Wednesday TeaDay 10/28/09 Passion, Hobby, Beverage, Habit?

[Chip]

Greetings everyone and welcome to TeaDay! Please come in and share what is in your cup with us throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed unfavorable flavors. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Reading the replies as of late made me wonder, how would you BEST describe your "relationship" to tea? Passion, hobby, beverage, habit? Please share why.

I am looking forward to sharing our interest in tea, today. Bottoms up.

[olivierco]

I would say "Beverage, I drink it because I like it and it is wet" but if I consider the opinions of my relatives and friends, it might be a little more than that...

Kanro gyokuro this morning.

[Drax]

One person's hobby is another person's obsession. In this case, I would call my interest in tea a hobby, as I enjoy it for relaxing. But like olivierco, others around me might choose a different category...

This morning, I am trying some Pumpkin Spice from Adagio... sample tin came free with my last order. I'm not a huge fan of flavored teas, but I thought it might be nice to try w/ the harvest season.... and it being free.

[JBaymore]

You missed the most obvious choice: addiction!

best,

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

[Victoria]

Most definitely -
Passion, a strong or extravagant fondness, enthusiasm, or desire for tea.

Tea is way beyond a hobby for me, the pure desire to talk to other people about how passionate I had become, drove me here to talk tea with those who shared my passion.

I liked my morning coffee, I looked forward to it, enjoyed it, but I didn't try to find a board to join and talk about it. Tea is so much more than a beverage.

Also so much more than a habit, always wanting to try new teas and learn about them and have new teaware to enhance the experience, is just so much more.

There is so much beauty, grace and peace in the preparation and enjoyment of tea.

In my cup this this morning - FF Soom Estate Darjeeling.

[brlarson]

My original plan was for tea to be a beverage, but it quickly passed hobby status. I call it a passion while my family uses other names.

JBaymore calls it an addiction. The Japanese greens seem to produce Pavlovian cravings while teas from other places merely cause delight. Perhaps it is umami tickling the pleasure centers of the brain that triggers these cravings?

Xiang Hua TGY is in my breakfast cup.

[JBaymore]

JBaymore calls it an addiction. The Japanese greens seem to produce Pavlovian cravings while teas from other places merely cause delight. Perhaps it is umami tickling the pleasure centers of the brain that triggers these cravings?

More, MORE, MORE !!!!!!!

[chicagopotter]

I gotta call it a hobby, albeit a rather expensive and delicious hobby. Gives me a good reason to keep exploring and making teaware forms.

Having a Fall 09 green TGY sample from Norbu this morning.

[depravitea]

For me, it's a passion. I love learning about it, thinking about it, discussing it... oh yeah, and drinking it.
I love it's history, the different methods of production, and how versatile the Camellia Sinensis plant is.
I wish I could grow one.
This morning, finishing up some Pu Erh Dante from Adagio.
Btw, SO glad to see that the Genmai cha is in!!

[olivierco]

Kaboku sencha this afternoon.
Surprisingly I am the only one who voted "Beverage, I drink it because I like it and it is wet" so far.

[Chip]

Kaboku sencha this afternoon.
Surprisingly I am the only one who voted "Beverage, I drink it because I like it and it is wet" so far.

And you drink this beverage from a plastic cup, because after all, it is just a beverage?

I would see personal application for all 4 poll options, they all apply, so logically I have to choose the "highest" one, passion.

Began the TD with tasting of Gyokuro from Maeda-en. Very good and brewed/served in a Zuiho Ono "vintage" Hagi Gyokuro set. SweeTea slurped the Gyo while Wulong, Pyrit, and Gandalf just wanted to knock the tiny cups over.

[olivierco]

Kaboku sencha this afternoon.
Surprisingly I am the only one who voted "Beverage, I drink it because I like it and it is wet" so far.

And you drink this beverage from a plastic cup, because after all, it is just a beverage?

I don't eat from plastic plates either.
I don't recommend plastic for hot beverage by the way.

[geeber1]

Passion for me!

Sweet Flower Oolong from TeaSource in my cup this morning.

[Victoria]

Wuyi oolong in my cup currently. Not bad, it's from Tao of Tea and they seem to insist on sending to me. I currently have 8oz of it.

[Janine]

Tea is definitely a passion for me. Not only do I love tea, exploring it and learning about it, but I cherish the relationship made through tea. I find this happens all the time and it doesn't really matter what the setting - although I will say too much competition and ill-will is antithetical to good tea drinking and the spirit of LuYu - and the cultivation of relationship that I think tea seems to create. Everybody should be welcome at this table; the notion of an esoteric elite is opposite to tea's spirit in my book. It's like the branches and the leaves of the tea tree that link people up following the same form.

Today I am stuck with a cold I've had for over a week, so I'm drinking herbal at the moment. Something called "Rainy Day" from ChaMaGuDao which is quite good and helpful, and very appropriately named for today's NYC weather!

By the way, has the format here changed? It just doesn't look the same in my browser and I have to tell you that my feedback on this is not too good: things are mashed together and I can't quite figure out how to read new posts since my last visit... help.