World of Tea

Tea Drinker Profile: Nicole Martin

2010-08-29T22:11:51Z

Name: Nicole Martin
Sex: Female
Age: 26
Occupation: I’m the store manager of a pet boutique that also does dog daycare and pet grooming.
Location: Bayonne, NJ.

Do you drink tea at work?: I rarely get to drink tea at work since I’m always on the move. When I do it is normally a green tea or chai latte from the Starbucks down the street.

Interests: Outside of tea I love anything to do with the outdoors, especially camping and hiking. I’m also very active in Girl Scouting and am an advisor for three troops. I also enjoy photography, genealogy and horseback riding.

Favorite Tea Variety: Oolong.
Favorite tea: My absolute favorite tea is the Huang Zhi Xiang (Yellow Sprig) Dan Cong Oolong from Seven Cups . I even have a yixing pot dedicated to it.
How long have you been into tea?: I started to take a real interest in tea about three years ago.

What got you started with tea?: I’ve been drinking bagged tea my whole life. In college I began trying some different kinds of tea at the grocery store. I saw a magazine article about flowering teas and thought they looked really cool. Soon after that I became a staff reviewer for Teaviews.com.

How do you store your tea?: I mostly store them in the containers they come in or in airtight tins.

Flavored Tea?: I tend to prefer unflavored teas. I do have a few select favorites though.

Do you also drink coffee?: Not at all. I can’t stand the taste of it.

What is the perfect setting for drinking tea?: I love drinking tea outdoors. It’s so relaxing and peaceful.

How many cups of tea do you drink a day?: On a good day I’ll drink around 10 cups.

Twitter Name: @teaformeplease

Facebook Page:http://www.facebook.com/nicoleannmartin

Website: http://teaformeplease.blogspot.com

Bookmark to:

James Norwood Pratt’s Tea Dictionary: Fukusa

2010-08-29T22:18:27Z

Fukusa: A square silk cloth used in cha-no-yu for the ritual cleaning of the tea scoop and the natsume or cha-ire, and for handling hot kettle or pot lids. Fukusa are sometimes used by guests for protecting the tea implements when they are examining them. When not in use the fukusa is tucked into the “obi,” or belt of the kimono. Fukusa are of different colours for men and women, for people of different ages or skill levels, for different ceremonies and schools.

If you want to read more about James Norwood Pratt’s Tea Dictionary or to pick up a copy, click here.

Bookmark to:

Best Tea of the Year: Hype

2010-08-31T19:59:00Z

So many times i see awards being given out for “best ceylon tea of 2010″ etc. [like here] And this practice is hard for me to swallow. The following thoughts instantly come to mind when I see an American company accept an award for a tea they “procured”:

1. Is it possible that more than one company imports the same tea? Must they have exclusivity to enter such contests?
2. Do they mention the farmer at all? After all, the farmer is the one responsible for the tea.

I ask myself, what is the point here? Isn’t the farmer the one responsible for the tea? Are we profiting from someone else’s hard work and labor? Or are we being awarded on our ability to source a tea only?

The answer I tell myself is that it is all marketing… to say you’ve one this award… to put it on your label, your website, this creates buzz, and news and is at the core of marketing. This still doesn’t help me digest the whole idea. It is not only awards that serve this same purpose: to say you are fair trade or organic even though most teas that are — are grown by farmers that cannot afford to become certified.

I have a really hard time subscribing to this. Call me old-fashioned, but I could never accept an award for a tea I did not grow and process with my own bare hands (none). What do you think?

Bookmark to:

Pu-erh Tea and Tobacco: A trip to Iwan Ries

2010-08-01T18:02:20Z

Much has been written on tobacco notes in young pu-erh teas. Because of this, some local Chicago tea friends and I decided to take this idea for a spin and spend a day at Iwan Ries with Certified Tobacconist Ron Carroll. Ron wanted to learn more about pu-erh and we wanted to compare the subtle complexities of pipe-tobacco with the nuances of pu-erh tea. Instead of immersing ourselves in not-taking and in-depth comparisons, we just enjoyed ourselves and let the conversation flow. Thomas Conner of TeaSquared elaborated on the day: http://teasquared.blogspot.com/2010/05/tea-and-tobacco-smokin.html

Bookmark to:

Todd & Holland, a tea shop in Forest Park, Illinois

2010-08-01T17:49:13Z

On July 31st, I held my first Chicago Tea Meetup @ Todd and Holland in Forest Park, IL. Meetup Groups are a great way to meet people in your area with similar interests. The Chicago Tea Lovers group has around 250 members (As of August 2010) and has held 56 meetups in the Chicago area since 2006, so I am very excited to head up this group. Seven members came out to Todd and Holland, a tea shop owned by Janet and Bill Todd that has been in the Chicago area for over 15 years. Bill frequently travels to tea origins and buys direct from farmers, which as you know is right up my alley! Janet asked what type of teas we’d like to taste for our private tasting, I suggested Japanese teas – not having enough time to consult the group. Everyone was happy with my choice nonetheless, we started with a Japanese Black Tea – an unusual offering from Japan called “Shizuika Kohcha” it reminded me of a nutty Yunnan black with less maltiness. We also tried their Yame Sencha, Kukicha Supreme, and Gyokuro Imperial. Bill taught us all proper cupping techniques, so loud slurps were heard throughout the shop. Todd and Holland is a great local Chicago tea shop and their online shop is great as well, I recommend checking them out!

Bookmark to:

Facebook Tea Contest

2010-08-24T04:14:21Z

Like Chicago Tea Garden’s Facebook Page and be entered to win a $60 pomelo filled with tea that has been aged for ~15 years. Must “like” us by August 30th, 2010 and the contest winner will be announced on September 1st. Here it is:

Chicago Tea Garden Facebook Page

Bookmark to:

Tea Drinker Profile: Rachana Carter

2010-08-18T03:15:58Z

Name: Rachana (Rachel) Carter
Sex: Female
Age: 33
Occupation: Some Retail – Primarily a Stay-At-Home Mom.
Location: Suburb of Chicago.

Do you drink tea at work?: At work I drink Adagio’s RTD Green Tea – Anteadote.

Interests: First, I am an absolute addict of all things tea. I love the chance at trying new teas and coveting old favorites. The infinite possibilities of flavor excites me and the fact that I will never be bored amazes me. I also enjoy scrapbooking and cardmaking, but I must say I am a bit of sci-fi and computer geek. That includes, all Star Trek movies and shows, Star Wars, Stargate, and well anything “Star” I suppose. I do like my Family Guy, Simpsons, Futurama, King of The Hill, and American Dad. I don’t think it gets any more geeky than that. The best part is that tea works well with any thing I do or watch be it formal or informal. A friend that is always with me and works to fit any of my infinite moods.

Favorite Tea Variety: Not sure if I have a favorite but I am always itching for a delicious oolong.
Favorite tea: I have several… Black – Banaspity Bliss/ LeafSpa Tea, Black Flavored – Sweet Velvet Fog a Signature Blend I created on Adagio, Oolong – Milk Oolong/ThePuriTea, Pouchong – Coconut Pouchong/Golden Moon Tea, Green – Gyokuro/TeaGschwendner, Green Flavored – Green Coconut/TeaGschwendner, Honeybush – Lemon Drop Cooler/52Teas, I know that is a lot but I just don’t have an absolute favorite not to mention it can still change.

How long have you been into tea?: Since the first cup of homemade Indian Chai my mother made when I was a child.

What got you started with tea?: I needed to find a tea.

How do you store your tea?: Usually in the packaging provided. However, if needed in airtight containers.

Flavored Tea?: Yes, I actually enjoy flavored and unflavored. Although, I generally do not like adding any milk or sweetener to a tea.

Do you also drink coffee?: Yes, I too love a good cup of coffee but I have at most about 3 cups a week. My preference is tea.

What is the perfect setting for drinking tea?: A quiet, peaceful place or at least somewhere I can close my eyes for a minute and transport myself to my “Happy” place; and it isn’t your Happy Gilmore “Happy” place either. LOL

How many cups of tea do you drink a day?: At least 5 cups hot and one cold bottled tea.

Twitter Name: @RachelKCarter

Website: MyTeasandMore.com and iHeartTeas.com both under construction.

Bookmark to:

James Norwood Pratt’s Tea Dictionary: Jade Oolong

2010-08-17T02:03:35Z

Jade Oolong: Contemporary trade term like Amber oolong coined by Thomas Shu in 1996 to describe Taiwan’s greenish type of oolongs. It is also sometimes called “fragrant” oolong because it is so aromatic. Jade oolongs may be made from several different varietals but never from Tieguanyin or Wuyi types used for Amber oolongs. The oxidation is kept down to 25% or less and the leaf is less shotty than Amber oolong due to this minimal rolling. Dong ding is typically made into jade oolong for example.

If you want to read more about James Norwood Pratt’s Tea Dictionary or to pick up a copy, click here.

Bookmark to:

Tea Porn: NSFW

2010-08-01T17:33:52Z

Just some tea photos from the past year:

Bookmark to:

Tea Drinker Profile: Brian Pfeifer

2010-08-08T17:05:07Z

Name: Brian Pfeifer
Sex: Male
Age: 38
Occupation: I’ll be a DOS (English Teacher + manager + teacher trainer) as soon as I finish this dissertation.
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, but in August I’m moving to Shanghai, China.

Do you drink tea at work?: At school, and at my last job I brewed up a bit travel mug of tea or a big Nalgene bottle of iced tea.

Interests: History, hiking, spaceflight, and tea.

Favorite Tea Variety: For me, it’s not about the general variety, but rather exceptional quality of each tea brewed and drunk. The only thing I’m not a fan of is Assam/Ceylon teas.
Favorite tea: I start every day with a cup of Japanese Sencha so I have to include that as a favorite. I also have a passion for Pu-erh. In both cases, I cannot name an individual brand because I enjoy variety and trying out new sources.
How long have you been into tea?: About six years.

What got you started with tea?: It started when we were living in Japan and were surrounded by tea as a normal part of work/restaurant/polite culture. Then we had a short trip to Hong Kong that really opened our eyes. We were lucky enough to take a two hour course in a little shop beside the Night Market that taught us the basics of gongfu brewing technique. My wife and I have been learning and practicing and researching ever since.

How do you store your tea?: I put the teas I most commonly drink into tins that we have accumulated over the years. Some teas come in resealable pouches or bags, and I don’t mind using those. I have a few teas in zip-lock bags because I have nothing better to put them in.

Flavored Tea?: I drink some flavored/scented teas, but I prefer ones from the same companies that produce high quality pure teas. That way they are more likely to start with a high grad tea as the base rather than just masking mediocre or poor tea with heavy perfumes.

Do you also drink coffee?: No, just never liked the stuff.

What is the perfect setting for drinking tea?: I have two: First, I really appreciate the aesthetic of the Japanese teahouse situated in a garden, especially when one wall is open to the garden. It creates a space that is separate from the mundane world allowing the tea drinker to simply be. The bubbling and splashing of water masks the sounds of the outside world as foliage masks the sights of the outside world. It is a great way to take a break and re-center oneself. The Second setting I really enjoy is walking into a teashop in Japan, Taiwan, or Korea and sitting down at the table while the tea master/proprietor brews and serves a wide selection of his offerings. It’s a great setting for exploring new teas, sharing culture, and making new friends. There is nothing quite so extraordinary as chatting over a cup of truly amazing tea.

How many cups of tea do you drink a day?: Three to eight cups of tea.

Twitter Name: @bpfeifer

Facebook Page:Brian Pfeifer

Website: http://www.sabletower.com/tea/

Bookmark to: