Wednesday TeaDay 2/24/10 What's in a name?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay one and all ... welcome to another TeaDay. Please drop in throughout the day and share what is in your cup.

Yesterday we discussed TeaObsession/Compulsions. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Let's talk nomenclature. What is in a name? A tea name. Do "poetic" or elaborate tea names influence your purchase of teas? Do you prefer more "core names" such as the basic original language name or direct translation?

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

[Seeker]

No wayyyy,
it is all about the quality of the tea, the aroma, flavor, and mouth feel.
If I'm ordering without tasting (not in shop, but online), then typically I know the type of tea, and I read notes on aroma, flavor, mouth feel. If no notes about those elements, I don't order.

moonlight white was quaffed to completion moments ago.

[bsteele]

Maybe... if it's monkey picked

[olivierco]

No, names do not influence my tea purchases.

Kaboku sencha this morning

[chrl42]

It does sometimes, at least it helps me looking at it.

When I first heard En Shi Yu Lu (jade-mist), I thought it perfectly fits a concept of green tea, green as jade, fresh as mist.

Lu Shan Yun Wu..Lu Shan was long-favored mountain that gave Chinese poets and painters numerous inspirations..famous for mist and cloud that surrounds the mountain 24/7

Wu Yi Yan Cha...Mt. Wu Yi was eternal place for someone who studied Zhu Zi Xue (branch of confucius doctrine), for long, Korean scholars considered it as 'heaven'...and the tea they have!

there must be more...

[gingkoseto]

I love fancy traditional names. The traditional names are always either beautiful (like "snowflakes on green lake") or cute (like "duck droppings" ) I like most of adagio's tea names too because they have a consistent musical theme and well explain what tea it is. I sometimes think names made by some other vendors could be annoying, if it's simply a pretty name but doesn't tell you anything about what tea it exactly is

I am usually frustrated with names of flavored black tea blends named after deserts (like cream pie, or cheese cake or chocolate). I simply can't imagine how tea could taste like desert. Besides, usually if I like some food, I then strongly dislike anything that mimics its flavor. But it's just my personal idiosyncrasy.

[msurads06]

I dont think a name would make me more or less likely to purchase a given tea, i tend to go more by reviews/recomendations of others.
Starting out with white peony again this morning.

[JBaymore]

Being honest...... I have to say "sometimes". But rarely. And in the end, it is about the tea. Catchy name/bad tea = last purchase.

best,

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

[LauraW]

I said maybe, but the more I think about this, the more I'm leaning towards no, not really. Poetic may sound nice, but if it doesn't tell me about the tea, I'm not likely to get it. On the other hand, if the name sounds pretty and tells me about the tea, then yes, it might influence me a bit.

Darjeeling this morning, about to start my second infusion. Teeth are starting to be less generally sore, but eating's still a little touch-and-go for the most part. Cereal this morning didn't agree with them, so I ended up throwing that out in favor of yogurt. I forgot how much this sucks. Fortunately, I don't have to chew tea, so I can still drink it all day long!!

[Victoria]

Not likely - however I may read more about a tea with an interesting name than I would otherwise and then may end up purchasing. For example Rishi Ancient Moonlight White, which at that price, I might not have tried if not for the name, then reading more. But as I choose - Not likely. The teas I am interested in are mostly named by location and type. It doesn't happen often.

In my cup this morning Pedro Gardens from Imperial Teas.

[artmom]

I'll have to quote John, he said it best!

Being honest...... I have to say "sometimes". But rarely. And in the end, it is about the tea. Catchy name/bad tea = last purchase.

best,

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

[dooble]

The names influence me no doubt, but I'd like to see more accurate information on where the tea is from etc.

[Petr Novák]

Names of teas have influence for more reasons and it depends on situation.

First of all The name is brand. From each brand i expect something else. The name refer to place where it grows, to people who made it, to whole processing...and if it is fake so probably next time I will looking for not fake although I like it.

Second of all if I do not know what the name (brand) means it has influence like better or second rate advertisement. I prefer names which tell me something not poetic bubbles...but sometimes it hits me.

But of course if I do not like the tea there is no such good name to persuade me to buy it.

[depravitea]

Nah, names do not influence my purchases, however, I prefer original names and direct translations as opposed to flowery, clever, cute names.

No tea yet, my son DEMANDS FOOD!

[leiche2]

Not likely. I might buy a weirdly named tea just for the packaging, though.

Houji-genmaicha with lunch. Can't seem to kick this cold.