Thursday TeaDay 11/20/08 TeaSnobbery rating?

[Maitre_Tea]

wow, best poll ever...I finally get to comment on my own level of Tea snobbery. My friends drink from Lipton tea bags, and I "threaten" them about it. I tell them if I switched out the stuff in the tea bags with dirt they wouldn't be able to tell the difference. I'm also a Asian TeaSnob, because whenever I see English style tea with milk and sugar, I automatically associate it with Lipton tea bags in America. It's a bad association because I know that English style tea can be great, so I'm starting to branch out.

[olivierco]

Hibiki-an sencha SP right now

[kymidwife]

Hmmm... turning into an interesting topic today. LOL!

Regarding snobbery... I think snobbery is negative when brand/label/cost/status of a product are used to make others feel inferior. If anyone looks down their nose at anyone else for liking what they like, that annoys me.

But, on the other hand, snobbery that doesn't set out to belittle someone else's choices is natural and human... just an expression of preference and ego and style. I have been seduced by branding before. I've been known to prefer a label, buy something because I want others to know I'm "in style", etc. I don't live my whole life that way, but by human nature, I can be sucked in with the best of 'em. Maybe that is happening with my tea drinking, but the beautiful thing is... I don't care! I like what I like, and it really doesn't matter WHY I like it, whether it's truly better or whether I just "think" it is... to me, it is great, and that's all that matters... and that goes for teabags, Teavana, Upton's, Adagio, and the nicest of the nice imported loose leaf I've bought. Perception of taste is everything.

So, my motto is: If you want it and you can afford it, buy it! If it tastes good to you, drink it, no matter the label or the origin. If someone likes a tea you consider crap, thank goodness SOMEONE likes it, that leaves more of the good stuff for you. If someone calls your tea "crap"... sip, swallow, and smile.

Gracious snobbery at its finest.

In my cup this morning... some kind of darjeeling from SpecialTeas, Makabari Estate I think? It was a sample they included in my last order... not the best I've had, but far from the worst.
<sip, swallow, smile>

Sarah

[Maitre_Tea]

I think for me snobbery takes a different approach. I'm not snobbish with my tea by conforming to a certain brand or variety of tea or its packaging. I realize that one man's good tea is another man's crappy tea. It's all relative to your personal tastes. However, I insist on enjoying tea in its most authentic and original way possible, maximizing the experience, which is where I get really snobbish; using yixing and gong fu exclusively, using high quality water, etc.

[Victoria]

This morning's work cup is Floating Leaves Tea - AliShan Traditional.
Delish!

[Cinnamon Kitty]

I am definitely a solid 3. I enjoy loose leaf more than bagged teas. I get whatever teas taste good, though I tend to go for the less expensive, but still tasty ones. The only thing that really annoys me with teabags is watching people leave the bags in the cups for 30 minutes during class. I keep wincing from knowing how bitter that brew would be, but at least they are drinking tea. To each his or her own.

This morning, I am drinking a blend of fresh ginger bits with a cinnamon stick in hopes strong spiciness will combat my cold.

[Vulture]

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.

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.

Yah my favorite alcohol to drink is Goldshlogers. Its a cinnamon shnops with gold flakes in it. I don't know about the health benefits of it over drinking the alcohol though...

And you can see a trend in my favorites. Cinnamon and Black Liquorish but good cinnamon is easier to get

[Victoria]

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 heard of a liqueur called Goldwasser with gold flakes, and there is even a perfume with gold flakes, but not a tea until now. Heh, you gotta love that it was an OOLONG that was worthy of the GOLD!!
hahaha!!

[Chip]

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 heard of a liqueur called Goldwasser with gold flakes, and there is even a perfume with gold flakes, but not a tea until now. Heh, you gotta love that it was an OOLONG that was worthy of the GOLD!!
hahaha!!

Ummmm, "precious dew with gold." (clicky)

[Victoria]

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 heard of a liqueur called Goldwasser with gold flakes, and there is even a perfume with gold flakes, but not a tea until now. Heh, you gotta love that it was an OOLONG that was worthy of the GOLD!!
hahaha!!

Ummmm, "precious dew with gold." (clicky)

Hummm copycat!

[Smari]

4 for me

Got results back from the doctor and I can gladly say that I can be back on my Oolongs & Greens again!

I was so overwhelmed with the news, I didn't know what to do brew first. So I just went with something I don't usually have- Moroccan mint tea. I was glad I didn't give away my gunpowder green, else it would've have not been Moroccan lol

[omegapd]

No one is impressed and we know it.

Ain't that the truth...and honestly, when some of you are drinking these long named Asian teas, I have no idea what they are anyway.

Oh also, gold in high enough quantity, is lethal. Somebody told me that was on House last week or so.

Fun topic for today. Think I'll make some Lipton loose leaf with cream and sugar to go when I pick the kids up from school in an hour.

[chad]

I voted 3...I certainly prefer my loose teas, but have an assortment of bags for herbals and flavored teas.

Stocked up on my favorite Pai Mu Tan last evening, but am currently enjoying a darjeeling.

[Chip]

Just finishing a nice session of Yame Gyokuro imported direct from Japan, this is one of those jewels in the rough I was talking about. Really good gyokuro can cost 50, 75, 100 bucks or more per 100 grams. This is gyokuro for a rich man's tastes on a peasant's budget. It is just very good gyokuro for the money. Someone with a 5 on the TeaSnobbery ranking would not be bothered to try it.

NEXT!

[Pentox]

I've actually had a few teas with gold flake in them before. Lupicia offers one called Kaga Gold Leaf, Hibiki-an has their celebration edition teas which come with packets of gold flecks.

Them and all the other products with gold flake in them are just so gimicky. It looks pretty and I guess that's the intent, but meh.

Today's cup. o-cha yame gyokruo. I still think this tea tries so hard to be a good gyo, but it's just struggling and not doing to well.