Friday TeaDay 1/23/09 Specialized or generalized?

[Chip]

Welcome TeaFriends TeaDay. Please share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday respnders indicated a very high satisfaction in their tea vendors last year. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Last 2008 TEA vendor topic, maybe. Were your vendors last year general all around vendors, or more specialty vendors (specializing in a particular type or tea region)? Please share your thoughts on this subject.

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone. Bottoms up.

The new TeaChat contest will be revealed tomorrow, late night likely. Make sure you check it out! It is just what a guy wants, but a gal would like it to.
.

[Salsero]

I tend to have favorite vendors for different kinds of teas ... so specialized for me.



To see the decidedly yellow spent leaves of this varietal of Wuyi oolong, click HERE.

[JasonC]

Most of the vendors for me were pretty all around.

Keemun Rhapsody is currently in my cup, on my second steep. I find it's in my cup pretty often, good stuff! That reminds me, I need to order some more.

Thanks,
--Jason

[Trioxin]

Mainly specialized.

Currently drinking Xiaguan FT Exquisite Elegance Pu-erh

[Pentox]

A mix for me. Although it's a very tricky question. At what point is a vendor specialty or general?

Interesting photo Sal, is that mirror ghosting I see on the top half?

[Salsero]

is that mirror ghosting I see on the top half?

Indeed yes. I wonder why only part of the image is ghosting? Perhaps it has something to do with photographic focus?

[omegapd]

Mostly general vendors. The one exception would probably be Pu-erh shop but he sells more "general" type stuff too.

China Black this morning, iced. Good stuff...

EW

[Drax]

Definitely a mix. From Adagio to the Japanese Green Tea Shop.

Trying out the 1998 Lincang CNNP pu-erh this morning. This is probably the oldest sheng I've tried now. I'll speak like a heathen here -- it reminds me a lot of the 2007 Xiaguan tibetan flame brick. Though it's been awhile since I tried the Xiaguan... I just got a ton of samples from netsurfr, so I'll be going through "new to me" pu-erhs for the next two weeks.

[brandon]

1990's sheng tuo cha from Nada comes with a photo tip from Brent. My dining room is lit with a chandelier with 6 tungsten bulbs. Even with the camera's white balance setting on tungsten, this light produces extremely warm images. My shots were really suffering from this. At Brent's advice, I created a custom white balance setting for a much "cooler" shot.

Filed under Things That Suck:

[brlarson]

Most of my vendors are specialized. My only general vendors are Massachusetts vendors and Adagio.

Yesterday afternoon and evening, Bi Lo Chun closing with Meng Ding Huang Ya.
This morning, Uji Miyabe.

[Salsero]

Filed under Things That Suck:

[Smari]

Hehe, kewl Friday photos, love 'em

My vendors selection was a mix of both. It's true that certain vendors that specializes in a specific type of tea has a better quality than a general, but that's based on my preference because others might have a different opinion about that. As an example, I like to get my greens from Den's and my blended matès from Teavana, and etc.

This morning, roasted matè blended with caramel rooibos.

[auggy]

Mostly general for me, but a couple of more specialized places. That's one reason I have resolved to try new vendors this year - I want to try out more specialty places.

Hazelnut tea for me this morning. I have nothing to do at work until the pastor gets his sermon notes done. Then bulletin making. But for now, nothing. It's been a slow week - I even watched a movie during work yesterday.

[olivierco]

Mostly specialized vendors, exclusively specialized vendors for Japanese greens.

Kaboku sencha in a few minutes.

[silvermage2000]

I would say mainly around general vendors. I have not had a cup of tea yet.