Tuesday TeaDay 5/26/09 TeaJourney inspiration?

[Chip]

Greetings everyone and welcome to TeaChat. Please stop in and share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday most responders indicated no special Memorial Day plans, but tea would figure into it at least. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's Topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. Aphrodite "was wondering if folks feel like their own tea journeys are often inspired by those of others (like seeing people talk about something and wanting to try it) or if they tend to march to their own kettle of fish (idiosyncratic idiom of mine) and just go where they want to regardless of the thoughts of others. Something along that line anyway."

Please share ...

I am looking forward to sharing TeaDay with everyone, bottoms up ...

[olivierco]

I sure got extremely valuable advices from other people (especially here), but most of my teajourney (which began when internet wasn't available) wasn't inspired by others.

Kanro gyokuro this morning.

[Proinsias]

There are many people here and elsewhere that have a lot to answer for, ultimately the blame has to go on my shoulders.

In my cup: can't decide, probably something green very soon.

Chinese, Japanese or Indian? I need some inspiration people

[Drax]

The folks here at TeaChat have definitely influenced my journey with tea. I have tried a great variety due to recommendations of the members here!

This morning, I decided to try one more cup of that 1960s Guang Yun Gong.... we'll see how it goes.

[cherylopal]

The folks here at TeaChat have definitely influenced my journey with tea.

I voted yes- you all have influenced my teajourney and although I had started the journey on my own and was happy, I do believe that I'm on a much better path. Perhaps didn't seem strong enough to show this.

I discovered Japanese greens by lurking on this thread and then, after joining, Olivierco and especially Chip really helped hugely- great guides!!

I'm taking my first attempt at cold brew green tea (Sae Midori) in to work to try- didn't take it to the block party yesterday- it went on in the rain- I visited for about 15 minutes and then went back inside and so didn't drink the tea- by then it was time for adult beverages-

[Herb_Master]

I like to follow Linda Ronstadt's example in most of the activities I pursue by adding my own twist and interpretation but starting out it is impossible to make much progress early on without following the example set by others who have trodden these paths before.

My initial inspiration came from the Wisdom Arts Tea Centre in Kuala Lumpur :-
1. Witnessing the Gong Fu method of tea preparation
2. The convivial atmosphere as friends dropped by and sat down to share some tea.

Back home mastering The art of tea prep (1) has continued to enthral me but the lack of immediate close friends showing any interest (2) has been offset by everyone in TeaChat.

Browsing the Internet in the early days was fun, illuminating at times, but often threw up contradictory Facts (supposed) and Advice. Finding TeaChat has enabled me to sift the Corn from the Chaff, and the confidence to know that if it works for you it is good so as time goes by I can increasingly reach for Linda's drum.

By Posting info about websites that I may never have found on my own, TeaChatters have led me to many wondrous places and purchases, I thank you all but my bank manager does not!

Woken today by the postman delivering a Chao Zhou stove, happy days when I pluck up the courage to start using it!

[Jack_teachat]

I discovered Japanese greens by lurking on this thread and then after joining Olivierco and especially Chip really helped hugely- great guides!!

+1

No tea as of yet, will have a big shincha session when I get home later!

Jack

[chad]

The Les Blank documentary, "All in this Tea", following David Lee Hoffman's travels set me off on my journey.

Margaret's Hope Darjeeling today.

[Trey Winston]

I discovered the world of tea on my own, but have been immensely inspired by the members of TeaChat. Thanks, everyone.

After yesterday's sencha binge, I'm back to a mellow White Symphony today.

[Salsero]

Inspire is a big word suggesting to me some level of spiritual emulation, but certainly I have learned from many others and been motivated to try things because of that interaction, at first mostly on RFDT, Teamail, and the blogs, later TeaChat.

[Aphroditea]

My husband tells this joke about a guy who is a wine snob who tries a glass of wine and deems it disgusting. Then the man selling the wine tells the man that this particular wine had one two prestigous awards and the man promptly buys 2 cases of it.

I am decidedly not like this. I like what I like and don't like what I don't like. But, when folks around get all excited about something I tend to want to know what the fuss is all about. I have also tried things or changed things at the suggestions of others - but whether I decide to KEEP having that tea or doing my prep differently is all me.

I have a very eccletic collection of teas and that is due to my ecclectic tastes which I have gotten equally from my own searching and the input of others.

Nothing in my cup this morning since my insides are very unhappy

[auggy]

Perhaps... some teas are added to my list of things to try when they are mentioned by folks, but other times I just get whatever sounds good to me regardless of whether I have heard anything (good or bad) about them.

Rose marzipan for me today. I'm already a giant stress monkey this morning. Not cool.

[Odinsfury]

I hear people talking about Pu Erh all the time but I've never felt inspired to try it. I have received very valuable advice on this forum, more so than any place else. Inspiration usually comes from within for me, but sometimes hearing how someone describes a particular tea can make me curious.

[chamekke]

My mother used to prepare loose-leaf black tea according to exacting English standards, so she was responsible for my first taste of tea. The next big inspiration was when I drank my first bowl of matcha at a Japanese tea-ceremony demonstration - I was hooked! Since then I've been exploring "on my own," but many of my choices have been influenced to some extent by the prior advice of others, including folks on this forum.

And of course it would be impossible to enjoy tea without the contribution of the kind people who pick the tea and ship it, not to mention the folks who make tea vessels. So I guess you could say that everyone involved in my tea journey has inspired me to some degree... I couldn't have done it without them

[Riene]

I suppose my original love of tea came partially from reading. Tea seemed to figure pominently in many of the historical novels or mysteries I'd read for pleasure, so it became habit to have a cup while reading. I bought books about tea, and started to buy quality teas.