Thursday TeaDay 2/05/09 Steeping tea leaf?

[Chip]

The TeaChat Gaiwan Contest semi-final polls are now availble under Teaware, please check them out and vote.
Welcome TeaFriends to TeaDay on TeaChat. Please share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday, oolong was the top pick by far for the most attractive wet/used leaves. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. The leaves are in hot water, which leaves do you find most attractive while brewing? Some details please! Specific teas that you find the best lookers as they steep.

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

[Beidao]

I'm first!

My answer is white, no doubt.

Drinking some Rose Tea and Houjicha. Moving on to other things soon.

Nice teaday everyone!

[Trey Winston]

My answer is white, no doubt.

Mine too, as I presciently explained earlier this week. Now enjoying some Glendale Handmade Nilgiri. Yum.

[Vulture]

I wouldn't know, all the teas I brew are in my gaiwan now, so I rarely look inside after adding the water...

Top goes off, Top goes on....Top goes off, Top goes on....

[Victoria]

Gotta vote for oolong again. Love watcing those rolled leaves expand.
Lovely in a glass pot. And the infusion color - stunning in oolongs!

[Salsero]

Gotta go with green.

[cherylopal]

Thanks to Rishi tea for the pic.

I voted green because of these jasmine pearls. They are amazing to watch- the leaves unfurl as they rise to the top and fall back and rise again and fall- a tea dance in my cup. I would almost call this the sun salutation of tea.

[Drax]

I wouldn't know, all the teas I brew are in my gaiwan now, so I rarely look inside after adding the water...

I've got the same problem... I rarely see the leaves while they're steeping in water. So I voted "other" for those blooming teas, even though I've never had one. Yes, a cop-out to be sure. I *do* like the look of whites, but they're often crammed in my spherical tea diffuser.

I'm on my last sample from a mega-sample purchase. It's a 2000 Langhe ripe pu-erh. After this, I think I go back to try a sheng I think I botched (or had a burnt tongue), and then I take a bit of break from pu-erh....!

[chad]

I enjoy watching the green tea leaves unfurl!

Margaret's Hope darjeeling on this chilly Florida Gulf Coast morning.

[brlarson]

Today is another tough choice. I agree with Victoria about watching balled oolongs unfurl. Second choice is `whites and yellows', and third choice is `greens'.

I finished last night with Hou de's mid-90's aged dancong, which was delicious but I should have used more leaf, and I'm drinking Rou Gui this morning.

[Smari]

Gotta vote for oolong again. Love watcing those rolled leaves expand.
Lovely in a glass pot. And the infusion color - stunning in oolongs!

I second that! They are definitely lovely to watch when it unfurls.

Having Alishan oolong right now to beat the 12*F weather.

[ErikaM]

I also voted oolong, especially the pearl varieties. I'm not wild about the tea itself, but it is awfully fun to watch the pearls unfold.

Does anyone else hate the term "agony of the leaves"? I like to think of it more as an awakening of leaves or dance of leaves.

Starting off my morning with white blueberry/white peach blend iced tea. I'm busy with a work project and didn't want to take the time to brew anything hot.

[auggy]

I voted greens, specifically for the curly ones. I enjoy seeing them twist. Sadly, I broke my glass tea pot. I debated replacing it with something else not as delicate but ultimately I miss seeing the leaves expand and color streaking the water as it steeps. So I'll be getting a new glass pot (and not dropping a Pyrex measuring cup on it - hopefully).

Ceylon tea in my cup this morning. That plus two Excedrin means I'm a highly caffeinated girl today. WOOOOOOOO!

[Victoria]

In my cup this morning - Tao of Tea Neela, one of my favorite
Nigliri teas.

Have a nice day everyone!

[Pentox]

I voted white/yellow. Silver Needle and certain yellow teas dancing with their buds is where it's at.