Secret Santa 2008

[olivierco]

PM sent.

Main interest: good tea (unflavored)/teathings.

I can send some japanese tea or/and teathings to the person I will be gifting.

Thanks for organizing the secret santa pairings!

[Victoria]

Thanks Mary!

Well most of you have my address from the tastings, but I'll send it to Mary
anyway.

I like all kinds of tea - not flavored though. I like tea related items and I like Asian things and have a love of Paris. Oh and Purple.

[Space Samurai]

PM sent.

I like Japanese greens, Chinese blacks, TGY and roasted oolong.

[Pentox]

What did we decide the price range was gonna be?

I like japanese greens primarily and modern or Japanese teaware.

PM sent.

[fencerdenoctum]

I'll PM you Mary.

I'm pretty much a sucker for blacks and oolongs, but I'm warming up to greens. Teawares are always welcomed (big wish, a glass gaiwan).

Looking forward to Secret Santa this year!

Fencer/Dustin

[Mary R]

2 things:

1: Last year we had a $20 limit. Since we didn't discuss it, I assumed that's what this year's would be...but I added a poll up top. I know we're all a little burned out on elections at the moment...but do indulge me.

2: Dude...no one called me on "Secret Santa 2009." I was running a whole year ahead!

[hop_goblin]

Let's just put it this way, you guys have been drinking tea long enough to know that you generally get what you pay for.

[brandon]

I'm in.
I intend to blow the budget if you cap it at $25. I will consider it purely advisory.

[Space Samurai]

I for one can't afford much more than 20 dollars this year. So that's my vote. If the majority wants to increase the limit, I'll happily withdraw this year. Its only fair, and I don't wanna be a party-pooper.

[Pentox]

i don't really wanna make more work for Mary about this, but one thing we could do is set like a few pricing tiers and get paired off based on that? Just say like 20 or 30 maybe? So for those who could only afford 20ish, pair off with each other, and likewise for the 30's?

[brandon]

I didnt really mean to raise the bar across on everyone, but most things I drink these days are more than $25/100g. I am all for a policy of doing what makes sense to you - it has worked out just fine in the tastings here. Some of the less expensive rounds created more interest than the ultra premium. If people are really serious about a cap, I will try to stay inside it.

[Pentox]

I didnt really mean to raise the bar across on everyone, but most things I drink these days are more than $25/100g. I am all for a policy of doing what makes sense to you - it has worked out just fine in the tastings here. Some of the less expensive rounds created more interest than the ultra premium. If people are really serious about a cap, I will try to stay inside it.

I totally agree with what you're saying. Personally for me I drink teas in the same price range as well. And at the same time if you're talking about teaware and the such, anything that I would probably look for under that price range if I found it I probably have it already. Hence why I think two price tiers (two for the sake of simplicty) would make sense. I totally understand why some other people would need to stay low for their situation. So it gives us both sides of the fence. But sadly more work for Mary.

[ABx]

I voted $25, but then $20 isn't that much lower. Then again, I wouldn't be at all offended if I spent $25 but only got something for $20 or less (if it's something that's great but can't get myself then it wouldn't matter to me if it's much less). I see a "cap" as just that - a maximum and not a minimum. You can always include samples from your own cabinet, too.

I'll PM Mary. Stuff I like:
* Oolongs - though I have a fair amount already (but new stuff is always good). Good dancong, aged stuff (not from Hou De), anything with good aroma (I've had a hard time finding anything this year), or anything from the vendors that weren't known before this year
* Puerh - but not so much young sheng, and shu would have to be atypical
* Black teas - post-fermented blacks, not red tea
* Anything unusual
* Any manner of useful or decorative teaware - dark colors or earth/natural tones - not bright yellow, pastel colors, the white and blue scheme, or that kind of thing. I like just about anything with a sutra on it, like my ~50ml white gaiwan with gold leaf sutra and Buddha.

I pretty much stick to Chinese tea and teaware, though novel (and good) oolongs and such from the other Asian countries like Indonesia and such are always good.

[Sydney]

I voted big money and don't like tea that tastes like chick bathroom soap.

[Mary R]

Mmmmkay blokes and bloke-esses,

The only people I have confirmed to participate in SS08 are Olivier, Victoria, Space, Pentox, Fencer, Brandon, and ABx. There seems to be a helluva lot more interest, though...anyone else want in? Drop a post clearly saying "YES...ME, DAMNIT!" here.