Wednesday TeaDay 8/05/09 Purchasing or brewing?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay you. Please come in and share what is your cup today.

Yesterday we discussed TeaZone purchasing. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. So, we just discussed purchasing and brewing, however ... which do you personally find more important to finding the "perfect" cup of tea? Please share your thoughts.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Purchase/brew as you like, like as you purchase/brew!

[depravitea]

I'm going to have to go with "I think purchasing."
When it comes to bags, I can "brew no wrong" If it's bitter, steep it less next time, problem solved. Brewing skills can be learned no matter the product, it just takes time.
However, I've noticed when it comes to cheap tea (I don't necessarily mean monetarily) that the best steeped cup, bagged or loose, while decent enough, cannot hold a candle to a better, fresher, tea.
I'm really not trying to get into the whole bagged vs loose war, I'm simply saying, in my opinion, there are good and bad teas, both bagged and loose, and quality counts. Though I think I tend to find better teas in the loose category. In my opinion, the less it's processed, the better. There are always exceptions, of course.

Well, it's after midnight here, I'm glass brewing a no name green with a few mint leaves tossed in there, and watching Krull. Think it's time to crash though...

[sriracha]

I voted for 50/50 brewing/buying.
It's equally important to me to find something I like and then learn to brew it properly, what is required to make a good cup. Then you kan vary the parameters and still get what you need at any given time.

Know your tea. A thermometer really makes a big difference, too. ^^

Today began with silver needles as I was planning to have matcha after breakfast. I opened my Kiri no Mori can and it's really something else, compared to my ujinotsuyu horror...ooh creamy. There's a hint of some vegetable in there I can't quite identify. very good. And if this is cheap matcha I'm really starting to wonder what it might be like to pay a little more... :O

Very happy with this for now, though. =)

the less it's processed, the better

Amen to that. Applicable to anything edible, really. I won't eat food that has to be cooked in a microwave oven, ready-made canned meals and am wary of food that's been kept hot for too long. It feels dead, tastes dead and is most likely not very good for you.

[Drax]

I voted for 50/50 as well, but it seems that once you find a 'good vendor' (which there are plenty), you have plenty of 'good teas' to choose from -- and the next step is to make sure you can brew them properly.

This morning, I'm having a ti kuan yin from special teas... it has a nice, soothing greenness with a barley-like background.

[olivierco]

Clearly purchasing is most important for me.
Brewing tea isn't difficult and in case of doubt you can always get good advice on Teachat

Organic gyokuro (o-cha) this afternoon. Good gyokuro for an organic one.

[sriracha]

once you find a 'good vendor'

That for me is one whose taste in teas approximates mine to some degree, it's like record reviewers, you trust them because they seem to seek the same thing as you in music.

=)

[brlarson]

Purchasing is the most important factor. If purchasing was done well, then all that remains to produce an excellent cup is to brew it properly. However, you cannot brew an excellent cup from tea that doesn't have the potential.

Jing's traditional Shui Xian this morning.

[Herb_Master]

Purchasing is the most important factor. If purchasing was done well, then all that remains to produce an excellent cup is to brew it properly. However, you cannot brew an excellent cup from tea that doesn't have the potential.

+1
My sentiments completely!

[shogun89]

Id say purchasing. "one cannot make a teabag taste good".

[Victoria]

Purchasing is the most important factor. If purchasing was done well, then all that remains to produce an excellent cup is to brew it properly. However, you cannot brew an excellent cup from tea that doesn't have the potential.

+1
My sentiments completely!

+2
It's all about buying quality tea.

In my cup this morning: A lovely tea from Nepal via France:
Saphir Himalaya - Spring flush 2009 from Mariage Frères
Wow, this is fabulous! Thanks Olivier!

[Trey Winston]

+2
It's all about buying quality tea.

+3.
I concur.

Sencha galore today.

[olivierco]

In my cup this morning: A lovely tea from Nepal via France:
Saphir Himalaya - Spring flush 2009 from Mariage Frères
Wow, this is fabulous! Thanks Olivier!

I am glad you liked it.

Otsuusan sencha this afternoon.

[gingkoseto]

I vote for "of course purchasing". Brewing is important, but never as important as purchasing/where to obtain the tea.

[Victoria]

In my cup this morning: A lovely tea from Nepal via France:
Saphir Himalaya - Spring flush 2009 from Mariage Frères
Wow, this is fabulous! Thanks Olivier!

I am glad you liked it.

It's the bomb!!!!

In my cup currently iced Magnolia Oolong from TeaSource.
Running the A/C already, the building was 81 degrees inside
when I got to work.

[Carl]

Hello.

New here, and thanks to Chip able to come online.

I've just started the tea journey, but have been reading the forum for a few days and gaining information and enjoying the posts. Today I'm drinking Kagoshima Sencha Sae Midori. Each brewing session is a new experience as my 'technique' is still under development.

So far the process of exploring tea and teaware has been both invigorating and calming. It's great to have so many helpful and enthusiastic travellers to show the way (or ways!)

Kind regards,
Carl