Sunday?Monday TeaDay 7/10-11/11 2nd half of 2011 ...

[Chip]

Greetings TeaFriends and welcome to TeaDay. Please drop in and share what is in your cup throughout the day. Also discuss the topic of the day.

Yesterday we discussed "wicked teas." Please continue to discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Do you predict a great 2nd half of your TeaYear 2011? Please share!

We are all looking forward to sharing this teaDay with ... everyone. Bottoms up.

[Xell]

Today was certainly a great teaday, i got my hands on a good matcha that is good enough for koicha, i.e. can be used in actual Japanese tea ceremony. Didn't try yet preparing koicha with it, but i did side by side comparison with lower grade matcha. Both of them are from Yame. I used 2 full bamboo spoons and 70ml water. I could feel the difference really clearly, lower grade had already noticeable bitterness, but in the higher one i could barely feel it, also it had more rich texture. And i'm quite sensitive to bitterness. Still i enjoyed both of them. With traditional sweets it would be perfect.

I'm falling in love with matcha more and more Though now i will have to spend a lot more on tea, the temptation of matcha is too strong to resist

[Tekoppen]

I've had a quite nice tea day. Been drinking Yerba Mate, Kukicha, Darjeeling FF and now a cold-brewed Anxi Rou Gui (Rou Gui hybrid tea bush but a green oolong grown in Anxi). Planning my choise of teas from Teamasters and Dragon Tea House but have to empty my tea drawer a bit first XD Still much of 2010's tea lying there and getting old! But yeah, since I plan to buy from these great suppliers, I think it will be a really good tea year The fact that I have already been drinking 4 of 2011's FF's makes me really happy! No Shincha yet, though

[Tekoppen]

Forgot to say that I've had a bowl of matcha too Sadly, my teabowl (a really cheap one though) broke so I had to drink it from a deep plate...

[Nenugal]

I've been drinking some Dan Cong Classic from TeaSpring today. I'm thinking it is time for some matcha soon

[debunix]

Started the day with toast and honey and Aoi sencha from O-Cha, while watching a BBC program on 'Wild China'. It wasn't 'Wild Japan', but it was a nice synergy. And the homemade bread & blue-ribbon honey were wonderful as always.

[Tekoppen]

Third bowl of matcha. Also had some cold-brewed Darjeeling FF. Really good! And surprisingly flowery

[Fuyou]

I have been drinking Maiko Shiawase-cha today in a brand new celadon yunomi. I love the variety of flavors in shiawase-cha, I'm on the fourth steep and it's taken on a subtle sweetness.

Personally, I can't predict anything about the second half of the year until more of the hurricane season is over .

[gargoylekitty]

I hope for a great rest of the year, though I'm sure it will, at least, be pretty good.

Started the day by finishing off the final bowl of Matsu no Midori from Maiko, had left that bit for a little too long though it was alright. Placed an order for some of their Chiyo Mukashi last night, eager to see how it compares.

Genmaicha at work and now having some of Den's Tea's Kunpu. Probably going to break into the Kirameki tonight.

[Skippyandjif]

I predict a great second half! I'm going to be visiting some of my favorite places to find tea-- the health food store in the town over from where my mom lives; Chinatown; and Mitsuwa Marketplace. So I expect that I'll make some wonderful finds.

Genmaicha all day today, probably all night. Man, do I love that stuff.

[Chip]

I think there is still room for discussion on yesterday's TeaDay. Therefore, let's carry it over to Monday!

Please share what is in your cup throughout the day.

And of course, discuss the day's topic!

Have a great TeaDay, everyone!

[tortoise]

I'm predicting a good second half. Not quite crazy awesome. I'm clamping down on my tea budget pretty severely because I am hatching great plans of the semi-long-term variety which dwarf my desire to purchase tea things. So...probably won't be purchasing any tea-ware (ok, maybe not zero) and will be keeping my tea purchases to a very disciplined dollar figure each month. Sacrifices must be made, but tea has suffered the least. Some idle pleasures where eliminated completely (Sushi, Scotch, Tobacco).

The reason why I know it will be good second-half is because I have my bearings now a little better than this time last year. So what I buy will be good.

Started the day with an overnight chilled cup of Nan-Zen Gyokuro. It reminded me of "green tea" ice cream. You know, that gyo/matcha flavor...very nice. Must repeat. Highly recommended.

[sherubtse]

Today was certainly a great teaday, i got my hands on a good matcha that is good enough for koicha, i.e. can be used in actual Japanese tea ceremony.

That new matcha is the Yame Matcha Seiho you list on your site, right?

Best wishes,
sherubtse

I

[JRS22]

I've predicted a great second half because of the terrific 2011 Chinese greens I received from Jing. The sample of my favorite Chinese green, TPHK, was excellent, and more will be on the way soon. In my cup this morning, a first steep of the 2011 bai hao yin zhen.

[teaisme]

I enjoy what I drink a lot

98 houde 8582 at work yuuuuuum