May 20th, '10, 23:59
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Been thanked: 2 times
by Chip » May 20th, '10, 23:59
Welcome one and all to TeaDay, please share what is in your cup today...alllll day. So, stop back often if you can. Another option is to reflect back on your TeaDay. While here, be nosey and check out what everyone else is sipping! This is more fun for me than even boasting about my Japanese brews! 
Yesterday we discussed TeaDuress from TeaChat. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.
Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic ... a spin off of yesterday. Has either TeaChat and/or TeaDay caused you to try a Teaware that you were not planning on trying otherwise. Share some details with us...this should be interesting.
I am looking forward to hearing what is in your cups...and what teaware we forced you to try!!! 
May 21st, '10, 01:19
Posts: 226
Joined: Dec 14th, '09, 19:43
Location: Canada
by TubbyCow » May 21st, '10, 01:19
You guys convinced me that I absolutely HAVE to have a proper chawan. And while I've had my eyes on getting a kyusu for many moons, TeaChat pushed me in a specific direction... Wasn't sure where to order from until I came here, but now (once I have the chance), Den's Teapot Kokoro it is!
May 21st, '10, 01:37
Posts: 921
Joined: Feb 6th, '08, 04:57
Location: enjoying a cup of Red Rose down in GA
by omegapd » May 21st, '10, 01:37
Yep, I got bit by the gong-fu bug at one time here and bought a small 3oz. Yixing pot to use. It's not something I do now regularly, but when the urge hits, I'll take it out since it works great with my favorite 3oz. cups.
May 21st, '10, 04:05
Posts: 138
Joined: Apr 20th, '09, 16:42
by dooble » May 21st, '10, 04:05
Nope, not yet... I've got my yixing, gaiwans and chaozhou - an english style pot I will not purchase again. But otherwise I think I'm pretty much all set. Although I do need a brazier with kettle still!
May 21st, '10, 09:48
Posts: 475
Joined: Jan 17th, '10, 21:44
Location: Albany, NY; New York City, NY; or Bath, ME
by Skippyandjif » May 21st, '10, 09:48
I picked "other" because while I have not yet purchased a chawan, yixing, etc. yet, they are definitely on my list of things to save up for! Seriously, tea is one of the major motivations for me to get a job this summer (the others are anime and school, but this is not the forum for those
).
Rose congou this morning. Very yummy.
May 21st, '10, 09:58
Posts: 1796
Joined: Sep 15th, '09, 16:11
Location: Wilton, New Hampshire USA
Been thanked: 2 times
by JBaymore » May 21st, '10, 09:58
Like yesterday, I voted "other" again today.... meaning "not so far".
best,
...............john
May 21st, '10, 10:47
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Been thanked: 2 times
by Chip » May 21st, '10, 10:47
Perhaps the most noticable influence was regarding Hagi-Yaki. Before TC I had never heard of Hagi, and even my first glimpses of it on TC, I was not particularly impressed. The light finally went on as members posted more Hagi ... it was certainly not a planned event for me ... I was not looking to "like" anything.
There were certainly other influences. Before TC, I had not idea what a Sasame screen was ... literally I was forced to buy whatever kyusu I could find and had no idea how diverse they could be.
Bizen, Gaiwan/Gaiwanesque, Houjin, Chawan, Yuzamashi ... to name a few ... are teawares that TC was strongly influential.
May 21st, '10, 12:14
Posts: 795
Joined: Feb 1st, '09, 20:31
Location: Columbus, Ohio
by brad4419 » May 21st, '10, 12:14
Yes to both. Hagi, gaiwan, chawan...what are those? Thats what I would have said last year but thanks to teachat I own several and love them all. Without teachat I would be infusing old loose leaves in a metal strainer
Without ever knowing what I was missing out on.
more shui jin gui today
May 21st, '10, 12:35
Posts: 5896
Joined: Jan 10th, '10, 16:04
Location: Los Angeles, CA
by debunix » May 21st, '10, 12:35
Can't call it duress, really, because I'd been planning on getting some nicer teawares over time, as I figured out better what I really like to use.
I think my first glimpse of the Pino digital kettle I now use daily at the office came from TeaChat, and I got the links to the tokoname catalog from which I got my pair of nicer kyusus, and the cooling bowls, and best of all, I found my yunomis here from ginkgo.
Enjoyed Sencha Zuiko from Den's in the 'granite' yunomi this morning.
May 21st, '10, 13:13
Posts: 504
Joined: Nov 3rd, '08, 13:46
by Janine » May 21st, '10, 13:13
Well, I bought a kyusu style yixing pot. And I have my eye on something gorgeous(!!!) but haven't splurged on it yet.
Today I am trying another sample from Adagio's Master's line... the Anhui keemun. I have just tried a first brew, and so it's too early to really judge. But my first thought are that this is full-bodied (as I love) has a rosy kind of overfeel to the flavor (I don't know how else to describe it, like a sweet almost fermented rose) and this I also love. It has a little something extra, a slight astringency which I would look for in a nice darjeeling. I'm not usually partial to that aspect of flavor in a keemun (I like robustness and richness and sweetness), however this tartness is very welcome and balanced. It's like the tartness in the flavor of a well-balanced apple. It is something that one would call refreshing - and especially for a darjeeling-type tea lover, I think it would be something sought out . Once again, Adagio is way right on the money, but I need more steeps and to push it a little more in brewing time. Plus, I just opened the container so it also needs to sit in my home and adjust and later we'll see what flavor comes out. A terrific pick me up. If it were late in the afternoon and I take a break especially when I feel beat - this would definitely do the trick in a tasty way.
May 21st, '10, 15:37
Posts: 1675
Joined: May 22nd, '09, 04:23
Location: Northern California
by Seeker » May 21st, '10, 15:37
Absolutely yes!
Kyusu, Hagi, and artisinally made chawan, yunomi, well, everything.
Thank you TeaChat!
May 21st, '10, 15:52
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Been thanked: 2 times
by Chip » May 21st, '10, 15:52
Seeker wrote:Absolutely yes!
Kyusu, Hagi, and artisinally made chawan, yunomi, well, everything.
Thank you TeaChat!
Oh yes indeed ... the Teaware Artisans of the "west!" TeaChat was HUGE. Before this, I always envisioned western pottery as heavy and clunky ... which it actually was in my experience as well. I am happy to know otherwise and have done an about face and now promote our TAs.
TD began with Sae Midori from O-Cha ... shincha of course with Mrs. Chip.
Next up, Yutaka Midori Kaoru Supreme LE also from O-Cha.
Might be going for an O-C hat trick!
May 21st, '10, 18:12
Posts: 578
Joined: Jan 6th, '10, 09:48
Location: SC
by LauraW » May 21st, '10, 18:12
Yes - before TC/TD I had teaware, just didn't really know how to use it or for what. Now that I know better how to use the gaiwan and small teapots, I do use them much more often. I love seeing everyone's wares, and look forward to being able to afford a collection, not just a smattering of random pieces. And because of TC, I now have 3 new pieces, pictures of which will be posted shortly! (gotta go find the camera and brew my afternoon/evening tea)
Yunnan Noir this morning, not sure what's next, I'll have to go raid the kitchen.
May 21st, '10, 18:24
Posts: 377
Joined: Mar 4th, '10, 12:07
Location: NC, USA
by laura99 » May 21st, '10, 18:24
Yes and Yes! And more to come I am sure. I doubt I would have ever purchased a chawan and tried matcha if it was not for TeaChat! I had found some hagi tea cups before finding this board, but probably never would have purchased it without the reinforcement of looking at all your wonderful photos!
All Japanese greens today! Started with 6 steeps of YM Shincha. Then a nice tall glass of iced Sencha. And ended the day with a bowl of matcha.
May 21st, '10, 20:50
Posts: 722
Joined: Dec 1st, '09, 08:47
Location: Tennessee Foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains
by artmom » May 21st, '10, 20:50
Both TeaChat and TeaDay helped influence me to purchase artisanal works such as hagi, yunomi, and I still want a YiXing. I have a little kyusu from Den's but would like another one.
I just upgraded to the Global Kindle. It arrived today, as well as an order from Rishi of white tea samples. So, tomorrow, I plan to familiarize myself with the new Kindle while sipping white tea!
Hot Cinnamon Spice from Harney and Sons, made by my sweet husband as I was a bit under the weather most of the day.
