tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22480410169322461592026-04-16T03:18:46.838-04:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.comBlogger402125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-63359723904035581412015-06-23T11:48:00.001-04:002015-06-23T16:08:20.897-04:00

It was a fall evening in 2008 that I decided to start a tea blog.  In retrospect I knew very little (still do in fact.) However I did have one thing, passion, passion to learn, passion to know, and passion to try. Honestly I had no clue then what the next 7 years would entail, and what I would learn, but knowledge about tea aside, the thing I have learned is what passion can do for life, and

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-73266780179414686142015-03-21T08:15:00.001-04:002015-03-22T06:23:56.834-04:00

 "Wine is sunlight held together by water."                                            -Galileo Galilei If that is true, then what would tea be?  I'd venture to guess it would be something along the lines of:  tea is life infused into water.  Or at least,

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-21621424762891969142015-02-16T15:53:00.005-05:002015-02-16T15:53:59.269-05:00

Honestly as tea drinkers a lot of thoughts go through our head every single time we sit down to brew tea.  Granted not all of them are tea related, however I have found ten things we should all definitely think about every time we sit down to brew.   These are split into the three large categories which really encompass the main things that are used when enjoying tea. Water:

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-83508425408702104812015-01-31T06:33:00.004-05:002015-01-31T06:33:46.839-05:00

I have to laugh how things can change.  I used to be a person who had tea when they were having tea, and ate when he was going to eat.  I almost never even had a small snack with my tea even though it can be fairly common. However with schedules being what they have been lately, I've found almost the only time I can have tea would be if I start brewing tea around the same time I

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-84409844345223412682015-01-16T18:17:00.000-05:002015-01-16T18:17:07.993-05:00

So lately I have been doing a lot of personal searching, and personal development and goal setting. One thing that didn't sit right was how far I drifted away from tea, and while the past few months it has been getting a foothold in my life again, I did not want the blog or the videos to go.  I never quite announced this outside the group that challenged me to set these goals, however Tea

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-63809956522107064082014-12-30T15:34:00.001-05:002014-12-30T15:41:13.960-05:00

I have run several small interesting experiments with my friends, namely when giving them a choice to use any cup I have to offer, who chooses which, and why did they choose that one?  Is there something about the shape, glaze, size that appeals to them, more than any other piece? Oddly while most of my teaware distinctively speaks to me and as such has traits I admire, the pieces chosen

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-79501891061832396912014-09-26T21:37:00.000-04:002014-09-26T21:37:03.363-04:00

I sat down tonight, saying it has been too long since I last posted, I specifically carved out a solid stretch of time to work on a post.  Something I am not used to as my posts had before mostly been written on a whim, when the spirit hit.  Granted the writing probably very well reflected that free and almost rushed to post attitude, however even after sitting down to tea, having a

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-41835599283867747922014-07-06T14:36:00.000-04:002014-07-06T14:36:22.702-04:00

I am not going to lie, for a little while there I had started to forget what it is I actually like about tea, and why I spent so much time drinking it, and learning how to best prepare it.  I think if people spend enough time on anything eventually they will need to step back and reevaluate their situation.  I've found myself several times in the past week being completely able to

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-80644601788099980292014-06-07T17:09:00.002-04:002014-06-07T17:09:57.800-04:00

I've long stopped wondering about what people google to find this blog, but the past month has caught me chuckling to myself a few times due to the name I happened to choose for this blog and my current field of work.   I'm not sure I've ever explained the reason for the name of this blog, but as it initially was intended to be a tea review blog, I thought well its going to be a blog

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-76481207292549644432014-05-07T17:14:00.001-04:002014-05-07T17:14:09.922-04:00

Sorry for the horrible word play in the title.   However I've been thinking a lot about where tea ranks on my list of priorities lately, and I am not exactly sure.  I view it as an incredibly relaxing and enjoyable diversion, and still enjoy it immensely.  However I've struggled to find the time for it lately, and that is what worries me.  There seems to be an endless battle

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-73636072081805533122014-04-04T14:35:00.001-04:002014-04-04T14:35:00.089-04:00

Through over 5 years on my blog, many things have changed personally, some at least in part inspired by tea.  As tea drinkers we get a lot of questions on what tea is to us, or why we drink tea.  Honestly though through those 5 years and actually back further I realize tea has pretty much been a constant in my life.  Why does this simple set of leaves thrown into hot water help

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-72035361190376136922014-03-23T19:50:00.001-04:002014-03-23T19:50:29.345-04:00

In passing with another tea person I know I had a brief although provocative conversation.  I mentioned that I was drinking some Cold Brewed Keemun I made for a party I hosted, and his initial reaction was that it was a waste of good tea.  I a bit shocked at the somewhat up front condemnation of how I was drinking this tea, decided to ask him more about what he meant, and the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-40219772068460928542014-03-03T04:09:00.000-05:002014-03-03T04:09:54.708-05:00

Well it is quarter after three in the morning, a time I find a little bit ironic, as 24 hours ago I had not yet gone to bed, and in those past 24 hours I've gotten maybe ten hours of sleep, a questionable four Saturday morning, and six with so much promise bringing me to this point in time right here.  So I'm stalling time writing this post hoping I get tired enough to fall back asleep, but

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-65794255663976166622014-02-05T13:53:00.001-05:002014-02-05T13:53:40.296-05:00

When I first started this tea blog, I really had no clue how far it would go, or who I would become acquainted with in the process, but rest assured as with most things, if you are in the *circles* long enough you eventually meet quite a few people.  Arthur Park is actually a potter, with an impressive bio in ceramic arts, but he also views himself as an educator in things reaching beyond

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-76407274443097621042014-02-03T21:30:00.000-05:002014-02-03T21:30:04.735-05:00

So I couldn't help but laugh yesterday, while I have never been that much of a professional football fan, this year I've followed it far less than I have in quite a few years.  Somewhere in the endless mentions of the Super Bowl, I couldn't help but think that as tea lovers and/or pottery loves we all have come to appreciate the Super Bowls known as Chawan. So inspired by yesterdays

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-62906360243621234002014-02-01T13:36:00.002-05:002014-02-01T13:36:40.133-05:00

First I needed to warm up from a bit over 6 mile, hour long run in the ever falling snow.  While it was an incredibly fun and miserable run at the same time, there is just something impressive about the glaciers that were forming on my eyebrows by the end of the run.  [See photo below for amusement.] Now hoping to film a tea video again, and having a peaceful Saturday to get it

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-67672215054777191752014-01-25T22:12:00.000-05:002014-01-25T22:20:26.202-05:00

I am sure anyone that has been around the block in the tea world a few times has heard all sorts of wonderful health claims, including the magical claim that tea can help you lose weight!  Well, to go a little into my personal life again, sorry I seem to be doing this a lot lately, I have in the past year lost roughly 40 pounds, and who knows how much muscle I gained in the processes.  

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-22386679338738172152014-01-18T22:03:00.002-05:002014-01-18T22:03:40.150-05:00

It had been far too long since I have had matcha on hand, and I need to get a whole lot more.  I have oddly realized that Matcha may actually be the ideal tea to make in an office setting.  What makes matcha ideal? Well besides the few random additional items you need to make it properly such as a whisk, there are no wet spent leaves to dispose of, as you drink all of them.  

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-61789719266353702602014-01-11T21:32:00.002-05:002014-01-11T21:32:51.670-05:00

Honestly, I am trying to get back on a somewhat regular posting schedule, but having been sick for the past few days, and realizing I probably can't write anything new and original about drinking tea while sick, I have decided to just share some eye candy I have not posted yet to this blog. Below is a Youtube video I posted in which I did not speak, though you can hear some sounds of me

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-82971981571653958302014-01-04T20:38:00.001-05:002014-01-04T20:38:50.170-05:00

A bit late to post this on my blog, but to all my readers out there Happy New Year!  While an otherwise great 2013 fizzled out with out much ado, 2014 started off rather incredibly, and yes tea was involved. But before I get on to the tea, I want to share something I am still thrilled about, on a 5k Race I ran New Years Morning, I won my age group!  While for about 99 out of 100

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-68275813560590846562013-12-22T21:16:00.001-05:002013-12-22T21:39:09.518-05:00

This post is an experiment, I am trying to post from a mobile source as lately I've tried to "unplug" around the holidays.  To get to the topic of tea, I think the more teaware one has the harder it is to consider packing tea items for travel. While now I know moving all of it is impractical, but through use you start to like certain items for certain teas.  So the thought of having tea

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-47551147976075439172013-12-14T14:50:00.004-05:002013-12-14T14:50:51.788-05:00

Guess what, I've finally had a weekend to be knocked down and productive at home.  That means I found time to do another video.  Love snow days, especially on weekends.

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-76839850738880106302013-12-12T22:47:00.000-05:002013-12-12T22:47:04.316-05:00

Lately I've felt my pictures have been almost a bit too scripted, so when I was looking through shots I have taken I stumbled upon this one and realized -- this is my normal tea "set up," or rather lack there of.  The photos are almost too scripted, and I honestly feel a lot of tea bloggers are the same way though I am only admitting to my own faults here.  I mean table littered

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-47272160898493104732013-12-06T19:52:00.000-05:002013-12-06T19:52:14.717-05:00

So on a few tea blogs lately you may have noticed a game of tag going around.  Well  it was started by The Cup of Life, and I have been tagged by The Art of Japanese Green Tea.  Possibly others I have to admit (maybe as a first confession), I have been incredibly busy lately and am very very behind on my reading. 1) First, let's start with how you were introduced & fell in

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2248041016932246159.post-64421558896752379412013-11-23T21:20:00.000-05:002013-11-23T21:20:05.390-05:00

I apologize for this sacrilegious post. I have been breaking a lot of ground in terms of my physical fitness lately.  Today I ran an identical race to one I ran last year, except this year I finished the 5k in nearly 8 and a half minutes less this time around.  Now I am very very confident that feat can not be duplicated as I was thrilled at my sub 25 minute time, and I can not even

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08939074707659681899noreply@blogger.com0