Monday TeaDay 08/10/09 TeaJourney, yes or no?

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends. Please come in and share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday we took a break from discussing tea and discussed movies instead. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. You have come so far in your TeaJourney. Have you ever thought "heck with it," and just wanted to get back to basics? Please share your thoughts.

I am as always looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Choose your TeaJourney, TeaJourney your choice.

[Drax]

Maybe? I'm not sure what constitutes 'basics.' I guess there's two things, the tea itself, and methods of brewing. I don't use any fancy method to brew, and I'm still enjoying 'basic' teas (oolong, pu'erh, black, green)... okay, there's kombucha. I've stocked up on a lot of pu'erh, but that's mostly for the long-haul. Hmmm.

In any case, this morning I'm trying Adagio's Jasmine #9. Hmmmm.

[olivierco]

I always keep my tea drinking and brewing simple, even with expensive tea or teaware.

Otsuusan sencha in a few minutes.

[clareandromeda]

I need to stop spending all my cash on teaware! so yes I need to go back to the basics a bit!

[Salsero]

I am already pretty basic: LEAF + WATER = TEA.

[brlarson]

I'm happy with where I am along my TeaJourney. Teaware is under control and I have different teas to satisfy depending on whim and the time and effort that I can put into them.

Jing's traditional Shui Xian this morning. Takumi late last night.

[gingkoseto]

I am not sure. But does it count "back to basic" that from time to time I would like to buy cheap tea and grocery store novelty tea and find out their difference (or similarity) to some expensive tea. A lot of my cheap purchases end up unfinished (maybe eventually entering my tea pillow) but I did find a couple of nice ones at very low cost

This is a cheap grocery da hong pao that I found quite decent
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Tjz7-dt8PhM/S ... %B0%B4.JPG

(image not in good dimensions)

[depravitea]

Yes. Less is more.
The simpler the better, in all things, for me anyway.
Which might be why I use a gaiwan for EVERYTHING.

This morning Floating Leaves' House Oolong. I'll be sad when it's gone.

[Zanaspus]

I attempt to do this daily.

[Maitre_Tea]

I think it'd be impossible to go back at this point. It's like having tasted the sweet fruit of the forbidden garden, and then just forgetting about it...

Not gonna happen with me

I wish I could brew more easily, and with less expensive tea, but I know too much now. Sure, I can brew more easily, but I'd probably lament how I wouldn't bring out the best flavors if I brewed it more simply. If I drink cheap and crappy loose leaf (or worse, bagged!) tea, I'd probably lament how good my teas used to taste

It's a one way road, this Tea Journey, and there's no turning back now

[leiche2]

I don't think so. I keep it pretty simple. Water, tea leaves, a brewing vessel, and a cup from which to drink. I have a selection of all these things because I like variety, but I admit that they are extraneous.

Enjoying a second steep of some Oolong #8 while working on a thesis proposal here at school.

[Victoria]

I'm really pretty basic already and more ceremonial when I want to be. I've never wanted to go back to anything less than I am doing now, no.

My morning cup was Japanese Black Koucha. Currently TQY from Camellia Sinensis and struggling to resist the urge to buy Jing Tea Shop's 2009 offering. I fear I shall fail, I have had it on the brain thanks to Gingko. TQY is calling me now. Hello???

[sriracha]

Yesterday was pretty basic; I spent the day in the archipelago, at the christening of my best friend's sister's first child. After the ceremony we relocated to their house where tea/coffee and cake was served in the meadow. Tea in this case was bagged Earl Grey in small plastic cups.

I was a bit depressed at first but after a couple of hours of being there, chatting with people I'd not seen for a while I(and my friends who are almost as tea crazy as me) sort of settled in and enjoyed the tea for what it was, passing tea bags from one cup to another to get all we could get out of it. All in all a very fine day.

In general it varies from day to day how simple I want to keep my 'tea-ing'; from measuring the tea in grams and waiting for water to reach desired temperatures to dumping some tea in a filter, popping it in a pot and pouring boiling water over it. Straining-whenever.

[Herb_Master]

I am already pretty basic: LEAF + WATER = TEA.

That tin bears a strong resemblance to a couple of tins that I got from Rich Barbarian!

Have you been drinking Tie Guan Yin lately?

[tea fish]

I haven't had much time to get all sophistimacated with tea and teaware. Like others, I kind of like where I am--gaiwan, serving pitcher, fishy cups, basic tray, some tasty and not super pricey oolong. It's all making me saner, I think.