Thursday TeaDay 10/22/09 Teaware phobe?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay everyone. Please come share what is in your cup with us throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed new vendors that we were contemplating. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Again a step further today, perhaps? Is there a Teaware type, general or specific, that is "out of the comfort zone" for you, that you have wanted to try, but have not yet for some reason? Please share some details.

I am looking forward to sharing this TeaDay with everyone.

[Drax]

I said "maybe," assuming that comfort zone could include cost. I don't own any tokoname or tetsubin. At this point, I have all the teaware I need, and I'd rather spend on tea than teaware, so I guess cost is my phobia!

This morning, I'm trying out the vanilla green from Adagio. I think I'm going to have to play with the brewing parameters on this one. . . .

[Herb_Master]

I suppose that cost and liquidity have prevented me pursuing all avenues, but otherwise not!

My Garden is a scene of desolation, flowers and leaves dying back, and the fallen leaves from every tree in the neighbourhood have blown my way!

But a 'mum' that flowered in Spring has decided to brighten up one corner with a late 2nd burst.



and a late showing on my 'Madame Isaac Perriere' rose has attracted an equally late visitor.



In my cup this morning
Teance - Da Hong Pao

[kymidwife]

I have to agree with the first two responders... price is my only source of anxiety for exploring teaware. I really want some good quality clay pots for oolongs, but I still feel too uncertain about what to buy, where to buy it, which tea to use with what pot, and how much is reasonable and practical to spend for decent results.

I also worry that my palate is not refined enough to appreciate subtle differences, and I'll not be pleased if I spend 100+ USD for a pot that doesn't significantly improve the taste of my tea. I own a couple of tiny pots from eBay which are total el-cheapo early journey purchases, and I never use them... they just serve as decoration. I have one larger yixing which seems to be of decent quality but doesn't seem to enhance the taste of my tea at all.

I am holding out hope that the TeaChat special offers will dip into yixing territory at some point. For now, it just leaves me with no choice other than to spend my teaware $$ on Hagi special offers!

Adagio TKY in my cup this morning.

Sarah

[brlarson]

I don't like to have a lot of gear and I have enough right now. That and price are both limiting factors, but I have no teaware-specific phobias.

Traditional DHP in my this morning.

[geeber1]

I'm limited mostly by cost and and also wondering if I really need so much stuff to enjoy my tea.

Three Brothers in my cup this morning.

[Victoria]

No, not for me. I like having many various ways to brew. I have pretty much tried it all, nothing holds me back. Obviously to the extent of my collection, I guess. There are two schools of thought on this I guess. As Geeber states you don't need all this to enjoy tea. But yeah, it does make it more enjoyable, at least the preparing.

Darjeeling oolong in my cup this morning in my new lidded cup.
Loving it!

Beautiful flowers Herb Master!!

[JBaymore]

Like others, the "disposable income" factor is certainly there 100%.

I am lucky relative to teawares however, in that I am involved professionally in the pottery world at a relatively decent level..... and have many friends that make great teawares (many in Japan). Between gifts and trading pieces, this allows me the luxury of having some wares that are way, WAY out of my economic range. (example...... $800 yunoimi......etc.)

As an artist, the aesthetics of the utilization of day-to-day objects and how that can enrich the tea experience (and life in general) is very high on my list of "heiarchy of importance" life functions. So for example, for me it is not only about how the pot actually brews the tea (we can spend hours talking about the technicalities of Banko clay! ), but how it functions in handling, and how the surface, form, and color works in relation to each other as well as with the other objects in the surroundings. How light plays off the form. How the warmth moves thru the walls of the piece. The sound of the lid clicking into place. So therefore the artistic aspects of teawares become important in the economic valuation equation. Really great wares are expensive for a reason.... a true synthesis of form and function...... and typically are outside my meager artist's economic firepower.

An equally big factor for me is "disposable time". Exploring teawares well outside my existing "knowledge base" will require a large investment of time to do well...... and the factor of time in my life now seems to be getting in shorter and shorter supply.

So I have to make decisions at this point in life about whether to go broader in diversity, or deeper into specialization. I have pretty much spent my life studying Japanese related arts and culture. It is not only a personal passion but also informs aspects of my profession. So while at a certain level I would really like to know more about Chinese tea and teawares, it is likely that the totally cursory knowledge I have about it relative to the historical importation of tea culture into Japan is about where it is going to stay.

Whew..... that got long.

best,

..................john

[Chip]

I am enjoying the posts already!

Yixing is a source of buyer anxiety for me, so much I do not understand about it. It is never simple, like a Kyusu, just look, find one I like, buy. Simple. Still, one day ... I am just not confident in my knowledge and fear being taken for a ride!

Having said that, ironically Banko Kyusu is second on my list. It is quite variable in price, artisan, clay. A lot of variables that I am not quite comfortable with considering they can easily fetch several hundred dollars. That and the big debate on even the merits of the Banko clay, does it really enhance the existing flavor of the tea, and is it necessary to even enhance in this way?

Began the TD with Hatsumi from O-Cha ... heh ... brewed up in a simple Momiji kyusu from O-Cha costing around 35 USD. The thing is even glazed. So, the tea had to perform on its own with no help from "magic clay." SweeTea joined in while Wulong, TEAh, Pyrit, Gandalf, and Fuji crowded the TeaTable.

[olivierco]

No limit as long as I don't have to sell my house.
I have some nice items (Gyokusendo) on my list but I have other non tea related items on that list too.

Otsuusan sencha right now.

[depravitea]

My comfort zone runs directly parallel with my budget, the only time I'm not comfortable buying something is if it costs too much at that time.

[the nub]

For the moment, price is the deciding factor. The other is, how much counter space I have. I don't have a cupboard for my tea ware so it all sits on my kitchen counter.

Drinking Pacific Monkey King green tea this morning.

[gingkoseto]

Price is the only factor that defines my comfort zone for tea ware

This topic reminds me of an ebay listing I watched last week. Obviously, some people have very large price comfort zone
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... K:MEWAX:IT

[gingkoseto]

For the moment, price is the deciding factor. The other is, how much counter space I have.

You said it! I forgot about the counter space! Probably it's time to apply the "wardrobe policy" of my girlfriend's - for every piece in, there must be a piece out

[Intuit]

Price, need, space - determine my desire for teaware. Apart from functionality, I also find pleasure in the aesthetics of well-crafted pieces.

FTL's Wuyi in my cup to end the morning. Lightly roasted Anxi TKY now in my early afternoon cup.