Monday TeaDay 1/25/10 Dry leaf satisfaction?

[Chip]

Welcome everyone to TaDay. Please stop by and share what is in your cup throughout the day.

Yesterday we discussed specialized versus general vendors. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaRoom poll and discussion topic. Opening a new bag of tea yesterday and looking upon the dry leaves for the first time, I wondered, do you ever find satisfaction in looking at your dry tea leaves before they are forever changed by the addition of hot water? What are the most striking leaves you ever saw?

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

[Seeker]

I have to say, sadly now that I'm considering, I voted ''I have on occasion".
I think I'll have to change this. I even have a couple of presentation vessels. Must admit I don't use 'em much.
Feeling sort of selfish going straight for the brew, and not giving the leaves their due! - the lives these leaves have given, their beauty, their service. Sigh.
I do try to bless the leaves before I infuse sometimes, but I don't always to that either. I will endeavor to be more mindful.

Just finished infusion #5 or Organic Kagoshima Sae Midori.
Cheers.

(hitting one of the emotional 'lows' in my exam prep. just feeling confused and incompetent a lot today and at the moment, don't know why; sigh; test is this coming Thursday)

[Ebtoulson]

I never really gave it much thought, on a kind of similar note I might start looking more carefully at the dry leaf...cause I found a dead lady bug in my spearmint this afternoon. Not that I'm grossed out or anything I just don't want to eat/drink it.

Just found out my tea shipment that was supposed to come in today...is delayed till Wednesday .

[artmom]

Having drunk pretty much only black tea for more years than I care to think, I'm still in the wondrous stage of looking at and admiring the leaves of the different teas that I am now trying. So far, the most unusual leaves I have viewed have been the Dragon Well leaves--they are so large! But, as I explore, I hope to find even more exotic leaves and leaves that remind me less of green vegetables (which I don't really liked cooked!).

Spoke w/granddaughter Samantha Lyn (in Japan) via webcam today. She looks great, but is looking forward to coming home in May after two years away. She said she'll make me some great green teas when she comes, and will prepare sushi for me. I told her I'd pass on the sushi. I don't even like cooked fish

I think I'm probably up for the night -- I had a delicious cup of Mariage Freres Marco Polo rather late during the Saints/Minnesota game. I ought to know better -- but it was soooooo good.

[bsteele]

Yes, pretty often.

Speaking of pretty often, I often like to write a song to my dry leaves... you know, to give them transformation inspiration.

Lies.

I actually do an interpretive dance for them.

Drinking a smoothie now. Tea to come.

[LauraW]

I had to say "on occasion" because I'm starting to pay more attention to it. Before, it was put on water, grab tin of tea, put tea in infuser, put tea away, do something else until water is ready, pour, steep, wait for it to cool, drink. I'm starting to pay more attention because I'm trying more and more things and want to be able to see and appreciate the difference in the leaves. Although, I have been admiring the way the leaves unfurl with each infusion - it's especially noticeable in the gaiwan, now that I've really started using it.

Also, Lady Grey again this morning, just 1 bag left after this, but I went ahead and brought the next round (Earl Grey, but this time in whole leaf, in the nicer pyramid bags), so that'll probably be my go-to, at least until the order I placed yesterday gets here

[cindyt]

Pretty often but not always.

I always looked at dry leaves because there is so much you can tell from just looking at them. I don't always get satisfaction though. Satisfaction only comes from looking at good tea.

[JBaymore]

Yes, all the time. There is something about the "potential" that is there. In some ways it realtes to how I relate to some raw ceramic materials.

And with the tea, the SMELL of the leaves is a HUGE thing for me.

best,

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

[Chip]

(hitting one of the emotional 'lows' in my exam prep. just feeling confused and incompetent a lot today and at the moment, don't know why; sigh; test is this coming Thursday)

Cheer up, Mr. Encourager, I am sure you will give it your all and will do very fine!

I voted pretty often. I am a bit of a botanist and horticulturist, I cannot help but observe the leaf!!! As much as I love Japanese greens, I find the Chinese greens to be so beautiful to observe. Long Jing is tops while others like Lu An Gua Pian, Tai Ping Hou Kui, Zhu Ye Qing ... and so many more are so captivating, I enjoy each time I open the tin to spoon some out.

[Chip]

Yes, all the time. There is something about the "potential" that is there. In some ways it realtes to how I relate to some raw ceramic materials.

And with the tea, the SMELL of the leaves is a HUGE thing for me.

shhhh ... the question today is "looking" ...

Began the TD with Yutaka Midori from O-Cha! Beautiful green, though not much else to look at. SweeTea enjoyed her share while Gandalf watched over ...

[Jasmin]

The first thing I do when I open the tin is smell the leaves.Then while measuring them out I look at them to make sure there's nothing in there that doesn't belong in there. But that's as far as it goes.
I don't watch them while they steep and once the tea is done the leaves are only a nuisance.
Wow. I just read over that and notice I sound a little harsh. Maybe I should pay more attention? I don't know. But I do pay lots of attention and appreciation to the tea itself.

This morning I tried using the leaves of a white ginger peach twice. Usually the tea only tastes like peach. I hardly notice the ginger. But with the second brew it tasted like ginger tea. No peach Didn't like it at all.

[gingkoseto]

Yes almost always Some tea leaves don't have much to see but many are very pretty!

[JBaymore]

shhhh ... the question today is "looking" ...

Oooppppssssssss. Sorry.

[Trey Winston]

Pretty often. I enjoy contemplating the differences in appearance between green, oolong, black and white tea.

Having some sencha today, but I didn't examine the leaves too closely.

[Seeker]

shhhh ... the question today is "looking" ...

I haven't spent any time with the artisan Wu Wei Hai, until this morning.
I found some quiet thus. Ahh.

And I looked upon this morning's leaves.
The leaves of organic silver needle.
I saw the silveryness and beautiful muted green, the hairs of the leaves, the way they held to one another, and in my clumsiness, to my fuzzy polartec.
I took a moment to bless this tea, these leaves, and to hope some comfort to them, and I offered my gratitude, and some intention for a greater good.
I watched the leaves in the hot water, the dance of water and tea.
As I write this, I'm aware of feeling moved in reflecting.
Gratitude.