Thursday TeaDay 10/23/08 Tea and incense?

[geeber1]

I voted 'other' because there wasn't a choice for 'no incense, please.'

I think it goes back to when I was younger and got violently sick at a restaurant. The restroom had one of those ultra-strong air "fresheners" that smelled like incense. So I tend to make a psychological connection between that and real incense. Weird, but that's the way it is for me.

Salsero, love the photo today as usual. Is that really the tea in the basket? It's huuuuuuuuge!

This morning I have some South Indian Iyerpadi OP, ORGANIC from TeaSource in my cup but haven't sampled it yet so can't give an opinion. But it smells and looks good so I'm hopeful.

[Victoria]

I decided to post this link here to an interesting article on Japanese Incense
in case anyone is interested.

Not to be a snob, but until you have tried premium incense,
you shouldn't really dismiss it as all headshop 70's stuff.

Scroll down two articles till you see Japanese Incense:

http://www.sniffapaloozamagazine.com/mo ... icles.html

Fixed Link!

[kongni]

My housemate doesn't like the smell of incense very much so I've definitely had to cut back in my new surroundings. I do enjoy incense though. I think if there is too much in the air then it can short circuit your olfactory and gustatory senses which of course deadens the experience of your tea.

Just ahd some nice organic gyokuro this morning. I'm about to have a nice frothy matcha here in a second

CCheers!

[jennlea]

Do not like incense at all, gives me terrible headaches.

This morning I am trying out a Formosa Amber Oolong, and it is yummy!

[kongni]

Not to be a snob, but until you have tried premium incense,
you shouldn't really dismiss it as all headshop 70's stuff.

I completely agree!!! There is a wide variety of incense out there and premium Japanese, Korean, and maybe some Chinese are quite good. I got some Japanese incense from a place in Japan Town in San Francisco that I absolutely LOVE! The shop I bought it from only sold incense. Hundreds of types of incense!

[Shelob]

Hello, my name is Micki and for a few days I will be keeping you posted on Shelob per her request. She is currently in the hospital; after yesterdays dr. visit, previous tests indicate she has a punctured/collapsed lung, and 3 possibly 4 compressed discs in her back..whatever the hell that means!?

Lesson to learn here -NEVER, NEVER stand on the very top of a ladder, even if you were a gymnast...l.oh, she's gonna kill me for that one.

Anyway, to encapsulate all this, I will be staying at her apt for a while w/her cats and will check in w/all you guys periodically as I can.
I promised her that I would tell you how appreciative she is for all the caring thoughts, gw wishes, and prayers everyone has sent her way. A very special thanks to Sal for his encouragement and caring words. Also to Chip, Victoria and Auggy for their gw wishes and prayers.
Her current plans are to go to her Mom's in PA as soon as everything is in order here.
Obviously she is very depressed as her work, she is a potter I'm sure y'all know that, will sorely suffer at this time. Really nasty timing especially with the holiday season upon us.
Anyway, please keep those good vibes, thoughts and prayers flying her way.
Thanks again and since this is a teaforum, hope everyone is drinking tea. I am not by the way, but just might take a stab at it. Thank you all again. Micki

[Chip]

OH no, Micki. Tell Skye we said hi, she is in our thoughts and prayers. And best wishes for a speedy recovery.

Incense in moderation and NOT when I am drinking tea would be my preference. When I visited Ito-En in NYC, they had burned incense everywhere, even in the elevator, but I do not remember any in the teashop.

To start the day, Kabusecha from the Expo while Gandalf and Precious watched.

Currently Adagio Alishan.

[Smari]

Hello, my name is Micki ...

oh no, I pray that she's going to be okay. Keep us posted on her condition, thanks micki

On my 2nd steep of alishan. The mate I had earlier (lemon blast) wasn't bad but tasted a wee bit much of lemon grass. It kinda overpowered the yerba a bit IMO.

[chamekke]

Micki, thanks for telling us about what's happening with Shelob. What an unfortunate accident! For sure I'll keep her in my prayers. I hope she gets out of hospital soon and makes a super-quick recovery.

If there's an address where we can send a card (preferably tea-themed ), please let me know as I'd be happy to send her a cheery note via snail mail. Hospital can be rotten boring, I know...

[geeber1]

Micki, please pass my prayers on for Shelob. Maybe you can sneak some good tea in for her?

[Victoria]

Thanks for the update Micki - sending prayers and hope for a
speedy recovery!

[gingkoseto]

Other for me. As much as I love the incense that I have, every time I burn a stick of it, the rest of the house doesn't like it too much.

I am sadly in the same situation. I love incense and essential oil. My husband doesn't like them. Now have some nice essential oil expiring in my closet

However, I never use insence or fragrance oil while having tea. Flavors of tea are subtle and would be interfered with by other fragrance.

Having some high mountain oolong from unknown resources in my office now I finally clean up the mess in my office to make some room for having oolong

[auggy]

Hello, my name is Micki and for a few days I will be keeping you posted on Shelob per her request. She is currently in the hospital; after yesterdays dr. visit, previous tests indicate she has a punctured/collapsed lung, and 3 possibly 4 compressed discs in her back..

Oh no! I second chamekke's request for an address to send a card, if possible. Hopefully it isn't as serious as it sounds!

[DoctorT]

Micki, I am new here and don't know anyone yet, but I am saddened to hear about Shelob's accident. I wish her godspeed and a quick recovery. Having a disc problem myself, I can tell you that a compressed disc is where the spongy material keeping the spinal bones apart have been squeezed and are oozing out between the bones. That is what I have. In my case, the problem was mediated using physical therapy - a lot of it - and although every so often I have a bad day, I have basically been fine now for several years since the therapy. With a compressed disc, the disc has been flattened but is still intact, it has not ruptured. With a ruptured disc, there is a tear in the covering of the disc and the inside can ooze out. Much worse and more often requiring surgery. Did she first land feet first to put a jarring pressure on her back? I am not a physician (I'm a humanities oriented Ph.D - wrong kind of Doc), so you should rely on what Shelob's doctor's say which could vary somewhat from what I have said.

I use very little incense because it gets to my nose and sinuses. Also, it does not take a lot of incense before I think it is too much. So, I don't use incense when I drink tea and had never actually thought about it. Having now thought about it, although I don't see myself actually doing it, I can think about the art of aromas and of selecting specific scents to go with select teas. Yes the incense would mask the full fragrance of the tea, but the combination of tea and incense would create a new olfactory sensation.

Right now I am enjoying my second mug of jasmine #12 oolong for the day.

Tom

[kymidwife]

Best wishes to Skye for a speedy recovery.

Beyond warm wishes and prayers, I think the best "get-well" gift we could all give to her is to convert Micki to the world of tea... and so Skye will come home to a new addict who will share the tea experience with her. What could be more spiritually healing?

No pressure, Micki.

No to incense... I might enjoy some higher-end incense although I tend to find strong fragrances overpowering. I certainly don't have any desire to smell anything while having tea EXCEPT the tea.

In my cup... reinfused my green potpourri from last night, and then some Jungpana Darjeeling FF. Mmmmmm. Both were delicious.

Sarah