Monday TeaDay 12/14/09 Best of the worst for 2009?

[Chip]

Greetings and welcome to TeaDay. Please stop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed "Tea, Cold, and Weekends. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. The end of the year approaches, it is time to start handing out some awards. Start with airing out the worst of 2009. Your worst tea for the year was? Share the dirt on the worst of the worst.

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

[Trey Winston]

My worst was a White Peony that had been sitting in the cupboard for too long, like a couple of years. It was less than good.

Oolong is the theme for today.

[Baku]

A no name black, barely described as long leaf, is my best ropy of the year... just a step ahead commercial bags.. I got it in a small grocery straining to stick to the support your local shop philosophy...

Darj Makaibari this morning

[clareandromeda]

a chinese green from ten ren.

[JBaymore]

No such thing as "bad tea". Just "less good tea".

God.... I'm truly adicted.

best,

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

[Victoria]

I'll have to think about that and report back. I can't remember anything too horrible this year.

Started this morning with Blue Himalayan in my cup from Mariage Freres.



Have a nice day everyone!

[gingkoseto]

I got a tea that claims itself Da Hong Pao but obviously it's not (really very obviously) and it tastes awful. I usually have no problem with a non-pure-breed da hong pao that tastes good. Neither do I have problem with cheap tea that tastes just ok but not wonderful. But this da hong pao tastes like a joke. Then a bigger problem is, a family member gave it to me as a gift. I don't think I can tell her since it will be embarrassing for her and impolite of me. But now I am worried that if I don't let her know, what if she has more cans of this tea and gives more out as gift

[AdamMY]

I want to be fair that the worst tea I had was a mystery Shou puerh.

But I want to go on record saying the best tea I had this year had to have been a Puerh also.... so take it with a grain of salt.

[Chip]

I want to be fair that the worst tea I had was a mystery Shou puerh.

But I want to go on record saying the best tea I had this year had to have been a Puerh also.... so take it with a grain of salt.

Don't worry, you will have a chance to expound on your best tea of the year soon enough. I am sure it is a fairly common occurance to have the best and the worst on the same general type of tea, especially if you drink that general type the most.

Thanks for the color, Victoria.

Trying to think of a bad tea I had this year. After checking my list, I was reminded of a really poor organic matcha, the powder was most unappealing, like an olive color to olive drab. This was reinforced by the flavor profile not to mention the most aweful looking matcha liquid I have ever laid eyes on.

It is one of the very few teas that I have gotten and could not finish. I even failed miserably at trying to use it in cooking.

Began the TD with Hatsumi from O-Cha. SweeTea of course had her fair share while Gandalf was just looking for a warm lap.

[Mrs. Chip]

a really poor organic matcha, the powder was most unappealing, like an olive color to olive drab. This was reinforced by the flavor profile not to mention the most awful looking matcha liquid I have ever laid eyes on.

I would have to agree with Chip on this one. Olive drab is actually a very conservative description. The flavor was really worse than the color!

I am looking forward to everyone's 'worst tea of the year' responses.

Keemun from Adagio currently in my cup, have a TEArrific TeaDay everyone.

[AdamMY]

Out of all my Hagi I think the ice split might just be the most enjoyable to drink from, especially with a semi translucent tea. As the level sinks more and more dark splotches appear at the bottom unveiling the beauty of the glaze.

[geeber1]

Peach Oolong from the Oolong box pass. I don't know if it was old or just plain awful!

Nilgiri Nonsuch at home this morning. No tea yet here at work!

[olivierco]

No bad tea this year but I didn't take any risk with the teas I bought.

Ippodo shincha this evening (my last 50g package), still very good.

[tea-guy]

My worst for 2009 was an absolutely horrid blackberry mate'. Blech!


Today I've been drinking a light buy tasty Kukicha.

[artmom]

A white was my worst of the year -- can't even remember the name!

Had Russian Caravan this morning; I love the smoky flavor, accompanied by a Red Leiscester cheddar cheese on toast.

I am really enjoying the comments in TeaDay. Thanks for sharing your knowledge.