I'm at 4, with sprinkles of 5. Only quality stuff, and the more I can confuse and impress non-tea geeks with obscure tea, the better. In fact, I'm probably more 5 than 4.
More Ancient Moonlight now. Oh yes.
My nose gets higher in the air everyday!! If I made better money, I'd probably be a 10!!!! 
I usually look for the best tea within a certain price range, and since I live in Taiwan, it's pretty easy to pop into tea shops and sample their goods. My tastes have slowly been creeping up the scale over the past few years, which doesn't make my pocketbook (or spouse) all that happy!
My real problem is getting spoiled. I study tea 1-1 with a couple of different 'Masters' here, and they constantly pull out their special, top-end stuff for me to try, and it really changes my attitude toward mere mortal teas, although I'm struggling to cope.
A few months ago I was asked if I'd ever tried 'gold leaf oolong', to which I replied no. It turns out, it's real gold leaf! It was a very specially produced high-mountain oolong (I think Da Yu Ling, but don't remember now), to which they add flakes of 24k gold. You can see the flakes floating in the cup. It was very good tea, and I was told the gold is good for your body (I'm assuming in small amounts, of course - don't be swallowing any jewlery!).
I've also had some specialty off-market yen cha and 100 year old puer that's beyond description, so I won't try!! That being said, however, I do tend to buy tea by taste rather than just quality, depending on what I'm in the mood for.
Oh, almost forgot - drinking TKY again. That's pretty much my standard drink when the weather cools off.
I usually look for the best tea within a certain price range, and since I live in Taiwan, it's pretty easy to pop into tea shops and sample their goods. My tastes have slowly been creeping up the scale over the past few years, which doesn't make my pocketbook (or spouse) all that happy!
My real problem is getting spoiled. I study tea 1-1 with a couple of different 'Masters' here, and they constantly pull out their special, top-end stuff for me to try, and it really changes my attitude toward mere mortal teas, although I'm struggling to cope.
A few months ago I was asked if I'd ever tried 'gold leaf oolong', to which I replied no. It turns out, it's real gold leaf! It was a very specially produced high-mountain oolong (I think Da Yu Ling, but don't remember now), to which they add flakes of 24k gold. You can see the flakes floating in the cup. It was very good tea, and I was told the gold is good for your body (I'm assuming in small amounts, of course - don't be swallowing any jewlery!).
I've also had some specialty off-market yen cha and 100 year old puer that's beyond description, so I won't try!! That being said, however, I do tend to buy tea by taste rather than just quality, depending on what I'm in the mood for.
Oh, almost forgot - drinking TKY again. That's pretty much my standard drink when the weather cools off.
One thing. Red Rose is a good tea and it makes a good sweet iced tea. The loose leaf, if you are fortunate to find it, makes a good, sturdy cuppa that can stand up to milk and sugar.
Been DYING to comment on the tea snobbery thing, so thank you.
I LOATHE snobbery in anything. Coming from a family which was very into politics, the cocktail party and embassy party set, I've met a lot of pretentious, holier, more perfect, more correct, more everything than the other person, which is where I first discovered my dislike of snobbery.
My favorite fairy tale is The Emperor's New Clothes, and I KNOW I could catch some of you with a Tea Chatte tea sting. Put a high enough price and fancy wrapper on anything, and there are some who'd buy it, if they thought it was trendy.
Anyone wince yet? Have you bought a tea that ended up tasting like crap just because it was expensive, lauded by Tea Drinkers Extraordinaire, and was in a fancy wrapper with quasi oriental writing? Aw come on, admit it, at least to yourself.
I'd love to do a double blind study on Tea Chatters. Oh I'd so love to do that. I could make you guys decide just as I wanted you, and it is a simple thing. Have you ever been to an opthalmologist for glasses and he does the fast "Is this better or this?" thing on you which is done about at the speed of light and zingo you end up with whatever he wants to give you, not necessarily what is right for you?
*bats ancient eyes innocently* But then everyone here has a perfect palate which has not been contaminated by sodas, cigarettes, cigars, snuff, coffee or spicy food.
Right.
Been DYING to comment on the tea snobbery thing, so thank you.
I LOATHE snobbery in anything. Coming from a family which was very into politics, the cocktail party and embassy party set, I've met a lot of pretentious, holier, more perfect, more correct, more everything than the other person, which is where I first discovered my dislike of snobbery.
My favorite fairy tale is The Emperor's New Clothes, and I KNOW I could catch some of you with a Tea Chatte tea sting. Put a high enough price and fancy wrapper on anything, and there are some who'd buy it, if they thought it was trendy.
Anyone wince yet? Have you bought a tea that ended up tasting like crap just because it was expensive, lauded by Tea Drinkers Extraordinaire, and was in a fancy wrapper with quasi oriental writing? Aw come on, admit it, at least to yourself.
I'd love to do a double blind study on Tea Chatters. Oh I'd so love to do that. I could make you guys decide just as I wanted you, and it is a simple thing. Have you ever been to an opthalmologist for glasses and he does the fast "Is this better or this?" thing on you which is done about at the speed of light and zingo you end up with whatever he wants to give you, not necessarily what is right for you?
*bats ancient eyes innocently* But then everyone here has a perfect palate which has not been contaminated by sodas, cigarettes, cigars, snuff, coffee or spicy food.
Right.
Jeanne - I never met a tea pot I didn't like.
Nov 20th, '08, 08:46
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Nov 20th, '08, 08:50
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Heh, having fun yet 
And remember my request, to have fun with this topic. 
Try as I might to be a TeaSnob, one of the things I enjoy is simply tasting new teas and looking for a jewel in the rough. While I am not likely to drink low end bags anytime soon, I do occasionally drink bagged tea such as yesterday. I put myself solidly at 4. I like what I like not because of a pretentious description or price. Most of my snobbery is done out of view of the general public, so no harm done.
Started the TeaDay off with Sencha Premier, brewed it a little hotter today and a little longer which improved the flavor profile. Sweetie agreed. Wulong didn't really care as long as she had her perch and was petted. Pyrit was being a snob and did not even look.
And remember my request, to have fun with this topic. Try as I might to be a TeaSnob, one of the things I enjoy is simply tasting new teas and looking for a jewel in the rough. While I am not likely to drink low end bags anytime soon, I do occasionally drink bagged tea such as yesterday. I put myself solidly at 4. I like what I like not because of a pretentious description or price. Most of my snobbery is done out of view of the general public, so no harm done.
Started the TeaDay off with Sencha Premier, brewed it a little hotter today and a little longer which improved the flavor profile. Sweetie agreed. Wulong didn't really care as long as she had her perch and was petted. Pyrit was being a snob and did not even look.
Nov 20th, '08, 08:53
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For me definitely a 3. I sincerely believe no loose leaves are bad leaves, unless they are abused in processing or storage.
I actually enjoy trying different price levels of the same tea and see how different they are, and sometime feel like giving cheaper tea a pat on the back when it's doing fine
Even though I chose 3, I don't absolutely reject teabags. If in a gathering friends offer teabag, I would still take it, just won't appear snobbish
But most such times I would choose coffee And I have chamomile in teabags, because I treat it as herbal medicine and whole flowers are too expensive.
I actually enjoy trying different price levels of the same tea and see how different they are, and sometime feel like giving cheaper tea a pat on the back when it's doing fine
Even though I chose 3, I don't absolutely reject teabags. If in a gathering friends offer teabag, I would still take it, just won't appear snobbish
But most such times I would choose coffee And I have chamomile in teabags, because I treat it as herbal medicine and whole flowers are too expensive.By sitting in peace and doing nothing,
You make your one day worth two days.
You make your one day worth two days.
Well being a TeaSnob is just personal preference for higher quality loose leaf teas, I definitely don't put anyone down for drinking Lipton's - I embrace all tea drinkers as friends!!
In my cup this morning ToT Neela - wow I love this stuff.
Have a nice day everyone!!
In my cup this morning ToT Neela - wow I love this stuff.
Have a nice day everyone!!
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
I voted 3. I prefer loose leaf tea, but I wouldn't offend anyone by refusing to drink tea prepared with bags if they were kind enough to prepare it for me.
Treazure, please try not to take the poll so seriously, I think the Tea Snob label was meant to be funny. I, for one, enjoy your posts and hope you don't think that TeaChat is a snobby place!
I have found it to be welcoming to all levels of tea lovers.
Oh, yeah, Adagio Irish Breakfast to get me going this morning.
Treazure, please try not to take the poll so seriously, I think the Tea Snob label was meant to be funny. I, for one, enjoy your posts and hope you don't think that TeaChat is a snobby place!
I have found it to be welcoming to all levels of tea lovers. Oh, yeah, Adagio Irish Breakfast to get me going this morning.
Nov 20th, '08, 10:05
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auggy
Hmm, I wonder if the gold adds any taste to the tea. I had a sake in Japan that had some gold floating in it (well, okay, it wasn't "floating" unless you swirled the bottle) and was also told that it was healthy for you. Of course I'm sure the health aspects of that were canceled out by the fact that you were chugging sake to get it. And I'm thinking that any taste added by the gold would also be pretty much ignored if you could taste it at all.teaguy wrote:A few months ago I was asked if I'd ever tried 'gold leaf oolong', to which I replied no. It turns out, it's real gold leaf! It was a very specially produced high-mountain oolong (I think Da Yu Ling, but don't remember now), to which they add flakes of 24k gold. You can see the flakes floating in the cup. It was very good tea, and I was told the gold is good for your body (I'm assuming in small amounts, of course - don't be swallowing any jewlery!)
I voted 3 but I dip just the slightest bit towards 2. Some teabags have their place and I imagine I'll always have some in my pantry. As for premo loose leaf vs. "regular" loose leaf, if it gives me a good cup and I don't want to pull my hair out in frustration making it, I'm a fan.
ETA: Forgot - birthday tea this morning. Yum.
Last edited by auggy on Nov 20th, '08, 10:09, edited 1 time in total.
Nov 20th, '08, 10:07
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Location: Gainesville, Florida
Good point, Geeber1. Since we are all pretty well aware that most of the world thinks we are crazy anyway, I think our "snobbery" is just a humorous pose. No one is impressed and we know it.geeber1 wrote: Treazure, please try not to take the poll so seriously, I think the Tea Snob label was meant to be funny. I, for one, enjoy your posts and hope you don't think that TeaChat is a snobby place!
In my cup: Bao Zhong.