Thursday TeaDay 9/17/09 Brewing for others?

[Chip]

Great TeaDay to all. Please come in and share what is in your cup with us throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed if there was a type of tea we wanted to learn more about. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Would you be comfortable brewing tea for other tea drinkers? Please share your thoughts on this.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Brew what you like, like what you brew.

[depravitea]

Smaller groups, sure. That's all I really have experience with. The people I have brewed tea for I would not call "tea drinkers" though, more like they were being nice/humoring me lol
Bonus: They can't tell if I screw it up

Because I have not yet brewed for a large group doesn't mean I wouldn't give it an honest try.
Too bad there isn't like a TeaChat/Adagio convention or something, where we can all get together and try to impress one another lol...

[Salsero]

I have no fear. I will make a fool of myself in front of multitudes.

[boywoodhe]

Every year I have a few friends over for a tea party.
I brew tea for them all the time,but for only a few friends.

I'm drinking a nice hot cup of a mix of black teas.

[Drax]

I would enjoy brewing for small groups and such.

Of course, you didn't ask if the tea would be good.

Mwhahahahaha!

This morning, in a bit of a rush, so only a quick cup of tea... and hoping this sore throat is from the dry night and allergies....!

[Trey Winston]

The people I have brewed tea for I would not call "tea drinkers" though, more like they were being nice/humoring me

+1. The risk of doing something terribly wrong vanishes when the people you brew it for don't really like tea that much anyway.

Got a new shipment of SN yesterday. And there was much rejoicing.

[brlarson]

I can brew confidently for small groups for almost all of the teas that I keep, except for dancong -- every time that I've brewed dancong for more than two people I have ``screwed the pooch'' to be blunt.

I use different vessels when brewing for four and some of them require that I alter the brewing parameters. The most dramatic difference is with my Hokujo, which requires a reduction in brewing time to two-thirds of what I would normally use.

More of Jing's Tie Luo Han for breakfast today.

[Intuit]

Unless I were to join a tea club locally, brewing for a larger group has a near zero probability of occurrence. Maybe if we step into a tea-oriented Alternate Universe Reality... I chose 'a few' because it might happen if I were to make tea for family.

Dimbulla Region Estate Ceylon in my cup.

[olivierco]

I have no fear. I will make a fool of myself in front of multitudes.

+1

Kabusecha in a few minutes.

[Maitre_Tea]

My level of confidence refers more to the ability to produce tasty tea; however, if we're talking about the ceremony and pomp of the gong fu cha ceremony, that might be a different issue. Although I'm quite aware of the steps and procedures, I lack grace in the motions.

If I were brewing for people who really knew their stuff and expected the whole formal ceremony, than I might be in trouble.

No tea this morning...maybe some Li-Shan later on though

[gingkoseto]

Sure!
Large group - glasses and grandpa style for everyone!
Small group - maybe some gongfu style.

The real problem is, in my lonely tea life, I don't often see people who would sacrifice themselves and let me serve them

[fweever]

Yes, I usually offer tea to my weekly group of friends who come to visit. I love that the kids will try my tea, when usually people assume children don't like to try new things. I usually make kids a milky, sweet, flavorful chai or peppermint. While the adults are happy to try whatever I brought home from the tea store that week. (except one friend who has decaf coffee-- brings her own.)

This morning I made "Juicy Melon" which is an Oolong tea, blended with licorice root and flavored with sweet melon. Unfortunately, it didn't taste as good at home as it did in the tea shop. I guess I need to work on my brewing...

[geeber1]

I don't know if I'm comfortable enough with my brewing to make tea for strangers, but family members are usually a captive audience!

More Black Dragon Pearls at home this morning, followed by Ceylon Sonata at work.

Is anyone else experiencing Salsero Tea Photo Withdrawal? I'm going to have to get on Facebook for a fix!

[Victoria]

I feel comfortable now, brewing for as many as come. I have brewed for a lot of people lately it seems, if they come over I'm usually brewing.

The last of my TeaSource Vintage Wiry today. Sad.
I will miss this one.

[JazzNGreenTea]

I feel comfortable bringing a few close friends over and brewing them some tea. Most of them are not regular tea drinkers, so I don't feel pressure to be perfect. I just warn them that it may not come out great, but we can always try again if they don't like it. I also have teabags available for those that are very picky. I usually tell everyone a little bit about the particular teas I have at that time, and everyone likes to ask some questions, take a sniff of the dry leaves, ask about tea ware, etc.

For me, it's more about spending some time talking over a cup of tea, and sharing something with them that they are unfamiliar with. Most of the time everyone enjoys the experience even if my brewing is imperfect.