Wednesday TeaDay 1/13/09 ... the chicken or the egg?

[Chip]

Hello everyone, it is a new TeaDay, so fill up your cups and share its contents with us, please.

Yesterday we discussed "altered states" ... you can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Woot, finally am able to fit the entire question into the actual poll, finally since the "changeover!"

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Does the tea make the cup, or does the cup make the tea? Which do you choose first prior to making tea, the cup or the tea? Please share with us.

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

[AdamMY]

I could not decide, but I'm leaning towards the tea makes the cup. But that does not always hold true.

When I only made chinese tea it would sometimes be: "Do I want to use a gaiwan or yixing" The cups were nothing special so they were pretty much set.

But With Hagi, sometimes I have a need to use a certain cup, or I just have an desire to use a hagi, so I turn to Japanese Tea.

But then it turns into if I feel partial to using my Hagi Kyusu to determine which Japanese tea I brew.

[bsteele]

I'm not a teaware-phile (...yet?? ) so for me, it's Tea/Tea all the way.

[Victoria]

The tea, and I choose the tea first. Then I choose the cup, which enhances the choice.

Yay for fitting the question on the poll fix!!

[Symmetry]

Definitely the tea for me. If I have a less-than-ideal cup I'll make do, but bad tea? No way.

[olivierco]

The tea, and I choose the tea first

Kaboku sencha this morning.

[bsteele]

What if the tea chooses you??

[JBaymore]

A daily ritual for me is chosing the cup(s) that I drink out of on that particular day or particular time. The piece fits the "mood" of the coming day or moment.

But I am always drinking greens..... so the nature of the work I have always tends to fit the tea itself.

best,

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

[LauraW]

At work it's always a choice of tea - I haven't brought in my own cups, so I'm stuck with office mugs.

At home.. tea. Near every time. Most of the time it matters very little the vessel for the tea, but I do have nice bowls I like to use from time to time, or the teaset that matches our china for when company's over, and of course my gaiwan which I discovered yesterday is perfect for the Darjeeling I got for Christmas.

Edit: speaking of tea, going with Scottish Breakfast again this morning. New boss is coming in for a meeting this morning, and I need a nice, dark pick-me-up.

[spittingoutteeth]

It's nearly always about the tea, which dictates the cup/pot. I can honestly say that on a few occasions I've walked into my kitchen preparing to brew and oolong or pu-ehr, looked at my gorgeous new kyusu & then decided to make some gyokuro or tamaryokucha instead

Today I'm enjoying a 1987 Mucha Tieguanyin from Camellia Sinensis in Montreal; fantastic tea.

[Victoria]

Good Luck with you new boss Laura!

For me AliShan again this morning. This is from Camellia Sinensis and I bought a lot of it, so I need to drink it up before spring!

Have a nice day everyone!

[LauraW]

Thanks Victoria! He's not here yet, was due in 30 mins ago.. I was putting off doing work because I thought he was going to be here earlier, and now I'm semi-regretting that. Ah well, guess I should try to get some more done before he gets here...

[gingkoseto]

Between the cup and the tea, I choose the tea. But I actually believe the drinker is THE determining factor. One may get greater enjoyment from a cheaper tea or cheaper cup than another person may get from a superior tea or expensive cup.

[artmom]

Not yet understanding much about Asian teaware differences, the tea is definitely the important item to me. I've used English style teapots and cups most of my life, so that's what I have in abundance. I do prefer tea in bone china/porcelain more than in stoneware or other materials.

Doubt that I will be trying too much Asian teaware, as I'm trying to get rid of possessions at my time of life, not collect them! However, one granddaughter is in Japan now, so maybe when she comes home, she'll find I have some different teaware she can inherit!

I'll be trying some green tea today from the samplers I ordered over the holidays. So I might drink from a tea bowl I have.

[GreenwoodStudio]

I enjoy picking out a different cup everyday, what tea to have usually comes after that.

Mellow Monk Harmony Tea right now