Monday, Alishan Day 10/20/08 TC/TCR Selection Day!

[Chip]

Welcome TeaChatters, welcome to TeaDay. Please share what is in your cup today, all day!

Yesterday, responders were pretty mixed on the Male discrimination and tea issue. Seems to vary greatly by locale. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Please check out Friday and Saturday's topic for a information on TeaChat Tasting, Comparison, and Review (TC/TCR). The Poll is simple, will you drink an Alishan Oolong in honor of today's topic, or at least a Taiwan oolong?

The nominated and confirmed tea (see Saturday) for the inaugural tasting is Alishan Oolong from Taiwan. The next step in our inaugural journey into the TCR program is to nominate potential candidates for the tastings. In this topic, you can nominate specific selections from specific vendors. So, check out Alishan offerings that you would like to nominate today or tomorrow in this topic.

Your nomination(s) must meet a few criteria for this tasting.

1.) They must be available online to the general public.

2.) You may nominate up to 5 selections, no mas!

3.) The price range must be in the neighborhood of 20 Cents per GRAM or $6 per ounce based on vendor pricing for around 100 grams or 1/4 lb. This is to keep the candidates in the same class or grade for fair comparisons.

4.) When nominating a vendor/selection, include a link for the selection if possible. If your nomination was already mentioned, you can reinforce the nomination, politicking is permitted. However, do not repost the link. Multiple links for the same tea will be deleted.

[Victoria]

Absolutely, positively, yes!!
Of course.

I will start by nominating: Tao of Tea AliShan

http://www.taooftea.com/detail2389-Ali_Shan.html


.

[Chip]

Nominations for Alishan selections are hereby closed for southern California.

I nominate Adagio Alishan

[Riene]

I'd vote that I would drink one if I HAD one, but since I don't...

No idea what to nominate, as I've never tried AliShan before. You all will have to make recommendations!

[Pentox]

I would consider drinking one if I had one. But alas I have no Alishan Oolong. I have a few Taiwaneese oolongs on hand, but no Alishan.

Since Oolongs are not normally in my realm of tastings, I do not know of any vendors for oolong worth recommending. The only other vendors that I know of that sell/sold Alishan oolong is Lupicia, and yet that was a seasonal offering not currently available. (Although I did get to try it, and it was quite spectacular).

[Victoria]

A couple of questions -

So the nominations can include international vendors as long as the price (not including shipping) is within the guidelines?

The tea does not need to be called "Ali-Shan" just be from the Ali Shan region?

[tsusentei]

Sure. Why not?!

I just finished an alishan from the spring. I don't believe that I will be purchasing fall ali. Time for another winter of puer~**

[Vulture]

I said no because I don't have any to brew up

In my cup - Earthly Pleasure with cream and sugar (my blend)

[Trioxin]

What the hell, in honor of the poll I'm drinking Baozhong - Taiwan Wuyi from Floating Leaves Tea.

As far as a vendor goes, I think it would be a nice gesture to to go with Adagio for our inaugural tasting.

[horsencl]

I'll brew up some Taiwanese Oolong but no Alishan to be had at the moment. I'll leave the nominating up to the expert oolongians since I've never had alishan before. I did really like the Dan Cong that I ordered from Seven Cups though. I wouldn't mind giving on of their Alishan selections a try.

[kymidwife]

Adagio's is the only one I've tried so far... I am looking forward to hearing recommendations on other vendors.

Some darjeeling, gone cold, in my cup now... and then I am off to bed. And when I wake, I'll have some Ali Shan as promised in honor of today's poll.

sweet dreams and happy Tea Day to everyone,

Sarah

[jennlea]

I voted yes but will be drinking it in spirit since I don't own any yet.

Nothing in my cup at the moment, trying unsuccessfully to get to sleep.

[Victoria]

As far as a vendor goes, I think it would be a nice gesture to to go with Adagio for our inaugural tasting.

Of course! I was thinking that was a given since Chip mentioned it Saturday. In my zeal for the subject, I forgot my manners! I definitely agree with this nomination!

Another question - how about eBay? TeaHome?

[Salsero]

There are so many to choose from that I also defer to the experts. At least today I have a photo of an Ali Shan!

This one is billed as a “traditional” style, in this case meaning it is slightly more oxidized than the ones currently most popular. There are still almost no red oxidation marks on the leaves, so it's not much oxidation. I don't think there is any roasting to speak of.

For some reason tonight I couldn’t get over the impression I was drinking some sort of butter. The weight in the mouth, the aroma, the taste, even the color (light like natural butter, not dark like margarine) all made me think butter.


To see the dry or spent leaves better, click on the photo, and if necessary click again on the resulting photo.

[omegapd]

No Oolong for me today. Starting the day with some neglected Yerba Mate. Good stuff!

EW