Friday TeaDay 8/14/09 Too much TeaWare variety?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay everyone. I hope you will honor us with your presence on TeaDay. Please share what is in your cup ...

Yesterday we discussed can too much TEA variety be a bad thing. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Yesterday we discussed TEA, today it is TEAWARE. Can too much TEAWARE variety be a bad thing? If so, then when? If not, why not?

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone. Enjoy the TeaWare variety you have, have the TeaWare variety you enjoy.

[Salsero]

Too much? That's the craziest idea I ever heard of! Bring Chip back NOW!

An inexpensive Darjeeling from The Simple Leaf that really came to life when I brewed it gong fu! Potential disaster was averted only because I had exactly the right size, color, weight, and thickness of gaiwan to brew it with!

[amarie]

It's a bad thing when you start running out of cabinet space to store it all in...

Orange Rooibos right now.

[Maitre_Tea]

I'm a huge adherent to using the appropriate tea ware for the appropriate tea. Even though I realize that you can brew tea in whatever vessel you choose, I love using the "authentic" tea ware that is mean to be used with a particular tea. I'm in love with all the elaborate equipment that is associated with the Gong Fu Cha ceremony, although I don't have the space nor the money in invest in such an elaborate set-up.

One can dream though, right?

[olivierco]

There is obviously a limit for me as I try to use all my teaware at least once in a month. I think I am very close to this limit concerning Japanese teaware although there might be some room left for yunomi.

Himalaya gold this morning.

[Drax]

Hah, yes, I agree with amarie -- you might eventually run out of space to be able to hold it out. Or perhaps your wallet might not survive either. How about your sanity? Hmm, and time to hire a maid to clean it all (it only takes 1 year, so it will keep him or her busy year round).

Unfortunately (?) it seems that 'variety' is getting swamped out by the problem of 'quantity' for both tea and teaware. On the positive side, it's absolutely wonderful to have so many choices. . .

Speaking of choices, I still appear to be choosing to be lazy and not push forward with all the other teas I need to be trying (speaking of variety)... I'm stuck on this yunnan green. It's a bit more astringent that I would prefer, even a low temp and low steep times. . . I can't imagine having brewed it at the recommended 2-3 minutes.

[J.]

I'd say, yes maybe.

Too much teaware takes place, and place is missing where I live.
But a lot a teaware can be great, you can choose.

I think we need at least a pitcher, 1 gaiwan to brew chinese teas and 1 kyusu for the japanese teas, without that, it's unpossible to enjoy teas easily.

[leiche2]

Never! Variety is awesome. There's always the option of getting rid of pieces that you once loved but no longer use, or for which you no longer have space. I've done that a few times.

Just some bagged Twinings Irish Breakfast for me today (brewed with coffee-water, blech!), as I'm packing up and getting ready to go back home.

[Mrs. Chip]

I'm a huge adherent to using the appropriate tea ware for the appropriate tea. Even though I realize that you can brew tea in whatever vessel you choose, I love using the "authentic" tea ware that is meant to be used with a particular tea.

I agree Maitre_Tea!
The love of tea gradually encompasses the love of teawares.

Specific teas demand specific teawares as an enhancement to the whole TeaExperience. But as Maitre_Tea noted, you can brew and drink in the vessels of your choice, and you do not need to own lots to enjoy your teas.

That said, however, it is great to be able to brew Japanese Greens in a kyusu of your choice, then to pick out a Seigan or Deishi guinomi or yunomi to enjoy the brewed tea completes the teaware experience.

And when we get to use a vintage or new gyokuro set, it certainly allows us to appreciate the whole experience from brewing to drinking.

Too much, NEVER, I really love all the functional eye-candy we own ... and have on it's way.

Have a TEArrific TeaDay everyone and continue to share your teas with us today! Currently in my cup, my old standby Kukicha w/ matcha.
.

[Riene]

Um, yeah, I'm running out of cabinet space, and Himself gives me the look when I see another teapot I like...

[Teasing]

Is there ever too much of a good thing?

[depravitea]

Definitely too much.
I've simplified what I used down to a few essentials. The rest is in a cuppord to give away to friends I convert to tea, or to find a use for somewhere along the line...

I mostly use my trusty gaiwan, the little bay yixing I got a couple months ago, and a cup or two.

[Victoria]

NEVER too much TEAWARE variety! Too little storage space, but never too many choices. I enjoy the variety of it.

Started the day with Koucha Japanese Black, getting ready to brew a
promising TQY from a TC swap.

Have a nice day everyone!

[tea-guy]

I do not think so. I like having a bountiful supply of new stuff to taste and play with.


In my cup this day: Orange Ginger Mint tea from Republic of Tea

[sriracha]

Noo! Never!

Being able to choose the right cup/pot to make and enjoy the tea adds immensely to the experience.
I bought lunch at a sushi place today, the food was good, the tea free but so weak I'm not even sure whether it was genmaicha, bancha or something else. But the cup I drank from was really nice, a small-ish yunomi with a smooth but sort of sandy glaze, sort of red.

Imagine drinking this same watery tea from a plastic cup? Dreadful...

In my own, brand-new Lucky Star collectible yunomi is genmaicha, I had to compensate that weak tea with something brewed the right way. =)