Wednesday TeaDay 6/24/09 how many ... TEA vendors?

[Chip]

Trying to see if we're asleep at the wheel, chipster?
Or maybe you have a fur-ball that's bothering you???

Moi???

Hmmm, I just remembered also, I have participated in a bunch of tastings this year too with members. I guess I am well over 18 vendors.

Opened a new tea, first time ever I tried a Maeda-en tea. Gyokuro Grower's Select. I am generally pretty nervous trying a "new vendor for me," especially when it is a gyokuro.

I brewed this a little "soft" for the very first trial before I go full throttle. It was actually pretty good considering it was my first crack at it.

[Intuit]

Inositol appears to be a useful supplement for curbing obsessive-compulsive behaviors. *devilish grin*

Maybe you should add Hydrangea tea (a Japanese tradition, no less) to your tea-panopoly.

[Chip]

I actually have a sample of Hydrangea "tea" around here from Hankook. I am not really BIG on herbals, but may give it a try when I hit 30 vendors this year. Orrrr, I may not want the cure

[Ron Gilmour]

So far, I've received tea from six vendors: NadaCha, Tao of Tea, Adagio, Upton, Mellow Monk, and Twinings. (Yes, I actually mail-order from Twinings. It's the only way I can get Prince of Wales loose.) I'm happy to report that both service and product have been excellent from all of these vendors. This was my first order from Mellow Monk and I'm very pleased with the two grades of sencha I ordered.

Just today I placed my first order with Tea Emporium to get some of that Castleton Moonlight that everyone is going on about. I can hardly wait!

[brlarson]

10 vendors for me:
* O-Cha
* Teaspring
* Hibiki-an
* Upton
* Adagio
* Jing
* Zencha
* Sugimoto
* Ippodo
* Maiko

The most memorable were from Zencha -- but I haven't yet brewed Sugimoto's Temomi. My greatest expectations are for Jing's semi-wild Wu Dong dancong.

Bruce

[Cinnamon Kitty]

Voted 3 because I forgot about one until I read through other people's lists. Den's, Adagio, O-Cha, and New Mexico Tea Co are all I remember at the moment that I have ordered from so far in 2009. The tea gifts that I have received might count for at least one more, but as they are gifts I am not quite sure of where they are from exactly.

Just finished off some Earl Grey from the NM Tea Co. I keep getting a sweetness from this tea that I generally don't find in the other Earl Greys that I have tried. It is delicious and works well with the Bergamot.

[silvermage2000]

Not quite sure.

[kymidwife]

OK I voted 6 but that's wrong... already thought of another.

Adagio (various blends, nepal FF)
Den's (Fukamidori, Sakura Sencha)
Hibiki-an (Karigane sampler and some green teabags)
O-Cha (YM, Fuka, Genmaicha extra green, kiri no mori, and 2 kinds of green tea bags)
Tea Emporium (Castleton Moonlight, Marg Hope FF, Sungma FF, Marg Hope White, Puttabong FF, Balasun FF, Rohini Emerald Green)
TeaHome - various oolong samples
TeafromTaiwan - various oolong samples

I'm sure I've left out some stuff... but that's 7 that I can think of. Plus various samples from tea-friends and the oolong box and the Sig Blend box.

In my cup this morning and tonight... I got a wild bug up my skirt and blended some Bond Street English Breakfast from Upton... OMG that stuff brewed up soooo strong. I used 2 tsp for 12 oz, 2 minutes just under a boil... so strong I had to make iced tea from that... 2nd infusion still strong but I drank it before work... and now 3rd steep still has a kick. The leaves are very broken, and I'd forgotten how much heavier the brew can be when the leaves are not whole. Wow. But actually a nice flavor, once I tamed it.

Happy Tea Day,

Sarah