Wednesday TeaDay 6/24/09 how many ... TEA vendors?

[Chip]

Good TeaDay everyone. I am hoping you will stop in and share what is in your cup today.

Yesterday I was surprised that only 2 responders indicated they had Silver Needles regularly. You can still vote and discuss yesterday's Topic.

Today's TeaPoll and discussion topic. How many TEA vendors (for tea!) have you received tea from in 2009? Please share highlights with us.

I am looking forward to sharing TD with everyone ... bottoms up.

[CutieAgouti]

At least 5...I did a bit of shopping around online and in NYC for teas. Trying out local places to see what's worth the money and what's not.

Nothing in my cup yet, gotta get to bed first. Hopefully give matcha koicha from Ito en a try this morning

[entropyembrace]

I voted 3 but then I remembered a 4th at the start of the year...3 of the 4 have been local shops...I'm really enjoying one of them, it's a nice place to hang out and drink tea and I've found they have some really nice leaves! Sometimes I go to hang out and other times to stock up on loose tea

Other highlight was the big order of single bush milan dancong from jing tea shop, I made a special order for 1kg of it to celebrate many anniversaries with my gf.

[Trioxin]

Sadly only 3. Yunnan Sourcing, Floating Leaves, and Specialteas (two pounds of blackberry for my summer iced teas). Been spending so much money on the house its been tough to afford many teas, but on the upside, my environment for drinking tea has greatly improved.

Currently drinking red peach from Silk Road Teas thanks to Victoria I think. Looks like her packaging anyways.

[olivierco]

I have been reasonable this year: only five vendors so far.
O-cha (7 gyokuro and 5 sencha/shincha)
Ippodo (6 gyokuro, 8 sencha/shincha, 2 bancha and 8 matcha)
Teaspring (6 greens and 1 yellow)
Mariage Frères (2 Himalayan and 2 black teas)
Palais des thés (2 Keemun)

Cha Wang Lu An Gua Pian to start the day.

[sriracha]

I counted 16 since my interest in tea has exploded in the last few months.

Three international internet vendors, four domestic and at least nine places I've visited IRL.

A few of the best have been

Hou De's 2008 Yunnan Gold "Jin Si" Golden Tips-it's been a little while since I've had it but I remember vegetable notes like artichoke.

Swedish internet vendor Song's TGY-I find it a little hard to descibe but clearly a high quality tea.

Sunon Yellow Tea from a Swedish chain of tea shops(interesting tea with a caramel scent and a dry finish I really like. Goes well with any type of cookie with peanuts/cashew nuts/pecans)

Deep-steamed kukicha from my favourite Japanese food shop...incredible aroma and a very savoury taste.

I'm still working on finishing my cheap Yunnan at work...so that's what I've had this morning. =)

[Jack_teachat]

8 so far!

Adagio
O-Cha
Yuuki-Cha
Ippodo
Maiko
Jing (UK)
Teasmith (London, UK)
Lahloo Tea (Bristol, UK)

Jack

[sriracha]

Lahloo Tea (Bristol, UK)

Which tea(s) did you buy from them? I'm interested since I've a friend near Bristol and I'd like to visit some good tea shops while I'm staying with her. =)

Recommendations would be great!

[Drax]

Hrm, more than I thought! (Jing Tea, Tea Cuppa, Andao, Nada, Houde De, Puerh Shop, YSLLC, Adagio, Skip4Tea...) I think that's it?

Yikes.

I am going to have literally no free time today, so looks like enjoying some tea will be highly unlikely. Ugh!!

[clareandromeda]

Today is my first day of "summer vacation" (I am a special education teachers aide at a high school). I work summer school so I have a week off before summer school starts. Massive quantites of tea will be consumed. Today I already had some O-cha sincha yutaka midori. I've been experimenting with less water and enjoying it. I did 4 oz water with 1 tsp leaf at 170 F. Interesting, a bit strong, more water next time. I will probably pop open some of the Ito En Makinohara Sencha. I bought some Uji Gyokuro as well, but have too much tea open at the moment. One could have worse problems.

[Herb_Master]

I said 3, Wan Ling UK, Tea Habitat and Hou De

But there were some free samples thrown in with some teaware that arrived from elsewhere



Then I remembered I brought several back from Malaysia which would get me close to 10

[tea-guy]

More than ten. I'd say over 50 so far in 2009.

In my cup this morning is White Tea from Teatulia.

[chad]

Two. I didn't order any and buy from two local stores (not counting bags from the grocery store).

Silver Needles today.

[Salsero]

I can think of 8.

I am developing a little more affection for some of these roasted Japanese greens, especially as accompaniment to food.

[MASALACHAAAAIIIIII]

about six possibly??? I can't even keep up now hahaa

Well no tea for the day yet Visiting indianapolis, we saw some random teahouse might try it before I go INSANEEEEE