I started talking about Banko and Shigaraki and she was straight into her water tasting routine.
The water was boiled in a standard electric kettle and then poured into a Glass Pitcher, Banko pot, and Shigaraki - from these into 3 identical tasting cups for each of us.
Somewhat spellbound I had not even thought about taking my camera out.
After several musings and some hmming and hah-ing on my part we went on to try the same routine with an oolong, some Fu Tea, and a lao Ban Zhang.
This time the tea brewed in a Glass teapot [partially seen to the extreme left of photo]
before going into the Glass Pitcher
One by one we tried each tea from each source
Glass
Banko
Shigaraki
one by one I tasted and compared,
re tasted and recompared - but alas I could not tell anything other than the minutest of differences.
NOW the difference is supposed to be that the Banko and Shigaraki both produce sweeter water, and enhance difference aspects of the teas that are used.
The difference is supposed to be so great that the water, and then tea (having been brewed in Glass), only spent a few seconds or so in the Banko and the Shigaraki before being dispensed.
Might I have noticed the difference more pronounced if the infusion had taken place in the pots? If I bought one I would not want to use it as a faircup [steady Chip
Not even I]The price in the shop as has been commented elsewhere is significantly higher than online - when I mentioned this - Hui without batting an eyelid said it would make more sense to buy online, there were no overheads to take care of and the shop sales were subject to a sales tax that the online sales escaped.
Well - I bought some Glass faircups, some Lao Ban Zhang, and a few other small items that escape me now.
I mentioned to Hui that we were visiting Penang, and she mentioned she was from Penang, and would email us with info on Penang Tea Shops
Great service.
Hui fell in love with tea and applied to join Hojo and move down to KL, Hojo has not spared any expense on helping her to increase her knowledge - regularly sending her on training and appreciation / development courses.
