Wednesday TeaDay 12/10/08 Aroma/tasting sets?

[olivierco]

Interesting Oliver, I am drinking Kaboku lately as well. I think if I want to stock sencha, this might be the one to have. Other favorites are Den's Sencha Zuiko and Lupicia Uji Yabukita. I refuse to drink the dust tea that is so in fashion these days.

I have some 50g Kaboku packages left in my fridge and always buy some when I order from Ippodo.
I have also one "Ujibashi San no Ma" sencha (the non shincha version of Kirameki) on its way to my mailbox. Have you tasted it?
I however drink fukamushi sencha.

[chad]

Haven't used a tasting set, don't own one, not planning on buying one - but it could happen.

Stash Chai Spice in the mug this morning.

[gingkoseto]

I don't have one and don't plan to get one. But I may end up getting a cute set, then mostly use either the short cup and the tall cup to drink alone. I am too lazy to add an extra step in tea drinking.

[brandon]

On the subject of aroma cups, I have always meant to have a pair on hand, but I am horribly particular about tea wares. All of my favorite items are made by hand, and have a unique character. Common gong fu tools, despite huge shipping and markup, appear to be worth about 10 Cents in the quality of their construction. I will eventually give in and pick up a cheap set, but I am sure it will spend most if its time in the drawer.

[toastedtoads]

I currently don't own a set, and have never used one, but primarily because I can't make up my mind which one to buy.

Salsero, where did you get the set with the koi on the left side of your photo?

In my cup this morning: Ronnybrook Chocolate Milk...soon to be followed by a continuation of an 80's tuocha from Nada that I started last night.

[Salsero]

Salsero, where did you get the set with the koi on the left side of your photo?

The two on the left are from Shan Shuiteas. I think the one on the right with the porcelain tray is from Fun Alliance, but I don't find them on Kam's site any more.

[Smari]

I don't own one but like to use one some day.

It's a high of 62°F here today... something isn't right.
So in lieu of dealing with the strange weather, I'm finally having my genmaicha.

[kongni]

Wow, I've never seen these before.
Why the specific dimensions for the cups?

Fuka earlier this morning. Kombucha right now. Matcha coming up later!

[jasonowalker]

The explanation I've heard for cup size/shape:

In Chinese gongfu style, tea is poured into the tall cup first and capped with the shorter cup. The tall cup has less surface area for the top of the tea. While still capped with the short cup, the cups are turned over. The short cup now holds the tea, and the tall cup becomes the cap. Removing the tall cup creates a column that has trapped the aroma of the tea- its depth allowing a deeper inhalation with less aroma steaming out around your nose.

Is that the prevailing understanding?

JW

[Ritva]

Salsero, where did you get the set with the koi on the left side of your photo?

The two on the left are from Shan Shuiteas. I think the one on the right with the porcelain tray is from Fun Alliance, but I don't find them on Kam's site any more.

I think they are the same cups that Hou De used to sell. Didn't see the cups in their website anymore, probably because they were very cheap: 2 pairs (4 cups) only 12 USD if I remember correctly. They didn't have the tray though. I bought the cups and have tried a few times. It's fun but all the "extra work" seems too tedious sometimes - preheating all the cups and fiddling with them. I usually make tea for two so it's quite crowded in my little teatable with the aroma cups.

[geeber1]

No, I don't have one, YET! I'm sure that somewhere down the line, I'll decide that I need one, though.

This morning had more of that delicious Nilgiri Blue from Tao of Tea.

Now at work, Glendale Nilgiri from TeaSource.

[Victoria]

The trouble is - when I first got bitten by the tea bug I envisaged inviting hordes of friends round for tea sessions and at various cut price chinese web sites ordered a selection of tasting cups and tasting bowls - I have about 18 Aroma cups and 24 bowls. I also have 12 wooden trays - so I can construct my own sets!

What time do you want us to all come over?


In my morning cup - FLT Baozhong 2nd place

Have a nice day everyone!

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I haven't used aroma cups before and actually have very little motivation to get a set to try out. If I found set that I absolutely could not live without, then I would probably get them to play with. For now, I am happy without them.

This morning, I have some gingerbread tea from Adagio. I haven't figured out what to have next, but it is looking like a nap might be in order before I choose another tea.

[Janine]

Currently, a Fall 2007 Tie Guan Yin from Tea Gallery.. yum yum yum!

Trying out my not-so-new but newly-discovered possibly Chaozhou teapot

And I think a scent cup would be excellent to get some more of the flavor hints in this med roast tea

[Herb_Master]

The trouble is - when I first got bitten by the tea bug I envisaged inviting hordes of friends round for tea sessions and at various cut price chinese web sites ordered a selection of tasting cups and tasting bowls - I have about 18 Aroma cups and 24 bowls. I also have 12 wooden trays - so I can construct my own sets!

What time do you want us to all come over?


In my morning cup - FLT Baozhong 2nd place

Have a nice day everyone!

Tell me before you get on the plane it will take me 10 hours to tidy the house!