Monday TeaDay 5/3/10 TeaCultures?

[Chip]

It is TeaDay Monday. Welcome everyone to TeaDay.

Stop by, share your cup with everyone, see what TeaChatters are sipping today, and join in the discussion. Since everyone is welcome, it is a great place to jump in and get your feet wet if you are new to TeaChat.

To this end, the new member with one year or less membership, who posts the most teas actually cupped this entire week in TeaDay, shall win a prize!

Stop by throughout the day and post often.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion...we know the origins of many of our teas...does this interest, and quest also carry over to the culture, the country from which our teas originate. Are you drawn to your teas culture as a result of yout tea...or...is it more of a vice versa condition. You were drawn to your teas because of your interest in that culture or country.

Or do just like tea?

I think this is a fascinating subject and I hope everyone jumps in and shares with us.

Have a great TeaDay everyone!!!

[debunix]

It has definitely added a new layer of interest, but the primary interest in nearly every culture was already there. It adds a new focal point, such that if I do finally make that trip to China or another trip to Japan, tea will definitely influence the agenda for the trip.

Oddly enough, for a day in which I'm answering this question, my teas have all come from mainland china--no sencha start to the day, and no Alishan or pouchong to temper the middle of it. Began with An Ji white tea from Zhejiang, moved on to a A-Gu Zhai Wild Arbor Pu-erh tea from Bu Lang Shan in Yunnan, then to some Yunnan Wild Arbor Oriental Beauty, next a little some Shui Jin Gui from Wuyi in Fujian (really goofed and forgot the first steeping until it was unbearably bitter, very sad to lose several steepings' of what should have been very good tea), and finished with some Bai Mu Dan from Yunnan.

[Edited to note that these teas consumed here were not affected by the tea-day prize offering, as these were consumed on Sunday, before the prize was announced]

[aya_s]

I answered 'no' but only because I can't think of a nation or culture that I *wouldn't* be interested in learning about, and tea doesn't even figure into it!

(When I visit a country, I love learning about food and beverages too, so I usually do seek out what sort of tea is drunk.)

[Ebtoulson]

I am interested in japanese culture but mostly I just like tea. I western brew about 80 percent of the time because of time constrains so I'm not following traditional methods.

*Sigh* chip would do a contest during finals week...my tea consumption and tea related activities are going to be way down. Anyways adagios oolong number 8 (my cheap/everyday oolong) in my cup atm. d'oh it says one year or less thought it said or more nvm

[Trey Winston]

I was already interested in Japanese and Indian culture, but for some reason the Chinese culture held no particular interest for me. That has changed slightly with increasing consumption of Chinese teas. So put me down for "superficially", I guess.

Having some Chinese SN today.

[dooble]

Yeah, I was a interested in Japan back then (and zen) which probably led me to green tea. But with tea I begun intereste in China and Korea, and not to forget the immense tea culture on its own.

[Warden Andy]

我喝中國茶以後學中文。

Tea got me to start learning chinese.

[TubbyCow]

I think if you really, truly want to understand tea, you have to learn more about cultures, languages, and geography.

Some days I try to learn and some days I just drink it.

Off to start a session of Taiwan Da Yu Ling!

[leiche2]

I answered 'no' but only because I can't think of a nation or culture that I *wouldn't* be interested in learning about, and tea doesn't even figure into it!

Me too. Learning is just awesome.

It's currently too humid for hot tea, and I'm too lazy to make iced, so no tea since this morning's East Friesian blend.

[verus]

Eh.

It's just something I drink! I do like to learn about all kinds of cultures, but tea is just a very tiny part of that.

[Chip]

I have always held a fascination and interest in Japan and China, since I was maybe around 13. So the interest was already there. This may have at least partially fueled early interest in tea. This in turn definitely intensified my interests in China and Japan.

So, I would have to say yes to both, but the pollster did not allow for this.

Began the TD with 2009 "under the car seat shincha," a few more days left of this sample. But good news, 2010 shincha is enroute. SweeTea slurped while TEAh and Wulong visited the TeaTable today.

[brad4419]

Vice Versa.
I have always had an interest in Asian culture, since I was a kid I have been intreged by the history and culture of Asia, in particular China and Japan. Maybe its because of all the karate kid movies I took every eastern culture class I could in school and many of my hobbies such as bonsai reflect my interest. I think an interest in tea was inevitable. Once I was introduced to tea it was like a perfect fit into my lifestyle.

Long jing in my cup today mmm...

[rabbit]

So much so that I want to take my honeymoon in wuyi shan, so I can see where my tea comes from

[artmom]

I answered "No" because I've imbibed in Tea since childhood; and have been interested in other cultures almost since I began reading. (Long time for both )

No tea yet this TeaDay; I still have some unopened samples, so who knows!

[Amaikokonut]

It sort of goes both ways for me. My love for one sort of tea leads me to read up on its origin, which tends to lead me to read about the origins of other teas, making me curious to try a different sort of tea. Either way, I end up having awesome tea and all is well in the world.