Sunday TeaRoom TeaDay 11/02/08 TeaChat monikers?

[edkrueger]

What if the majority of one of the members who contribute regularly to one of the sections don't want them and the majority of all tea chatters do. I have a feeling that most of the Pu-erh drinkers do not want them.

[geeber1]

Oh I am brewing up one of yours Geeber, too.

The TeaSource Nilgiri Tamil Nadu Blend.

Yikes! It's very dark at 1 minute! I only went 3, wow it's very dark.
This is the darkest tea I've brewed in quite awhile - but then the leaves
are particles/CTC.

Not bad, not great, reminds me of a typical orange pekoe. Maybe a tad
smoother and less astringent. Good enough to get me started on my
busy day!

I like it better for iced tea than hot. I like strong tea, but it's a bit much hot.

LOVE the Neela, by the way. I was just telling my husband that I have to get a scale, though, to be more accurate with these big, beautiful leaves!

[Victoria]

Yeah I have always just done it by feel, a nack I have I guess.
I have never weighed anything but greens.
But if you are not used to it, it can throw you off.
That's why I have such a hard time telling anyone my
brewing parameters.

The Neela and that Handmade is definitely the fluffliest, leafy
blacks I have come across.

I'm making a second steep of yours to take with me,
it's definitely drinkable. At 3mins, anyway.

[Cinnamon Kitty]

The monikers are cute.

As for trying new teas this month, I just placed an order from TeaSource for a bunch of teas that I had never tried before. I got four unflavored blacks, one Earl Grey, and two dark oolongs. I am looking forward to trying all of them. Here's what I purchased:
Nilgiri, Glendale Estate, FOP
Nilgiri, Glendale Estate, Handmade
Dooars Oodlabari Estate SFTGOP1
Malaysian Highlands
Earl Grey White Tip
Water Sprite Oolong
Big Red Robe Oolong

Currently in my cup is some Karigane.

[Katrina]

I'm fine with the monikers. They seem to make the forums seem a bit lighter and more inviting than just the name of the tea.

I'm trying a "new to me" tea as we speak - 2007 Autumn Oolong.

I'm just sitting here wishing there was some Halloween candy in the house! (With my son's food allergies we give out things like animal crackers and Teddy Grahams instead...I could REALLY use some chocolate though.)

[taitea]

No monikers. Tea is serious business!

[kymidwife]

Yes to the monikers, I think they are cute and warm and inviting.

New teas, definitely... I have a few of the new Adagio teas still to try, plus a pu sample from EW, plus some Nilgiri on the way from SpecialTeas, plus I hope to trade some of my Nilgiri for some others from other vendors... plus I think there are some green samples coming my way from a friend... plus, my turn on the oolong box is growing ever near, although I expect it might still be later than this month before I see it.

PLUS... I am hoping to see some restocking of teas with Adagio that I've been waiting months to try... like the Casablanca Twist and some of the currently out-of-stock Darjeelings.

There is always new tea to try... part of what I love about tea.

Have a great Tea Sunday, everyone.

Sarah

[kongni]

Let the monikers stay!

Had some farmers shincha this morning and a bowl of matcha. I need something that's HIGH OCTANE before going to work out. Maybe some Yunnan? Oh yes!!!

[Carnelian]

PLUS... I am hoping to see some restocking of teas with Adagio that I've been waiting months to try... like the Casablanca Twist and some of the currently out-of-stock Darjeelings.

I adore that tea, its the one that all those years ago helped me bridge over to greens since the mint helped cover any novice brewing mistakes I made

[Geekgirl]

It seems that 40% of the board members don't want the sections labeled like this, yet that is not reflected in the comments, perhaps from a desire not to seem, what? grouchy?

Personally, I don't care for them, probably because I'm a little bit clique-phobic. (Probably the result of being a nerd, girl, evangelical AND teenager in 80s rural America. *blink*)

If I say my favorite is "green tea" then I feel like I am suddenly a "member" of the "Green Tea Collective," so does that mean I can't be a member of the "Dark Side" or the "Oolongians?" Clearly it's all a game, and in jest, but that is really my gut-level instinctive reaction.

When it's a joke within the forum, it does feel more like joking, but to label each forum makes me feel like I have to pick one. It's like going to a Star Wars convention dressed up like Spock. It seems like joking on the outside, but you never know when a fan is going to make it serious.

[Chip]

Sometimes trying something new is just about trying something new. I received a suggestion about the monikers and thought it sounded interesting. TBH, I asked today, because I truly wanted everyone's opinions. A lot of good points have been made. Thanks everyone!

I will definitely be trying new teas this month. I will likely try a few high grade gyokuro, maybe a new sencha or two, and who knows what else.

Started the day with Organic sencha from Kagoshima, a gift from Rishi. Quite good. This is certainly the best organic sencha I have had to date, but I have not had many.

I tried a blend of mugicha I just pan fired with some sencha Overture from Adagio. Pretty good.

Next

..

[Salsero]

probably because I'm a little bit clique-phobic.

I think you have a real point here. Maybe it's just because I am a grouchy old man, but I have found the whole internecine joking more irritating that entertaining. I know there are those -- especially new members -- who enjoy the banter of it, but I do not.

I drink with gusto teas from all the groups and love them all. I find it childish to pretend that one is better than another and in fact the pretending tends to divide rather than unite so maybe it is not really pretending at all. A narrow and limited appreciation of tea is not something one should be proud of, IMHO.

Seems to me our mission here is to expand the horizons of our constituents rather than stereotype them.

Having said all that, I am not sure the monikers (our original subject) promote division at all. Rather than the monikers, I guess my remarks address primarily the joking that has become more prevalent this year than previously, and even the joking is not a major issue for me. Seeing as how puerh drinkers have always been the proud butt of joshing and I have reveled in it more than rebelled, I mean more to gently nudge the conversation along GeekGirl's line of thought, not to quash it.

[Victoria]

probably because I'm a little bit clique-phobic.

I think you have a real point here. Maybe it's just because I am a grouchy old man, but I have found the whole internecine joking more irritating that entertaining. I know there are those -- especially new members -- who enjoy the banter of it, but I do not.

I drink with gusto teas from all the groups and love them all. I find it childish to pretend that one is better than another and in fact the pretending tends to divide rather than unite so maybe it is not really pretending at all. A narrow and limited appreciation of tea is not something one should be proud of, IMHO.

Seems to me our mission here is to expand the horizons of our constituents rather than stereotype them.

Having said all that, I am not sure the monikers (our original subject) promote division at all. Rather than the monikers, I guess my remarks address primarily the joking that has become more prevalent this year than previously, and even the joking is not a major issue for me. Seeing as how puerh drinkers have always been the proud butt of joshing and I have reveled in it more than rebelled, I mean more to gently nudge the conversation along GeekGirl's line of thought, not to quash it.

I think maybe you took Geek's line a bit out of context - Well clearly it is all in fun and as all of you have seen The Oolong Queen has been the champion of Blacks as of late! And as you say yourself, "I am not sure the monikers (our original subject) promote division at all." So I guess I miss the point your quoting Geek and what you are saying in your first paragraphs.

As for the joking before this year, well when I arrived greens were all that were discussed in earnest. There was no joking, because no other forum had much participation or enthusiasm, and of course there was no TeaDay, or place for such banter.

All of it has seems to increase member participation in my opinion.
It matters not to me if the monikers stay or go. Participation and more discussion in the forums is all that matters

[Geekgirl]

probably because I'm a little bit clique-phobic.

I think you have a real point here. Maybe it's just because I am a grouchy old man, but I have found the whole internecine joking more irritating that entertaining. I know there are those -- especially new members -- who enjoy the banter of it, but I do not.

I drink with gusto teas from all the groups and love them all. I find it childish to pretend that one is better than another and in fact the pretending tends to divide rather than unite so maybe it is not really pretending at all. A narrow and limited appreciation of tea is not something one should be proud of, IMHO.

I think maybe you took Geek's line a bit out of context

Actually, I believe he understood exactly the point I was trying to make. The labels, joking though they may be, make me think of all the "clubs" to which I was never allowed access. I know this is projection of the most basic kind (Psych 101) but it is what I think and feel when I open teachat and see people being "members" of this tea-type and that. My brain figuratively does a spit-take and says "but I like ALL the teas! Now what?"

[Shelob]

No monikers. Tea is serious business!

Yikes! "where there is tea there shall be no fun"! So, I get it, if u like tea, then u r serious and u may not have fun when discussing tea w/teachatters!:evil:

I agree with most recent comments by Sal/Victoria.
As stated in my intro I lurked 4 a while and really enjoyed the banter, it kept me coming back 4 more. It WAS FUN. I am glad we can have fun and b friendly and still be knowledgable and serious about tea.

Done!

Now on the lighter side, in my cup is Bai Mu Dan...white peony, however it is a yellow/greenish w/hint of toasted walnuts.....yummy.

I do need more teas, probably more blacks, the nilgiris interest me.
Have a FAB Tea Eve and Sal, loved that pic!