I'm pretty sure I'm not snobbish when it comes to teaware, taking into account that I don't actually have any (except from a pair of blue English style sets, which I never use anyway).
Come to think of it, could that be some sort of reversed snobbery? As in, "hey, look at how unsnobbish I am about teaware"? I think it might.
Being a general snob today with a superbly delicate and floral Baozhong, courtesy of Victoria (thanks!). Who knew oolongs could be this complex? The versatility of the Cammellia sinensis boggles the mind.
Weird... that's exactly how I was thinking, and that's exactly how I voted.Chip wrote:Your option would then be, "I do not think I am, but could be kidding myself."olivierco wrote:Teawaresnobbery? I don't think so.
For me a teawaresnob is someone who despises all the people who don't drink tea from the expensive "authentic" teaware bought from the "right" vendor and who despises people who don't brew their tea with the "right" vessel.
I have just what is needed to fully enjoy my tea drinking.
I spend less money on teaware than I have to spend for my car.
Yunnan noir with my breakfast in a few minutes.
Ooh ooh, tell me what I'm going to have for lunch today! (Seriously, I'm still not sure yet).
Some Oolong #40 with breakfast today. My sample tin from Adagio is almost gone. I'll have to pull back on this one until my mom gets here next week so that she can try it out, too.
Nov 22nd, '08, 09:55
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I chose "definitely not". I use a mug most of the time. And when I try to convert non-drinkers to drinkers, I tell them to use a mug.
When I took a second thought, it came to me that maybe I should choose the 2nd last one - because I do prefer a glass mug. I used to get them for less than 50 cent each in grocery and can no longer find them. My recent one was picked up on street among a pile of free stuff from a yard sale
yellow mountain finch tongue (huang shan que she) this morning. love it!! photo from last week.
When I took a second thought, it came to me that maybe I should choose the 2nd last one - because I do prefer a glass mug. I used to get them for less than 50 cent each in grocery and can no longer find them. My recent one was picked up on street among a pile of free stuff from a yard sale
yellow mountain finch tongue (huang shan que she) this morning. love it!! photo from last week.
Good morning Teachatters!
I answered "definitely not". Now, I could be fooling myself, but I think not. I do own some teaware that I have been gradually collecting on this journey, including some cups, 4 yixing, 2 porcelein gaiwans, 2 tokoname kyusu, plus my glass teapot and ingenuiteas.
The reason I don't feel like a teawares snob is... I don't own any teaware at this point that makes a noticeable difference in the taste of my tea. I know this will make the pure-bloods cringe, and probably just means I either don't have the right teaware or don't have a full grasp on the gongfu process, which is likely.
But, the truth is... I use my Ingenuitea pretty much every day, or my glass pot. I don't enjoy my oolongs more if brewed in my yixing than if brewed in glass or gaiwain... I appreciate the design of the small kyusu for shincha or gyokuro, but it doesn't taste better than it did when I was brewing in a pyrex measuring cup and pouring through a mesh kitchen strainer... and as for cups, I end up drinking out of coffee mugs more often than not. Even when I gong-fu brew, I will sometimes taste each infusion from a small tasting cup and dump the rest into a large cup for 4 or 5 infusions. I like to taste and enjoy the intricacies of each brew, but I also love to sit down on the sofa with a large cup of tea and enjoy it slowly.
In my cup (a logo coffee cup from my office's spa) is Adagio's TKY, which I'd been missing as I ran out a while back. I have a nice blend of ceylon, vanilla, almond, and mint cooling in the kitchen for iced tea later. Mmmm.
Happy Tea Day all.
Sarah
I answered "definitely not". Now, I could be fooling myself, but I think not. I do own some teaware that I have been gradually collecting on this journey, including some cups, 4 yixing, 2 porcelein gaiwans, 2 tokoname kyusu, plus my glass teapot and ingenuiteas.
The reason I don't feel like a teawares snob is... I don't own any teaware at this point that makes a noticeable difference in the taste of my tea. I know this will make the pure-bloods cringe, and probably just means I either don't have the right teaware or don't have a full grasp on the gongfu process, which is likely.
But, the truth is... I use my Ingenuitea pretty much every day, or my glass pot. I don't enjoy my oolongs more if brewed in my yixing than if brewed in glass or gaiwain... I appreciate the design of the small kyusu for shincha or gyokuro, but it doesn't taste better than it did when I was brewing in a pyrex measuring cup and pouring through a mesh kitchen strainer... and as for cups, I end up drinking out of coffee mugs more often than not. Even when I gong-fu brew, I will sometimes taste each infusion from a small tasting cup and dump the rest into a large cup for 4 or 5 infusions. I like to taste and enjoy the intricacies of each brew, but I also love to sit down on the sofa with a large cup of tea and enjoy it slowly.
In my cup (a logo coffee cup from my office's spa) is Adagio's TKY, which I'd been missing as I ran out a while back. I have a nice blend of ceylon, vanilla, almond, and mint cooling in the kitchen for iced tea later. Mmmm.
Happy Tea Day all.
Sarah
***This organic blend is earthy & spicy, with a fragrant aroma & smooth flavor to captivate the senses. Naturally sweetened in the Kentucky sunshine & infused with natural energy. Equally delicious when served piping hot or crisply chilled.***
Nov 22nd, '08, 12:22
Posts: 388
Joined: Aug 15th, '08, 20:21
Location: British Columbia Canada
Teaware is one area of the journey on which I simply haven't wished to spend heavily. I use a cast iron tetsubin and a standard kitchen thermometer for all my tea making, after which the brew goes into one of three styles of tea cup. Two of the three sets were moderately priced Royal Doulton, but I do keep around a set of two Wedgwood Ulander Blue cups and saucers for special occasions.
Tea for this afternoon is Okyati Estate Special Darjeeling White.
Tea for this afternoon is Okyati Estate Special Darjeeling White.
Nov 22nd, '08, 12:38
Posts: 1953
Joined: Apr 6th, '08, 19:02
Location: British Columbia, Canada
Contact:
chamekke
I have a fatal attraction for tea wares, but all the same I voted I do not think I am [a TeawareSnob], but could be kidding myself. My own collection is a happy blend of mid- to high-end teawares (mostly Japanese) and simple, inexpensive, and/or goofy pieces that happened to catch my fancy (mostly but not necessarily western).
I love the marriage of beauty and function in teawares, but ultimately function does come first. As a guest, I'm happy to receive tea in any vessel as long as the vessel is clean and - ideally - the tea itself is worth drinking.
P.S. I might just be a TeawareSOB, however
I love the marriage of beauty and function in teawares, but ultimately function does come first. As a guest, I'm happy to receive tea in any vessel as long as the vessel is clean and - ideally - the tea itself is worth drinking.
P.S. I might just be a TeawareSOB, however
Nov 22nd, '08, 12:54
Posts: 316
Joined: Jul 23rd, '09, 10:30
Location: Concord, New Hampshire
This is a tricky one for me. I could be a teaware snob if I could afford to be, but don't really own much (and all of that cheap). I covet many of the wares you lot have!
Speaking of teaware, I just received two maple leaf tenmoku cups from Vince and Sabrina. They're gorgeous! Thanks again for introducing me to them, Geek.
Finishing up my organic Qi Zhong at the moment.
Speaking of teaware, I just received two maple leaf tenmoku cups from Vince and Sabrina. They're gorgeous! Thanks again for introducing me to them, Geek.
Finishing up my organic Qi Zhong at the moment.
Well let's face it, for me anyway, it is getting nearly impossible for me to drink tea out of a coffee cup. But then I would if that is all that was around.
In my morning cup ToT Bohea.
Every time I have this, I remark on how fabulous it is.
Happy Saturday everyone!
In my morning cup ToT Bohea.
Every time I have this, I remark on how fabulous it is.
Happy Saturday everyone!
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
Nov 22nd, '08, 15:19
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Geekgirl
Yay!!! Aren't those cool? I love them. (they photograph well too, lol!)leiche wrote:
Speaking of teaware, I just received two maple leaf tenmoku cups from Vince and Sabrina. They're gorgeous! Thanks again for introducing me to them, Geek.
Nov 22nd, '08, 16:49
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Maybe Teaware Geek would have been a better term?
Anyway, not too much of a snob, maybe ... however, I do like to coordinate tea with the teaware, I used to be almost OCD about it but have loosened up a bit. So, in that regard, I could be labeled as a TeawareSnob? I like teaware quite a bit and am always looking, but rarely buying.
Tried to recapture the magic of yesterday's Fujian Baroque from Adagio but fell a little short this time, still very good though.
Chiran Supreme from O-Cha was very good today, the Ooolong 18 fro Adagio which was fabulous. Currently Adagio's Sencha Premier, the third Adagio selection today, probably a record for me. The sencha is quite good today.
I hope everyone is having a great TeaDay.
Anyway, not too much of a snob, maybe ... however, I do like to coordinate tea with the teaware, I used to be almost OCD about it but have loosened up a bit. So, in that regard, I could be labeled as a TeawareSnob? I like teaware quite a bit and am always looking, but rarely buying.
Tried to recapture the magic of yesterday's Fujian Baroque from Adagio but fell a little short this time, still very good though.
Chiran Supreme from O-Cha was very good today, the Ooolong 18 fro Adagio which was fabulous. Currently Adagio's Sencha Premier, the third Adagio selection today, probably a record for me. The sencha is quite good today.
I hope everyone is having a great TeaDay.
blah blah blah SENCHA blah blah blah!!!