Friday TeaDay 10/24/08 Comfort zone for tea?

[Chip]

Welcome everyone to TeaDay, please be sure to share what is in your cup today, all day.

Yesterday, responders overwhelmingly indictated that NO, tea and incense do NOT mix. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. What percentage of your tea purchases are made in your "comfort zone" of teas you already know you enjoy, vs taking risk with tea you do not know? Please share.

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone, outside of their "comfort zones."

[stevenski]

I'm new to teas and still exploring, so I have a few favorites already, but most are completely outside of my comfort zone, because I don't really have one.

So far, Dragonwell is my mainstay.

[leiche]

60/40. I mostly know what I like, but am generally willing to try new things.

I mainly drink various blacks and darker/more roasted oolongs.

[Maitre_Tea]

There are way too many tea varieties out there, and even within the major categories there are sub-divisions as well. I tackle each category at a time so I don't become too scatter brained about my tea drinking habits. Right now I am completely open to trying all different types of oolongs, in particular roasted ones.

I'm interested in new flavors so I'm willing to experiment with mostly anything.

[zacstill]

great topic!

Most everything is outside my comfort zone at this point in my tea infancy, but I do have some favorites that I'll be sure to return to.

Maybe there is a distinguishing factor between vendor comfort zone and tea variety/category comfort zone.

I'm trying both new vendors and tea types all the time. I'm shopping around for good vendors for:
pi lo chun
dragonwell
oriental beauty
tky (I like adagio's but have little to compare it to -only wegmans and a local tea house who may or may not use adagio)

as well as looking to try new teas I've never had:
keemun black
wuyi oolong
some japanese greens

nothing in my cup atm, its nearly 2am!
finishing my 03 keyixing sample tomorrow afternoon, and some dragonwell in the AM

[olivierco]

I would say 80% in my comfort zone, maybe more. I have about twenty-five teas that I restock regularly (6 senchas, 5 gyokuros, 4 darjeelings, 3 bancha, 2 matcha, keemun, yunnan gold, silver needles, jasmine pearls, rooibos) and I am quite satisfied with their taste and quality so I don't have much room to try many new teas.

Keemun Mao Feng Imperial this morning.

[Vulture]

I'm new to teas and still exploring, so I have a few favorites already, but most are completely outside of my comfort zone, because I don't really have one.

That is me as well. I have 3 favorites I drink in rotation but I am trying out so many other ones as well.

30/70

Don't have anything in my cup yet but it will be soon filled with my flavors blend.

[Trioxin]

Too tired to figure out percentages. Works been killer. I do buy a lot of teas outside of my comfort zone though. Nothing wrong with trying something new.

Currently drinking 2007 Guanzizai Yiwu Arbor Raw Pu-erh

[Salsero]

I said 20% in my comfort zone, but that may be too high. I rarely buy the same tea twice. On the other hand, I am comfortable with trying new stuff all the time. Most of it is pretty good!

I didn't have to worry about comfort zone when I bought a cake of this sheng, because I had already tasted a generously provided sample. Many thanks to Trioxin (again!) for another great sample and—really—for introducing me to the puerh maker that I later learned to be HeavyDoom’s favorite. This one is actually from the Yong De sub-branch of the Mengku Shuangjiang tea factory.


Clicking on the photo today will give you not a larger file but a completely different view of the same scenery.

[omegapd]

Love to try new things, but still re-order my favorites too.

EW

[Trioxin]

Many thanks to Trioxin (again!) for another great sample and—really—for introducing me to the puerh maker that I later learned to be HeavyDoom’s favorite.

Aw shucks, gonna make me blush.

[boywoodhe]

I love to try new teas...but i have to drink my black tea in the morning.
woodie

[Vulture]

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. What percentage of your tea purchases are made in your "comfort zone" of teas you already know you enjoy, vs taking risk with tea you do not know? Please share.

OK so I had a few thoughts about this. Most if not all people here can consider tea as a hobby not just a drink. If you think about the pots, brewing, types and so on. Part of this hobby is the adventure of trying new teas. The only risk we put ourselves to is the actual cost of the tea. As you put it we find teas that we like or love and continue drinking them. Even when we find the tea types (oolong, green and so on) we like, there is still a huge room to explore. Within that being different brands, how it is brewed, and even the seasons the tea is picked. I think the reason people like tea so much isn't for a replacement to soda. Its to have a different flavor each cup! This is the 'Adventure' that we look for.

I don't see a 'comfort zone' for teas per say. Just Teas we liked and 'Oh I haven't tried that before!'

[Drax]

Oooh Salsero, where'd they get that bookmark thingy with the picture of Strongbad on it??

I'm a loose leaf tea newbie, too, so most purchases are outside of my comfort zone. I think once I get comfortable and familiar with types, I'd shift more to a 50/50 style.

Sencha with breakfast this morning...

[Sydney]

I picked 30/70, but it could easily be more like 20/80.

I'm an adventurer!