Tea Tasting

[Wesli]

ditto

[Mary R]

Seriously...I wish I could compose a picture half as well.

Yay tea!

[Chip]

Dude, even the shadows (normally an enemy in a photo) are cool, like a new sunrise, a new day for a new tea.

Ok, perhaps I read to much into it, but it seriously looks professional.

[Salsero]

All of what Chip said plus: they are properly illuminated and in focus! I'll be standing outside my front door waiting for this tea to arrive.

As for February, I'm toying with the idea of offering a Dan Cong from Imen's collection at Tea Habitat. The only problem is that I'm worried that you bunch of louts might not like it. If you compared the DCs to other teas (IMHO) they generally taste insipid. If you compare them to plain water they are heavenly, a light floral fragrance and some viscosity. I typically start out thinking, "This doesn't taste like anything," but wind up going ten or more infusions. Imen says they are good for 20 to 30 infusions.

Anyone interested in Dan Cong? Otherwise, a light Nilgiri or Ceylon, perhaps something lemony or along the line of darker fruits. Or a new sheng that Hobbes has reviewed favorably.

[Space Samurai]

Thanks very much for the compliments everyone.

I have all the bags measured out and the will be in the post tomorrow. As it is BOP and not much more can be done to it that hasn't already, I don't plan to take much extra care.

I don't want to spoil anything, but....well, you will all see for yoursleves soon enough. Nobody should get thier hopes up to high, just enjoy it for what it is.

Salsero, my vote is for the DC or the sheng pu.

[Chip]

Salsero, my vote is for the DC or the sheng pu.

Ditto, Salsero.

[scruffmcgruff]

I think a dancong would be interesting, especially as I think it is one of the least discussed types of teas here on TeaChat. I seem to recall hers are expensive though, so I guess that's something to consider. (As a side note, Salsero, have you tried any of her aged dancong? I saw she had a sample pack of a couple aged dancongs that I might try on my own someday.)

[Chip]

Good to see you Brent. I hope you join this TEAadventure we are sharing!

Scruff, I saw you old scruff avatar on another forum... seemed like whoever it was had some authority there. ahh...found it.

http://www.tealogist.com/

[Salsero]

have you tried any of her aged dancong?

Assuming we go with Dan Cong, which is starting to look like a consensus, I haven't decided whether to get 2007 or aged.

I got a tasting set from her of 7 '07's and she threw in samples of 2 aged ones. That's a total of 9 teas to try and so far I've only tried 2 of the '07's. The damn things just keep brewing and brewing, always light and ethereal, a little aftertaste, a little viscosity. I haven't really decided on my own level of commitment to DC yet, but it seems like I always have some around. I'm worried that the taste might be too light for our group (heck, it might be too light for me!) I've never had tea so lightly flavored as most of the DCs I've tried. A lot of them remind me of the smell of old fashioned powder laundry detergent. I guess you could call that a clean aroma. Certainly some sort of floral. By comparison all greens and all the whites that I have tried have been strong flavored. That's why I'm thinking maybe the aged will be the way to go, but of course I haven't tasted those yet. I will also seek her advice about choices, but if the aged are good, I could get excited. The aged is also less easily found in the world. Imen is the only place I've heard of aged DC.

I guess I like the DC idea because "trying something new and different" seems to be emerging as one theme of the tastings, and--just as you say, Scruff--DC is one of the least commonly discussed teas in our group. Also, there seems to be some consensus that the DCs that Imen has are actually good examples. I'd hate unwittingly to send out something that was subpar.

Maybe I could host a couple tastings later in the year for the Sheng and the Nilgiri.

[Mary R]

I'm interested in the Dan Cong. I've not tried any yet myself, but am pretty excited about trying new teas (I'm currently in the "MUST...REDUCE...CABINET" phase, and getting a little tired of my same old, same old) as well as trying some of Imen's teas. I've got nothing but respect for her. I didn't know she sold online...does she do that through e-mail?

[Space Samurai]

The tea is in the mail and on the way. I hope you enjoy it.

[Mary R]

http://www.tealogist.com/

God, that forum took FOREVER to load!

In addition to using Scruff's old avatar, they also directly lifted many of the forum types and descriptions straight from TeaChat.

I mean, geez...if you're going to plagiarize, at least TRY to cover it up a bit!

[Salsero]

Yes, talk about parallel universes.

[Salsero]

OK, I've set up a new thread for the February tasting. So far I have down

SPACE
CHIP
SCRUFF
MARY

for Dan Cong. Any other takers, sign up at the new thread or PM me.

[brandon]

I would be happy to do one shortly, but I don't have any great ideas.
Does anyone have some interesting things in mind? I am thinking $20-30 to get enough tea for all takers.