were generally more positive and much more satisfying to write...

I may well start a tea blog at some point but first I want to come up with a fantastic idea first which makes my blog stand out from the crowd. I do occasionally look at tea blogs (such as Tea nerd).

Hope you are all having excellent weekends. It is my wife's birthday today so am looking forward to going out for a meal tonight!

Yutaka Midori (O-Cha) so far today!

Jack

[Chip]

Yutaka Midori (O-Cha) so far today!

Having Sencha Yutaka Midori now. Opened a new bag today, oh the smell of fresh leaf

It is a Yutaka Midori weekend for me. I am doing tastings on 4 all weekend. Today, a later start to the process than I had hoped do to yesterday's "acccident." So, today, I have set a goal to try each one independently, then tomorrow, hopefully side by side. I am posting about it here.

A tale of 4 Yutaka Midori!

First up, Chiran YM Supreme from O-Cha. I am quite pleased with my second session of this. I fully sense the greatness of Yutaka Midori classic from O-Cha, just slightly toned down. For around 7 bucks less, this is really good value. No, an incredible value!!!

BLOGS. I often feel guilty for lacking consistancy in reading the ever growing list of GREAT tea blogs, mostly from TeaChatters. They deserve KUDOS!!!The quality is superb. I am always astounded.

In my spare time, I moderate and actively participate in tea 2 forums, ride bike when I am not getting hit by cars , and like to enjoy good tea. Time just gets away from me. I have wanted to blog for some time, but again it comes down to time, and I would want to do it justice ...kind of an all or nothing kinda guy I guess.

[caligatia]

I didn't even know there were tea blogs. Of course there are, there are blogs for every topic...

I post some about tea in my blog, but it's mostly friends-only. (I'm on LiveJournal; you can set each post to be visible to just your friends on the site, or even specific friends but not all friends. I love LiveJournal.)

It's hot out today, so I'm drinking more iced tea -- English breakfast, today. (As I think I've said, most of my hot tea is consumed at night when it cools off. I hate Florida summers.)

Last night at my sister's we had Adagio's pomegranate black tea and some rooibos teabags I bought at the local organic market. The rooibos was pleasant but not great. (I'd never had red tea before. I plan to order some samples of better-quality stuff from Adagio soon.) My sister loved it, though, so I gave her the whole box.

[olivierco]

First up, Chiran YM Supreme from O-Cha. I am quite pleased with my second session of this. I fully sense the greatness of Yutaka Midori classic from O-Cha, just slightly toned down. For around 7 bucks less, this is really good value. No, an incredible value!!!

How did you brew the Chiran?

Did you get already a new bike?

Tencha this afternoon (Thanks Pentox!). Interesting but not worth its high price. Gyokuro like taste with some matcha flavors.

[Pentox]

Hm, blog, I dunno... Then i'd be weird like this guy

Trying out a plethora of teas today. So far nothing spectacular.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I don't have a tea blog. I've considered starting one, but haven't gotten much beyond thinking about it briefly. I do enjoy reading other peoples' blogs every so often, especially when I am trying to figure out how to brew a certain tea or which ones to buy next.

Chip, I hope you are doing okay after the accident and that your YM tasting weekend is helping to make things better.

Today, I am finishing up the Aged Nan Tou that I had started last night. I lost count of how many steeps I have gotten out of it so far and it is still going!

[Salsero]

I lost count of how many steeps I have gotten out of it so far

That's my kind of tea! I am finishing off this really first class Assam that Proinsias generously shared with me.

[Chip]

First up, Chiran YM Supreme from O-Cha. I am quite pleased with my second session of this. I fully sense the greatness of Yutaka Midori classic from O-Cha, just slightly toned down. For around 7 bucks less, this is really good value. No, an incredible value!!!

How did you brew the Chiran?

Did you get already a new bike?

Tencha this afternoon (Thanks Pentox!). Interesting but not worth its high price. Gyokuro like taste with some matcha flavors.

Took my bike to my "other drug dealer" and will have to wait for the final verdict. The bike is gorgous, the clearcoat paint job with abstract gold, silver and carbon fiber just causes jaws to drop. I would hate to lose it. It was PERFECT, my DREAM BIKEand it did not even have a scuff or scratch anywhere. NOW, there is damage everywhere. Grrrrrrr.

Still, if it is not declared a total loss, I will be a little worried when I am flying down a mountain at 50 mph.

Olivier, I am using 5 grams per 6 ounces for this round of taste testing at 168* and beginning the pour at around 55 seconds. The O-Cha came out incredibly good.

Now I am trying the Lupicia Chiran Yutaka Midori. Same parameters. The first steep is very good, I can definitely confirm it is YM varietal. I will comment more in the green tea topic. A Tale of 4 Yutaka Midori

[Victoria]

Really enjoying this Tao of Tea Bohea - it is a black tea with a slightly smokey aspect
and bit of fruitiness. Very delicious!

I was hoping to capture the beautiful copper color of the brew. Really nice.

[Chip]

Looks great, Victoria! I am not familiar with the varietal except from the 2 teas you spoke of. Always something to learn from someone.

Yutaka Midori number 3 of the day is O-Cha's classic version by the same name. This is THE BENCH MARK Yutaka Midori for me, well, for all sencha really.

Although this bag has been open 3-4 weeks I think, it is still clearly the best of the 3 so far. Smoother, more flavorful, and more intense. It is also fuller, richer, even soupier, brothy. Steep after steep is extremely satisfying. It is also the greenest brew of the 3.

Side by side I predict it will be very clear which is of superior leaf and flavor.

I hope I can get to the Yakamushi YM yet. Today was full of distractions and time consuming "business" caused by unpredictable events of yesterday.