Thursday TeaDay 12/11/08 A new tea horizon this year?

[Charlotte]

Charlotte, I don't drink herbal teas either. At least not by themselves. It just seems pointless to me. It's kinda like drinking decaf coffee or non alcoholic beer. LOL

Cofftea - you are funny! I always thought it was because I didn't like the hibiscus leaves and those are in most teas they make.

[chamekke]

This year represents the first time I tried gyokuro (merci bien, Olivier!) as well as a much broader range of Chinese greens and oolongs.

Not to mention a certain Georgian Old Gentleman Now that's exotic!

Oh yes!! Chamekke, you reminded me - speaking of exotic!!! I forgot all about my trip to Hawaii and getting to try HAWAIIAN grown tea. That was something I never expected to get to try - even more unexpected to get to go there and try it right on the plantation owner's porch!

And you shared some with me... I'm sorry I forgot to mention it That was truly exotic, too! Thank you!

[kongni]

I have definitely learned a lot about the subtle and not so subtle differences between Japanes greens thanks to everyone here at TeaChat

Cup of good ol' English breakfast now...

[Cofftea]

Cofftea - you are funny! I always thought it was because I didn't like the hibiscus leaves and those are in most teas they make.

Oh there are tisanes that I won't drink even w/ true tea added or true teas I won't drink because of the flavor, but even if it's a flavor I love I always add true tea. Just my personal ideosyncrocy. And I probably spelled that wrong, spelling is not my forte.

[Janine]

I forgot all about my trip to Hawaii and getting to try HAWAIIAN grown tea. That was something I never expected to get to try - even more unexpected to get to go there and try it right on the plantation owner's porch!

Hello Victoria. Could you please tell me... was this on the Big Island... on the Hilo side?

Edit: And for the curious, what is the Georgian tea like?

[laran7]

I'm trying to enjoy a cup of jasmine oolong. It's like drinking perfume. Looks like it, too, come to think of it.

Hi Drax - when I first tried Jasmine tea -it was like drinking perfumed soap!!
(Blech -)

but I bought an instant read thermometer ( finally) , and paid attention
to the brewing directions - temparature and time - and the flowery part of the taste was somewhat toned done to something more interesting. It was the most dramatic taste change I've experienced with different brewing attempts.

Not everyone gets that flowery taste - I also have a similiar problem using lavendar in cooking.

This has been a dramatic year in terms of tea adventures for me - first and formost Matcha , then the Jasmine -

Today in my cup - Throat Comfort because I'm home sick, and Darjeeling, later.

[Victoria]

I forgot all about my trip to Hawaii and getting to try HAWAIIAN grown tea. That was something I never expected to get to try - even more unexpected to get to go there and try it right on the plantation owner's porch!

Hello Victoria. Could you please tell me... was this on the Big Island... on the Hilo side?

Yes, Hilo side. The plantation is called Onomea - you can see some pics and read about it here:
http://onotea.com/index.php?option=com_ ... 4&Itemid=2

But don't get your hopes set on trying any. They have been selling out each harvest and never seem to have enough left to sell online.

[Pentox]

But don't get your hopes set on trying any. They have been selling out each harvest and never seem to have enough left to sell online.

Or just know really cool people.

[trent]

All of it was made much more interesting because the week before I'd been shown a brewing method using layers of different sizes of tea leaf... which I am going to have to start to try now at home.

What method is this? it sounds interesting

[Janine]

Trent -- this webpage seems to have loads of information, and also describes the layering of tea leaf sizes

http://www.terebess.hu/english/yixing1.html

[Riene]

I expanded my tea horizons a bit this year--ordered things from Adagio, discovered and completely fell in love with Yunnan Gold, heard of Pu Ehr for the first time and actually tried some.

Drinking a post-dinner cup of Ceylon right now.

[kymidwife]

I think I interpreted the question a bit differently than the majority of respondents.

Yes... I have had many new tea experiences this year. I learned how to properly brew greens (which I initially didn't like because of bitterness... MY fault); I made my first online tea purchases, including some international purchases from Japan and India; I brewed in something besides an IngenuiTea-style vessel and have sorta tried gongfu; I own much more teawares; I tasted my first oolongs, single estate darjeelings, Japanese greens, and pu erh. Lots of new experiences, to be sure.

Am I surprised by any of it? Nope. I always wanted and intended to try any and every type of tea I could get my hands on. I'm not surprised in the least at my tea adventures, or the fact that I've tried and enjoyed so many new things.

In my cup this morning was Jasmine Needles, a lovely sample gift I got from Adagio... which I think I like quite a bit better than the dragon pearls. The jasmine taste was so light and subtle. It was delicious. I have some Dragon Eye Oolong brewing now, and it smells delish.

Happy Tea Day,

Sarah

[Chip]

Thinking about this today, perhaps my horizons have been fortified with gyokuro. But I am hardly surprised by this.

Speaking of which, I had gyokuro's sister, Tencha from Pentox. This was an interesting experience as usual since the leaf refuses to be submersed. But it is quite good, but likely better for grinding into matcha.

Mugi/genmai/sencha karigane blend to finish the TeaDay.

[murrius]

Much newness this year. Oolong, black teas (darjeeling, yunnan golden tips, nilgiri)..... but most of all I ventured into Chinese greens from my Japanese senchas.

Today Longjing +++

[TaiPing Hou Kui]

Not so much for me....I have been sticking to my Japanese greens and my whites and an occasional dose of Pu..........currently I am drinking some Awacha.

-Nick