Thursday TeaDay 8/06/09 Online shopping's best feature?

[Chip]

Greetings TeaChatters and welcome to TeaDay. Please stop by often and share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday we discussed the importance of purchasing versus brewing. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic is from "depravitea." The best part about purchasing tea online is what? Please be sure to share with us.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Shop online where you like, Like where you shop online.

[olivierco]

The best part with tea is actually drinking it.

Ippodo shincha this morning.

[Maitre_Tea]

Sharing information, or getting information from others about teas/tea vendors is probably my "favorite" part of buying tea, because I get to learn from the experience of others about what teas are good/bad and what vendors specialize in what. Compared to some of the high-rollers here, I'm a recent college graduate, so I can't waste time/money on crappy tea. Hearing about others great experiences also eggs me on to buy more tea, and hopefully have that same experience too.

I'm ordering some stuff from The Tea Gallery (finally), after all the good things I've heard about the place and the gushing of some TeaChatters over their experience.

BTW, the worst part of tea shopping is the waiting, especially if it's international and there's tracking. I remember I checked the EMS tracking on my Rikyu order every 5 minutes, hoping that something had happened. I actually had my clock widget on my Mac set to Japanese time, so I can guesstimate when my orders would be processed/sent...

[Trey Winston]

The long awaited first brew of a new tea is the best part for me.

Having some Keemun for a change. 'Tis yummy. Aye, verily.

[Herb_Master]

The best thing about Online tea is? that it is there!

The shopping

The availability, the variety, the new seasons! If it was not available online, I would have to travel hundreds of miles to buy more than 1 decent Oolong or Pu-Erh. To buy a selection who knows how far.

[Drax]

Anticipation sure is wonderful, culminating in the enjoyment of the team. Mmmm, good stuff.

I am certainly anticipating the long queue of teas that I have waiting to try. Yikes! I'm going to be busy for the next few months.

Meanwhile this morning I am continuing w/ yesterday's TKY. Nice solid cup.

[Carl]

Being such a newbie, I can't really say my brewing skills yield a great cup of tea yet, but hopefully persistance will pay off.

At this stage opening the packet of tea, smelling its incredible aroma, seeing the leaf texture and color - it's like being introduced to someone new and having that important first impression. The aroma of some teas straight out of the bag is mind blowing, especially for someone accustomed to tea bag tea.

Can't wait to progress to the 'drinking tea' stage!

[Dreamer]

Ohhhh, another fun topic...I surprised myself with my answer...I picked shopping. I LOVE researching, comparing, determining value and just all the learning around shopping for tea. Since virtually all of my tea shopping is online, even if I am "just doing a reorder", I feel as if I must shop the site and determine if there is something there that must be ordered. I could see this tendency calming as I find more and more faves, except for the fact that every year the tea is new again!

This morning I'm finishing off a nice cup of Vithanakande with my breakfast. Mmmmm, good tea.

I dreamed of matcha last night, so this afternoon, I'm thinking that matcha is on the tea-menu...and since I have to think about it alllllll morning, I'm guessing that it will take two bowls to do the trick...oh, two bowls in two different chawan, oh yeah!!

By the way, welcome to all the new 'chatters...you've come to a fun place!

Drink up,
Dreamer

[Victoria]

For me it's the shopping! The variety online is outstanding. Shopping for teas from all over the world, sitting right at home, is pretty perfect.

(The waiting for delivery ... yeah right!!)

In my cup this morning the beautiful '09 Soom FF Darjeeling, delicious.
One of the few teas from TeaGschwendner that I really have loved.

[Salsero]

For me it's checking out the new tea.

[tea-guy]

I said "The Shopping"... but really what I mean is the abundance of different teas online which would be difficult to locate, order and experience without the prevalence of the internet.

Tea's explosive growth over the last twenty years can lergely be attributed to the internet, even if we discount higher quality standards, better packaging, flavor experimentation and its health properties.

In my cup this morning: Kenyan Black Tea from Stash Tea

[Artemis]

Shopping. I buy almost everything online. Clothes, shoes, tea, etc. etc. I think the allure for me comes from double-gratification. Once when I order it, and once when it arrives in the mail! I think you can get a better high off of online shopping than shopping from brick and mortar stores.

[gingkoseto]

For me it's shopping, and shopping for new tea I am not excited waiting for 2 oolong varieties that I've never had before

I love online shopping. Even when I spend time in Beijing, I do a lot of online shopping for tea an other stuff. People in Beijing would say, "what in the world can't you find in Beijing!" People in NYC would say, "what in the world can't you find in NYC!" As great as these cities are, I don't think any city in the world can offer all. Online shopping opens so many more options and buyers benefit from the competitions among more sellers

[gingkoseto]

Shopping. I buy almost everything online. Clothes, shoes, tea, etc. etc. I think the allure for me comes from double-gratification. Once when I order it, and once when it arrives in the mail! I think you can get a better high off of online shopping than shopping from brick and mortar stores.

Me too! One thing I am still looking for is grocery delivered to door step I buy most of everything else online, even when they have local stores.

[depravitea]

Waiting for the package to be delivered!
Of course I love all the other steps, especially the drinking, and like Herb_Master said, that it's available online, but I like having something to look forward to. Especially these orders from Japan or China where it takes ten to twenty days to get it. It gives me something to look forward to and think about for ten to twenty days.

This morning - Golden Monkey.