Tuesday TeaDay 10/20/09 Vendor comfort zoning?

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends. Please come in and share with us what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed comfort zone purchasing of TEA. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Currently what percentage of your tea VENDOR choices for actual purchases are made in your "comfort zone" of tea VENDORS you already know you enjoy, versus taking risk with VENDORS you do not "know?"

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

[Drax]

Hrm, although my tea purchases were 20/80, my vendor purchases are (now) more like 70 familiar / 30 unfamiliar. Of course just a year it ago, it was 0 familiar / 100 unfamiliar! At this point, I do tend to go to vendors that I've tried before, but I still seek out new ones.

This morning, still hanging with a huang shan. I guess I could say that I'm still huanging?

Mwhahaha.

[Trey Winston]

I guess I could say that I'm still huanging?

I'm around 80 familiar/20 unfamiliar. If it works, don't fix it etc. Or more specifically, if it mainly works, don't fix it more than a little.

Having some run-of-the-mill sencha today.

[gingkoseto]

I would say 100%. I can't think of a tea vendor I dealt with that is bad. There are a couple of them that I like less, but over all they are all nice

[Victoria]

Oh vendors ... I'm 90% in now. Now I have found my favorites and what I consider the best, so I don't look much further anymore.

In my cup this morning Adagio Black Pearls ... arrrr.
I should probably break down and buy this instead of
working off samples, huh? Ayeeee.

[geeber1]

I voted 90/10 on this one. It helps that people here on TeaChat give "fair and impartial" reviews of vendors - it makes it easier to find good ones.

Iced Adagio Cinnamon this morning. I had to work early and didn't have time to make the hot stuff!

[Intuit]

70/30.

Ceylon Estate in my cup.

[Chip]

I really make an effort to stay at around 50:50. I have so many vendors yet to try. When I make comments about vendors, I want it to be with objectivity formed by trying as many vendors as possible ... though I presently focus on vendors of Japanese greens primarily.

Began the TD with Hatsumi from a "comfort zone" vendor, O-Cha. Tea was largely interupted by a game of hide and seek with a "missing" Lili the cat. Lili was found when she wanted to be. The Hatsumi was enjoyed in Biwa Hagi.

[Mrs. Chip]

Tea was largely interupted by a game of hide and seek with a "missing" Lili the cat. Lili was found when she wanted to be. The Hatsumi was enjoyed in Biwa Hagi.

Not sure if she wanted to run away 'inside the house', but like Chip said was found when she wanted us to find her! The chaos continued as her brothers and sisters decided it was a good time to run around the house trying to help us 'find her'.

Tea was very tasty, brewed perfectly, but not quite as relaxing as our normal morning tea. Well, there is always tomorrow morning.

Have a TEArrific TeaDay all!

[brlarson]

70% in / 30% out. I am very vendor-sensistive. I shop hard for new ones, but when I add one I will buy almost anything from them without hesitation, and I will buy from them on a regular basis to establish a relationship and a history with them. There are new vendors that I'd like to try but I won't be buying more tea until springtime.

Hibiki-an premium sencha is in my cup this morning.

[thirtysixbelow]

90% in 10% out. I'm still exploring all the teas available by the vendors I'm most comfortable with. Once I have explored everything I might venture out a little more.

[chicagopotter]

I'm running about 10 in/90 out. Still testing the waters to find the handful I'd like to stick with for a while. Getting kinda tired of samples, would like to just hunker down and get about 5 or so teas I really like for the winter.

Oh...the mailman just delivered my new Hagi!!!

[clareandromeda]

Hey there, been awhile. I buy from O-cha and the Ito-en store.I loooooove them. I was strolling arounf China Town and wandered into the Ten Ren Shop and was not thrilled with the original service I got (a woman brushing me off). When I started asking educated questions a man came over and gave me info on temp and brewing time. It was my first chinese green and I'm not crazy about it. Could just be that I've been spoiled by shincha and gyo and am not open minded enough.

[Chip]

Oh...the mailman just delivered my new Hagi!!!

Did someone say Hagi?

Kool. I have several newbies soaking at the moment!

[olivierco]

90% in 10% out.

Otsuusan sencha in a few minutes.