I didn't know it at the time, but my journey into tea began in high school. My parents would often have people over "for coffee," and although I liked the aroma, I could not stand the bitter taste. They had an old--probably 20 years old at that time--can of Formosa Oolong, and I grew into the habit of making myself a cup of that tea when I joined the conversation.
In college, when my classmates were beginning their pot-a-day coffee habit, I discovered black teabags--Lipton's, of course, but it was a start! A trip to the UK after I was married introduced me to real tea, and I've been addicted since.
There are very few options to purchase quality bags or any loose tea where I live, here in the midwestern USA. The supermarkets are getting better about having a variety, but I purchase most of my tea online. I have nine teapots in various sizes and either glass or porcelain, a library of tea books, and a collection of tea tins. I prefer hot black tea in the mornings, iced tea with lunch or dinner, and have recently discovered green teas, which I drink in the evenings.
I'm glad to discover a place where I can learn more about specific teas and meet other people who like it as well!
Jun 21st, '08, 17:11
Posts: 1936
Joined: May 22nd, '06, 11:28
Location: Trapped inside a bamboo tong!
Contact:
hop_goblin
Welcome!
Don't always believe what you think!
http://www.ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com
http://englishtea.us/
http://www.ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com
http://englishtea.us/
Welcome! Please come join us on TeaDay,
and tell us what is in your cup currently!
Welcome,
Victoria
and tell us what is in your cup currently!
Welcome,
Victoria
- Victoria -
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
http://victoriasown.blogspot.com/
Jun 22nd, '08, 00:09
Posts: 20891
Joined: Apr 22nd, '06, 20:52
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Back in the TeaCave atop Mt. Fuji
Share your cup with us on TeaDay
Welcome to TeaChat...here is hoping you stick around and enjoy the forum for years to come and share many many cups with us.
I enjoyed you OP. Please share more with us.
Welcome to TeaChat...here is hoping you stick around and enjoy the forum for years to come and share many many cups with us.
I enjoyed you OP. Please share more with us.
I take it that most people here are fans of greens, and Asian-style teaware? I have a lot to learn in that area.
Is there a "dictionary" here anywhere? I keep finding all sorts of terms for the teaware that I don't know, and a few for steeping methods I'm unfamiliar with.
Really cool site--lots to learn here!
Is there a "dictionary" here anywhere? I keep finding all sorts of terms for the teaware that I don't know, and a few for steeping methods I'm unfamiliar with.
Really cool site--lots to learn here!
Although my neighbors are all barbarians,
And you, you are a thousand miles away,
There are always two cups on my table.
--Tang Dynasty
And you, you are a thousand miles away,
There are always two cups on my table.
--Tang Dynasty
Jun 23rd, '08, 11:44
Posts: 281
Joined: Mar 6th, '08, 18:02
Location: immersed in tea
Contact:
trent
Most people are fans of Asian Teaware, but I wouldn't say that we are all green obsessed.
You'll run into a few Japanese Green Heads (Me, Chip, Pentox, Olivier & others).
Some Oolong Queens (Victoria & others)
&
Some Pu Erh Pigs (bearsbearsbears and I'm blanking out on the rest)
(to the people I mentioned, sorry if I put you in the wrong category)
What kind of green teas are you drinking, Chinese or Japanese? If you haven't tried Japanese yet, I would highly recommend that you do. O-cha is a good vendor and I would recommend their shincha (http://www.o-cha.com/green-teas/shincha/)
You'll run into a few Japanese Green Heads (Me, Chip, Pentox, Olivier & others).
Some Oolong Queens (Victoria & others)
&
Some Pu Erh Pigs (bearsbearsbears and I'm blanking out on the rest)
(to the people I mentioned, sorry if I put you in the wrong category)
What kind of green teas are you drinking, Chinese or Japanese? If you haven't tried Japanese yet, I would highly recommend that you do. O-cha is a good vendor and I would recommend their shincha (http://www.o-cha.com/green-teas/shincha/)
Jun 23rd, '08, 12:17
Posts: 5151
Joined: Dec 20th, '06, 23:33
Scrolling: scrolling
Location: Gainesville, Florida
Lew Perin put together Babelcarp, a wonderful dictionary of Chinese tea terms, mostly the names of teas. It is available at http://www.panix.com/~perin/babelcarp.htmlRiene wrote:Is there a "dictionary" here anywhere? I keep finding all sorts of terms for the teaware that I don't know, and a few for steeping methods I'm unfamiliar with.
Kam at FunAlliance has some tutorials called Chinese Tea 101
http://chineseteas101.com/
Several of us TeaChatters assembled some material in Brandon's wikiCHA
http://wikicha.com/index.php/Main_Page
Finally, Scruff McGruff, has some great guides in the Teaware Guides section of his blog TeaNerdd http://www.teanerd.com/search/label/Teaware%20Guides