Tea Fiends's topics - tribe.net

Yixing tea set

2008-06-25T03:47:53Z

Selling a real Yixing set from China Green .Leaf motif with Cicada handle on pot . Contact me sambacometAThotmail.com if interested,I'll send pics.

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Oolong blocks fat?!

2008-06-23T04:57:58Z

check this...

http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/oolong-tea-diet.html

they didn't show the link to the actually study so i am suspicious, anyone know the scoop on that? Also why would that work best with oolongs? hmmmm

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Roobios Tea

2008-06-22T08:11:58Z

My best friend gave me a box of her African Dawn Roobios tea which she brought back to the states from South Africa. This stuff is out of control! I tried Roobios tea for the first time several months ago (imagine that?!) at her house (the same stuff) and wondered how I could have been missing out all this time! I then proceeded to try out different brands of Roobios teas and they all sucked. Every single one of them! The African Dawn is the only Roobios I have tried that only requires one tea bag, and you can get two cups out of it! Its super strong, just the way I like it. Not weak like the other crap being passed off for "gourmet tea" and charging 7bux a pop.

posted in Tea Fiends - 11 replies

Liu An Cha

2008-05-17T00:55:12Z

It is VERY cooling on the body and mind. It tastes as good as 30 year old pu erh. I drink 10 year old or older liu an.
Any one else like the an cha?

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Cup of Brown Joy - Awesome tea rap video! For realz!

2008-05-03T17:36:46Z

http://www.rurl.org/pho

When I say oo, you say long! Oo-long! Oo-long! When I say herbal, you say "no thanks!"

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Shelf life of white tea and other teas?

2008-04-08T03:24:16Z

Does anyone know the shelf life of white tea?
I found some white tea, a lot less than an ounce of loose leaf, from the spring of 2005 and it's been kept in a small airtight canning jar.
Is it still good or should I just throw it out?

I've heard that some teas get better with age while others don't and that some teas can be kept in jars for years without degrading. Is this true?

Also what are the shelf lives of other teas like green tea, black, tea, and red tea? All loose leaf of course.

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

Caffeine Confusion

2008-03-23T18:29:59Z

just when i thought i understood caffeine content in tea....

http://chadao.blogspot.com/2008/02/caffeine-and-tea-myth-and-reality.html

sigh

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

TuochaTea.com

2008-03-15T23:17:25Z

Have any of you ordered from this company before? How was the quality and service?
Thanks!

posted in Tea Fiends - 7 replies

More aged pu-erh tea & zisha teapot listing

2008-03-15T23:14:57Z

We like to welcome you to a new concept of trading the exquisite pu-erh tea in MALAYSIA .
Over here, We offer you an opportunity to BUY or SELL your favourite Pu-Er tea in comfort without worrying about the hussle and bussle you have to encounter when you are out.

www.skip4tea.com …come on through!

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

in search of a tea boat...

2008-03-10T18:38:06Z

so ive been searching, more like scouring the internet in search of a tea boat. im not looking for anything fancy. just a simple, elegant bamboo style. anybody out there using one? any leads as to where i might find one? peace, blessings, and drink up! - p -

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

suitcase-like tea cosy

2008-03-10T16:55:01Z

I'm new here so this question may have already been answered. I like the tea cosies that have a frame and open like a suitcase. Does anyone know where I can get one?

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Tea Shop Travels :)

2008-03-02T00:23:02Z

Hello f(r)iends!

Yesterday I was in Norwich (UK) and discovered a tea shop I'd never heard of, tucked away in the mall. It was full of many many teas...and coffees too! The man who works there even makes fresh coffee ready to drink...I'll be back for one of them! I was in the shop for aaages pondering around at all the tea. I also found the yogi tea brand I was after, unfortunately the particular one I wanted wasn't there but its nice to know that they sell Yogi there =) Loose tea...organic tea...teabags..teapots...coffee beans... I was like a kid in a sweetshop. There were little drawers to smell the teas and it was so old fashioned and apothecary-like! I'm so happy to have found it :D

I bought nettle tea, and some chinese white tea for my mum. The assistant reccomended it to me as I asked for something that aids sleep. Anyone know anymore about it, what else its good for etc.?

posted in Tea Fiends - 6 replies

Yogi tea?

2008-02-26T04:35:08Z

Hey just joined tea fiends :D

Does anyone know where I can buy yogi tea, I found some in my stepmum's cupboard and tried it, now I wanna know where to buy it?

Cheers

posted in Tea Fiends - 11 replies

Pyramid tea bags

2008-02-23T06:35:37Z

Where can I find empty pyramid tea bags online? What are the best ones made from? Silk?

I'm looking to package loose-leaf grean tea as a gift.

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Teapot vs. the cover bowl....

2008-02-23T03:28:13Z

here's my take, a purple sandy clay teapot(a kind of yixing teapot) or stoneware teapot vs. a porcelain cover bowl,
some yixing teapots are the best money can buy and this can be expensive, so I will use a stoneware comparison and also with the porcelain cover bowl, we can also use good quality stoneware made of sandy clay which is made of different size particle and that’s what makes them good, useful and beautiful, some goes for the yixing vessels, which also have great cover bowls. We need to remember that the comparison is not only pot vs. bowl but stoneware vs. porcelain.
Stoneware teapot (unglazed)-holds heat well, some say the pot is good for flavor
Porcelain cover bowl -released heat well, some say the bowl is good for scent
To me it is like apples and oranges they are different but!!!!! Both are the same (fruits), of course to get the same results you should adjust your brewing times and brewing temperatures. One interesting fact is in some areas of china the seem to have never heard of pots for they use bowls all the time and of course they are brewing green tea, bingo! The green tea in not process much so the water temperature should be much lower than boiling 75C? , and in other areas they seem never to use a bowl, and bingo! Roasted oolongs, and the temps should be boiling which is about 95C due to steam, the pots work great because they retain heat.
icetea…

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

Speaking of tea shops in the mall...

2008-02-18T19:12:55Z

I never go to the mall. Ever. But a friend needed to run an errand so we went. As we were walking back out to our exit, we came across a tea shop. A wall of tea and accessories. Teas from all over the world. I was mostly interested in the greens and where they came from.

Has anyone heard of and/or experienced Lupicia? http://www.lupiciausa.com/ Apparently, there's another location in the other mall here in SF. Why are they in malls? Gah!

Anyhoo, I'm quite happy with my Sayama Yabukita green, from Saitama, Japan, that I bought there. But $7 for 2 oz. was a little pricey for me (that was the cheaper of the greens), as they are all a little pricey. But overall, even though I was skeptical about it being a mall store, it was not pretentious and the staff was helpful and friendly - at least the gentleman that helped me was.

*;}

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Arizona Green Tea (now in teabags)

2008-02-17T06:41:34Z

Has anyone tried the new Arizona/Bigelow Green Tea that is served hot? Is it good? I'm trying to find a good green tea for someone special, and I want to wow him with something he'll like every morning.

http://www.bigelowtea.com/shop/details.cfm?si=1&sc=3&pi=00850

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Teas from the bulk aisle

2008-02-13T18:31:20Z

What do you all think of buying teas from the bulk section? In SF, we have a great health food store called, Rainbow Grocery. They have lots of teas in bulk. And of course, the herbs are in bulk as well, so buying herbals can be an adventure and creating new blends.

If you buy from the bulk section, how have you found the quality and/or what are the pros and cons? Also, if you blend your own teas, do you have any combos that you'd like to share?

*;}

posted in Tea Fiends - 5 replies

Organic vs. non-organic & GMO Teas

2008-02-13T06:23:19Z

This has probably been discussed here ad nauseam but I'm curious about research studies on organic vs. non-organic teas. Also GMO teas...

Here's my original post from the "Naturopathic Medicine" tribe: Organic vs. non-organic & GMO Teas
http://tribes.tribe.net/naturopathicmedicine/thread/ffbe5bfa-8c42-4b74-bab3-f8ef54db9e82

"Some say that non-organic teas are better tasting and that organic teas really aren't much better than non. Yet, others will say it's more about "Fair-Trade" and sustainable practices. What about Genetic Modification (GMO)? What do the research studies say? What are your thoughts on this issue?"

I would be careful buying tea, coffee (or anything) from China. Also be careful getting tea from Japan.

;

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

New to great Tea - any recommendations?

2008-02-11T05:05:46Z

G'day all,

I have been drinking a lot of tea lately - everyday. Mostly green tea and some chamomile in the evening once in awhile. I want to get into some serious tea drinking. How do you pros make it? What are the "tricks of the trade" so to speak for making the best tasting teas? Is there a favorite website for an introduction into the great world of tea making?

Sadly, I've been making it by using my coffee maker. I just toss a couple tea bags in and let it go. It's actually okay for green tea. I wanted to try some loose leaf black tea but I'm not sure which tea making supplies to get - there are so many choices. I wanted something simple, convenient yet, easy on the wallet.

I'll probably start out with 2, 3 or 4 teas for now along with my green tea and chamomile. I'd like to try an American tea or "local".

What would you recommend?

posted in Tea Fiends - 11 replies

tea concentrate

2008-02-08T05:47:23Z

Does anyone have any recommendations as to how to make a tea concentrate? The options I've thought of are using more tea leaves when making the tea to make a stronger infusion and/or boiling the tea down (would this affect the flavor?)

I would like to bring my favorite oolong along on a camping trip this summer to drink as iced tea. I will have plenty of drinkable water available. I will have a cooler available, though with limited space. I do not want to make the tea there because it will probably be hot and I would rather not set up a fire. So the best solution, I think, is to make a concentrate beforehand and then mix it with water as I want to drink it.

I would love to hear any advice. Thanks!

posted in Tea Fiends - 5 replies

Interesting place to enjoy tea

2008-02-02T04:45:54Z

Check this out...

http://hakone.com

"A tranquil place of peace and harmony. Come experience Hakone, the oldest Asian and Japanese estate in the Western Hemisphere--eighteen acres of magnificent beauty nestled in the verdant hills of Saratoga overlooking Silicon Valley."

They have regular tea ceremony classes and the place looks beautiful.

posted in Tea Fiends - 7 replies

<does happy dance>

2008-02-01T04:10:54Z

I've been out of my beloved Fortnum and Mason Earl grey for nearly a MONTH!! And the package just arrived yesterday afternoon, so this morning I get to savour my first cuppa. This makes me insanely happy <g>. And this is why I am a "tea fiend".

Man, I'm glad that there are other fiends here, too : ). Seriously, we need to do that Tea Room Crawl this year!!!!

Of to drink/smell/hold/worship my tea!

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

best heat holding mug

2008-01-08T06:52:10Z

I really like my tea nice and hot and i like it to stray that way for a long time. But I don't like metallic thermos style cups I prefer ceramic. Can anyone recommend a good heat retaining mug? Thank you.

posted in Tea Fiends - 10 replies

Caffeine releasee point

2007-12-28T15:25:19Z

Does anyone remember what temperature Caffeine releases at? Or is that a myth, like lets say I am here eating yogurt with matcha in it, that doesn't really contain active Caffeine right?

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

for my fellow tea fiend tribe friends...

2007-09-28T15:53:07Z

There Are Those Who Love To Get Dirty -- Gary Snyder

There are those who love to get dirty
and fix things.
They drink coffee at dawn,
beer after work,

And those who stay clean,
just appreciate things,
At breakfast they have milk
and juice at night.

There are those who do both,
they drink tea.

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

tea grown in north america?

2007-09-17T14:57:57Z

Hi all-
I seem to remember hearing something about tea grown...perhaps in north carolina? I was wondering if anyone knows anything about this, or where to find more info.
Thanks!

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

tea info galore

2007-09-15T06:57:14Z

http://www.dobratea.com/

Just wanted to point out this website; it has a ton of info on tea (history, types, tasting, etc) via the links on the left, as well as a copy of this tea house's very descriptive menu and some tea-related travel diaries.

They're also having a tea-related photography contest.

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

Spouts

2007-09-05T00:19:07Z

How do you clean your tea pot spouts out?

posted in Tea Fiends - 10 replies

Victorian Tea

2007-07-20T14:03:32Z

I've always enjoyed attending old fashioned outlandish victorian teas. Please relate your experiences with attending such teas and hosting such teas. I would also like to hear all details. I will certainly relate some of mine as well.
But first...I must go make a cup of tea.

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

Jasmine Tea flowers

2007-07-20T06:33:02Z

Hi all,
I was just given about 3 lbs. of Jasmine Tea Flowers. (little walnut sized tea bundles that unfold into a nice floral display in your teapot) I have been trying to research the history behind them... How old is the art, what other types are out there???

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Tea Houses in san francisco?

2007-07-08T17:33:22Z

can someone tell me some of their favorites?
thanks.

posted in Tea Fiends - 23 replies

Help finding empty tea bags?

2007-07-08T01:39:06Z

I used to get these at 99 Ranch, but they have stopped carrying them. They're the best thing to happen to loose tea EVER, IMO, and I can't live without them (this brand, in particular). Does anybody know where I can buy them in the East Bay, or near public transportation in SF? I'm down to four, and I use them every day!! I know that there are a few places online, but they're soooooo much more expensive than they were at 99 Ranch (3.27, on the last package I bought).

http://people.tribe.net/grrrargh/photos/8ffc21ee-c891-4277-b89d-efd4d14839db

Thanks!

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

Tea Experience of a Lifetime

2007-07-05T17:47:06Z

I'm currently in Beijing China at the end of a 10 day trip as a delegate for the US Tea Association, over here for the International Tea Expo this past week in Changsha. I have had the most amazing tea trip including visits to tea estates, tea factories, tea shops, tea ceremonies, tea stores, etc., and have had the opportunity to taste some of the most amazing teas. We simply don't get much tea like this in the states. Tonight, for instance, we had an 8 year old pu'erh tea that was so fabulous that I (and several of the other delegates) really wanted to take some home. The tea house had a store and that pu'erh was almost $400 a pound! And, if you like fresh green tea, wow, it is so fresh here. If you are a tea lover and you ever get the chance to go to China, I gotta say, GO! The Chinese are amazing hosts. We ate several times with the President of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce for Foodstuffs as well as the Mayor of Beijing, the Governor of the Hunan Province and a myriad of tea company officials and staff and they were all so wonderful. So, besides the washroom facilities (that's a whole story unto itself and I doubt I would ever get used to), I love China and China tea!

posted in Tea Fiends - 10 replies

summertime tea

2007-07-05T17:44:23Z

anybody know of non-lipton teas that are good for either sun-tea, iced-tea?

non-traditional types too!

i guess experimentation is always fun, but any tried and true alternative favorites out there?!!

and sweet tea, something southern i'm sure, but how does anyone know how it's perpared?

posted in Tea Fiends - 10 replies

Is it just me??

2007-07-03T13:53:43Z

I have a problem.
It seems like when I prepare most teas according to the directions and I don't add anything like sugar, honey, milk, etc...the tea ends up tasting like hot water. I usually end up steeping the tea much longer just to get any taste.
Is it me?
I know I don't have the most keenest sense of taste due to a cold years ago that caused me to lose SOME of my sense of smell, but certainly not a huge amount.

Any thoughts?

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

NYC tea houses?

2007-06-25T16:32:41Z

I'm heading to NY for a few days and wanted to try out at least 1 tea house while I'm there. Does anyone have a recommendation for me?? : )

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Frieling French Press

2007-05-30T02:21:44Z

How you guys feel about the Frieling Stainless-Steel French Press? Are there any problems brewing loose tea or coffee?

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

Paul Rodgers/9W Gallery: Pierre Sernet

2007-05-29T16:22:57Z

Check this site out...

http://www.paulrodgers9w.com/artists/p_sernet/pierre_sernet.html

under T-series link

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

New Favorite store....

2007-05-14T22:10:09Z

I have found a wonderful little tea store here in SF, it's called Lupicia, and it's on the second floor of the new mall, in the back by Bloomingdales....everyone needs to go there, they have great stuff.
http://www.lupicia.com/english/

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Teapot Design Advice

2007-04-16T01:49:05Z

Hi, I'm Joey Roth and I just joined tribe. I'm an industrial designer who's currently developing a teapot called Sorapot, and I'd love this group's input. Sorapot is designed specifically for green and white teas that steep best at below-boiling temperatures. Thus I designed Sorapot to dissipate the water's heat instead of insulating it like most other teapots so that the delicate leaves don't oversteep and become bitter and so the tea is at an ideal drinking temperature once it's poured.

Sorapot's pretty small at 11 oz. and is intended to be used like a Yixing pot- a quick steep followed by immediate pouring. In fact, the
two pieces that connect the glass tube to the steel arch are made from unglazed stoneware that will absorb the tea's tannins over time, just like Yixing clay.

Without further ado: http://www.joeyroth.com/sorapot

Can't wait to hear what you have to say.

Joey

posted in Tea Fiends - 22 replies

Stains on teeth from tea.

2007-04-16T01:44:34Z

I get tea stains on my teeth. I suppose I have a bit from coffee too.

I'm glad it's not plaque or tooth decay as that's what I thought it was at first.
Then my dentist told me how if you drink a lot of tea you get stains on them, and that's all it was, and they got easily cleaned off.
I was told you get them when you drink a lot of tea but I drink about 2-4 cups a day on most weekdays.

Anyone know the best way to get them removed without going to the dentist, using tooth whitening/bleaching chemicals, or other things?

posted in Tea Fiends - 6 replies

Fair trade tea.

2007-04-16T01:42:30Z

My dilemma is that I love good tea, but I also try to be an ethical consumer. Here in New Zealand, being such a small market, I have to choose between buying 'real' teas of dubious provenance, and the standard fair trade product which is rather ordinary.
I suspect elsewhere you don't have this dilemma. So, does anyone know of a mail order site that sells decent tea (I'm partial to Darjeeling) that is both sustainably and ethically produced AND that tastes good too?

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

Red Snow Tea (Cladonia Alpestris(L) Rabenh)

2007-04-08T06:10:51Z

Has anyone tried this tea (Red Snow Tea (Cladonia Alpestris(L) Rabenh)) before? My mom gave it to me because she didn't like the taste. I've never heard of it before and can't seem to find good information on the benefits (and possible side effects, if any)....

She originally bought it for the "fat dissolving" properties... sounds fishy to me... some of these "diet" teas are either too stimulating or have a laxative effect..... I don't want to try it until I get more information on it..... in google search, "velmikuarium" (which is shown as the active ingredient) only shows links of the advertisement of the tea...

Thanks!...

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

article: milk blunts health benefits of tea.

2007-04-05T17:22:17Z

http://health.msn.com/centers/cardio/articlepage.aspx?cp-documentid=100152486&GT1=8977
Milk Blunts Heart Benefits of Tea

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

It wipes out the valuable effects of antioxidants, study finds
By Steven Reinberg, HealthDay Reporter

MONDAY, Jan. 8 (HealthDay News) -- Plenty of studies have suggested that tea is a boon for cardiovascular health, but new research has found that adding milk to your favorite brew negates those benefits.

The culprits in milk is a group of proteins called caseins that interact with tea, decreasing the concentration of catechin -- the flavonoids in tea that are responsible for its protective effects against heart disease, according to the study authors.

"There are a lot of studies that show that tea is protective against cardiac diseases," said lead researcher Dr. Verena Stangl, professor of cardiology at the Charite Hospital, Universitatsmedizin-Berlin, in Germany. "If you look at the studies, you see that in Asia there are less cardiac diseases, but in England that's not the case. So the question is, is the addition of milk a reason for this difference between Asia and England, where tea is often taken with milk?" she said.

In the study, 16 healthy postmenopausal women drank either half a liter of freshly brewed black tea, black tea with 10 percent skimmed milk, or boiled water on three different occasions under similar conditions. The researchers then measured the function of the cells lining the brachial artery in the forearm, using high resolution ultrasound before and two hours after tea consumption.

Stangl's team found that black tea significantly improved the ability of the arteries to relax and expand. "But when we added milk, we found the biological effect of tea was completely abolished," she said.

Additional experiments on rat aortas and rat endothelial cells -- which line blood vessels -- found that tea relaxed the vessels. But adding milk blunted the effect.

"If you want to drink tea for its health effects, don't drink it with milk," Stangl said.

The study findings are published in the Jan. 9 online edition of the European Heart Journal.

Stangl noted that not only does milk block tea's benefits for blood vessels, it also destroys the antioxidant effects of tea and perhaps its cancer-protective effects as well.

She said her team is also comparing the effects of green and black tea on the function of blood vessels. "It's a question whether green tea, with its higher catechin content, is better than black tea in regard to endothelial function," she said.

One expert agreed that you should hold the milk when drinking tea.

"This is actually something we tell patients to do -- not to have milk in tea," said Dr. Robert Vogel, a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland Medical School.

Tea is one of the greatest sources of antioxidants, Vogel said. "In countries where they drink a lot of tea, heart disease is decreased, except for the British Isles. It is typical in Great Britain to add milk."

Vogel's advice is simple. "Add lemon not milk. You should not add milk or cream to tea -- it's a very good drink, but not with milk," he said.

posted in Tea Fiends - 17 replies

Yerba Mate Yum Yum Yum

2007-04-05T09:16:42Z

This is my favorite tea. Packed with nutrients, antioxidants, and amino acids, its a true treat from the rainforests. It's stimulating affects can rival coffee, but in a gentler, more sustained, less neurotic, and more open hearted way. I never drink mate within 6 hours of when I'd like to go to sleep. It's been likened to a green tea, but is from the holly family. I recommend buying it loose (you need 3-5 teabags to make a decent cup otherwise). You must first pour cold water on it so that it will retain its maximum amount of nutrients. Then add hot, NOT BOILING, water. If I make it on the stove and forget about it and let it boil, I throw it out. It has a strange affect once boiled. It can be steeped cold to increase it's stimulating qualities, or warm to increase it's nourishing qualities. I like to go for a cold steep, followed by a warm steep. Add Milk and Honey(or Stevia) and enjoy!

posted in Tea Fiends - 16 replies

my favorite tea company...

2007-04-03T17:48:08Z

...personally is Adagio Teas online.
omg.
they have such excellent teas, amazingly reasonable prices and so many perks!
what tea companies do you like?

posted in Tea Fiends - 54 replies

tool for breaking of a piece of Pu-erh?

2007-03-30T06:12:37Z

Does anyone know how they used to break off a piece of Pu-erh from the big cakes it sometimes comes in? Did the Chinese use some sort of pliers or a pick?

posted in Tea Fiends - 9 replies

Ginseng Tea

2007-03-27T21:01:26Z

I got some 100% Ginseng tea in SF Chinatown a few days ago and have found it to be wonderful. It might be my imagination, but it really feels like my blood circulation has improved after a cup.

I have always purchased Korean Ginseng in the past and it never had the same effect.

Has anyone experienced a similar effect with Ginseng tea?

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

Favorite Tea Book?

2007-03-27T04:41:53Z

What is your favorite tea book and why?

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

The Best Earl Grey

2007-03-23T01:47:24Z

I'm in search of the perfect loose leaf earl grey, preferably one with natural bergamot flavoring instead of artificial. Anyone know of a good one?

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

Tea for Alice

2007-03-15T16:21:24Z

My boyfriend and I just noticed a tea room in El Cerrito, called "Tea for Alice." Has anyone been to this place? It looks like it might be a little frou-frou, but we'll probably have to try it anyways if for no other reason than the name...

Tea for Me!
Alice

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

new online tea shop

2007-02-11T22:30:24Z

Hey fellow tea lovers! Here's a new online tea shop to check out.

www.teaavenue.com

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

Your favorite tea house??

2007-01-26T22:04:50Z

I had the good fortune of having several tea dates over my Christmas break and highly recommend the following places:

Imperial tea court – they have 3 locations now! Two are in San Francisco, one at their original Chinatown location, the other in the ferry building. They do a wonderful traditional service and, in my opinion, have some of the best pu erh around!

Lovejoys Tea House – at church and clipper in San Francisco. Great for “high tea”, wonderful black scented teas and their food is delicious. Definitely go for high tea or queen’s tea (the pear and stilton sandwiches are heavenly) And don’t forget to make a reservation! They also have a 'retail' shop across the street now and you can buy their teas and teaware as well.

Didn’t get to Samovar in the past few weeks, but recommend them as well.

What have been your favorite spots? In and out of the bay area? I’d love to learn more places to indulge my passion!

Happy New Year!

posted in Tea Fiends - 19 replies

Why are tea topics more interesting...

2007-01-20T04:00:36Z

... then coffee?

And there seem to be more to read here (more interesting too) then most of the coffee tribes.

Maybe i'm just biased ;-)

posted in Tea Fiends - 6 replies

Reading Tea Leaves

2007-01-17T15:15:51Z

Anyone know how to do this or had their tea leaves read? How would you compare reading tea leaves to say, psychics?

Do you know of any links to find out more on this topic?

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

antioxidants

2007-01-11T16:06:07Z

hey all! i love that tribe can answer most questions a person can think up. here's mine:
does caffeine-free green tea have any less antioxidants than juiced green tea?
trying to flush my system ASAP and if there are any tea-related or food suggestions for this, please share!!

posted in Tea Fiends - 10 replies

green tea noodles

2007-01-06T16:02:08Z

Just whipped up a nice dough using semolina flour, matcha, salt and water.

been very fascinated by making various dishes with tea,lately!

Anyone else cook with tea? Ideas?

phil

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

Electro Thermo Pots

2006-12-23T21:46:46Z

Ok, this is what the Panasonic website calls these things, so that's what I'm going with.

Basically, they are hot water heaters that will keep the water at a constant temperature once it is heated.

I have one right now that keeps the temperature at 208 at all times and holds three quarts. 208, however, is a bit hot for green tea, so I'm thinking of getting this model:

http://www2.panasonic.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/vModelDetail?storeId=15001&catalogId=13401&itemId=93712&modelNo=NC-EM40P&cacheProgram=11002&cachePartner=7000000000000005702&surfModel=NC-EM40P&catGroupId=25061&surfCategory=Electric%20Thermo%20Pots&displayTab=S

It holds 4.1 quarts of water and has some cooler settings. I could actually see this model being useful for poaching if one wanted to have their water already up to the right temperature before they poached, but anyhow, this is the model I was thinking of getting.

I was wondering if any of you guys had used it and could tell me how well it works.

And I would love to hear about any other models out there that you guys have used.

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

Flower tea balls?

2006-12-17T07:17:26Z

Hi, I'm new.

Has anyone ever brewed "flower tea balls?"

Here's an example: http://www.chineseteaforyou.com/site/1023330/product/814

I've ordered some and plan to brew them in my French Press (the only clear glass teapot I have).

I'd appreciate any anecdotes and tips you may have. Thanks!

posted in Tea Fiends - 17 replies

tea as music

2006-12-08T18:22:17Z

yet another marvelous use of tea!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7RcslxZKdt0&mode=related&search=

posted in Tea Fiends - 5 replies

What's in your cabinet NOW?

2006-12-06T14:19:08Z

A comparative inventory...

Black:
Irish Breakfast (Zoka, Seattle)
Scottish Breakfast (Peet's, San Francisco)
Lady Grey (Twinings, London)
Cherry (Twinings, London)
Jasmine Blossom (Stash, Portland)
Assam (Whittard, London)

Green:
Longjing Green (Kuan Yin, Seattle)

Herbal:
Simply Mint (Numi, Oakland)
Caramel Rooitea (Coffee Bean, Los Angeles)
Carnival Mate (Coffee Bean, Los Angeles)

posted in Tea Fiends - 20 replies

White tea

2006-12-06T14:11:53Z

Really! I never heard of this, but must have missed it the first time I read the magazine I was clipping. It is dried naturally so contains more antioxidants then green tea. But, it is also more pricey. Anyone here try it?

posted in Tea Fiends - 20 replies

Chai Recipe?

2006-12-05T19:27:49Z

hey all,

was wondering if anyone has a yummie homemade chai recipe they would like to share. i would love to make some to gift this season. i DO tend to like my chai on the strong side!

thanks for sharing
=)

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

what do you look for in a tea shop?

2006-11-22T05:23:12Z

Hello fellow tea lovers! I just became the manager of a new tea shop in Pasadena, CA. I was wondering what you look for in a tea shop. I'm hoping to make some changes in the way the owners look at tea,and I'd love some suggestions.
Check out the website www.leaforever.com and let me know what you think. You will notice right away that they lean very heavily on flavored black teas. I'm going to try to talk them into getting a wider variety, maybe some pu-erh cakes and tuochas, any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your input!

posted in Tea Fiends - 13 replies

online tea shopping

2006-11-16T14:50:11Z

Hi,
Anyone know of a reliable link for home delivery ?

thank you,
~LC

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

ORWELL ON TEA DRINKING

2006-11-16T14:46:11Z

I recall that George Orwell (in a little piece about tea) said that people who put sugar & dairy in their tea do not trully appreciate tea.
He believed the only way to drink it was without these things. I usually agree with Orwell about most things but not with this (and also I don't care for his characterization of fat sandal-wearing vegitarian utopianists which I find personally insulting)
But I love my tea with milk and sugar or honey. I like it it plain as well, but as I said I like the milk and honey too.
I don't think it's wrong. After all, I wouldn't drink hot water with milk and honey.
It's the flavor of the tea in combination with these things I like.
How do you feel about this?

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

What tea are you drinking right now?

2006-11-15T23:33:45Z

I have a cold. I'm drinking ginger tea made by Yogi Tea.

posted in Tea Fiends - 72 replies

The Lapsang Souchong Inquisition

2006-11-13T17:31:59Z

I bought some Lapsang Souchong, loose leaf, bulk, at a respectable local market. Bulk was probably my first error, but the vendor was also respectable (an established purveyor of bulk teas, herbs, and spices).

For those of you who aren't familiar with Lapsang Souchong, it is, in short, the most pungent, funky black tea you will ever drink (feel free to call me on this, I'd love to drink any contenders). It is smoked, and has always reminded me vaguely of campfires. Legendarily, it was used in the gold rush west as a coffee replacement. It originates in the Fujian province of China, and is created by smoking the leaves over pine or cedar fires before and after the fermentation process...

...or, at least, that's how it's supposed to happen. Like "Champagne", true Lapsang Souchong comes from a very specific region.

Ok, fine, it some other plantation in Sri Lanka wants to smoke its leaves over pine or cedar and stamp 'Lapsang Souchong' on it, I'm not that much of a snob.

...if only. I was drinking this very pungent, smoky cup of tea right before dinner. Featured at dinner was a barbeque sauce. After a few bites, I grabbed the bottle, turned it around, and read "Catsup, Vinegar, Sugar, Mustard, Natural Smoke Flavoring, Spices." It tasted 'exactly' like my tea.

So, I went to my computer, and very quickly found out the sad truth. Not unlike Earl Grey, Lapsang Souchong is a popular method of recycling stale or poor quality tea leaves. Only, instead of reaching for the bottle of Bergamot, they reach for the ol' bottle of Liquid Smoke.

Which is why my tea shelf now smells like an ash pit. Wood-smoked tea would not permeate everything it's stored with, liquid flavor/scent oils would.

Has anyone had any experience with REAL Lapsang Souchong, or at least a similarly smoked tea, possibly marketed under that name?

Josh

posted in Tea Fiends - 27 replies

Mountain View Tea shop

2006-11-13T07:07:49Z

I just stooped by a little tea shop in mountain view, called Mountain View Tea Village on Villa off Castro. I've known about this shop for awhile. It's chock-full of tea pots and all the other little tea accoutrements you could ask for. I'd been there a few years ago when they were fairly new, & they told me they like to import tea from their own estates in taiwan. I got some good tikuanyin and bought my best oolong pot there. But that was the past.

Today I asked for some good old pu-erhs. I was pointed to a 1978 aged dark puerh (that also comes in 3 pound tea bricks for two fifty), a ten year old green pu-erh, and some silver needle beencha. So I bought two, two, and one ounce, respectively. They all looked and smelled gorgeous. The proprietor was knowledgeable and rather helpful.

I'll report tomorrow morning on the taste.

-SimMakin'YouWait

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

TEA FOR YOUR HOME

2006-11-10T03:05:20Z

If you like try tea for home. It's very nice in the afternoon to sooth nerves and invigorate organs.
I make tea from plants that grow in m y garden. Lush and green it grows pleasantly beside the driveway.
Add crushed mint lavender and rosmary sprigs to piping hot water and wait.
The first sip will make your outlook much brighter.

I'm writing a book now and have had very much interest from various publishers says my literary agent.
I recently took a long trip to the tea-growing regions of Java and Nova Scotia and found that what they were doing was all wrong.
100% wrong! I come home and find everything just as it should be.
Tea industry has been threatening me. I will say this once: You will not stop my book!

Mankind has been growing tea for centuries and been doing it wrong for thousands of years.

Fisrt of all, the tea must be properly steeped and need not be cauterised. It should not come from over the counter or far away.
It should come from your own garden. There is no reason not to think this way.

Save all your orange rinds and let them age in a ceramic vessel (preferably on you make yourself).
Weeks later toss them in with one of your store-bought tea bags and tell me you can't taste the difference.

When I was young child our family doctor who came to our house with his handsome leather bag diagnosed something wrong with my taste buds. Let me assure I have solved the problem.

Push the button and the tea comes out. This is the best kind of tea. Don't waste your time with any other tea.
What I like most is the flavor of the tea. It tastes so much like tea. Tea helps me to concentrate on complex problems.
I come to many conclusions about tea this way. I will put the details in my new book.

My picture will be on the jacket. I will be holding a pretty china cup and there will be a sprig of mint in my hair from my garden.
The book will probably cost about 25 dollars or 75 euros in hardback. I will leave the cost of the paperback to my publishers.

If you have any interesting insights into my tea or are just interested in my stimulating ideas please post them and I may use them in my book since it isn't completely written yet, though my publishers are anxious to see it into print as soon as possible.

posted in Tea Fiends - 9 replies

Himalayan tea?????

2006-10-27T08:40:54Z

New store opened just down the street, sells Himalayan tea. Wonder what its like? Anyone have any ideas? It's the first time I hear about it.

posted in Tea Fiends - 11 replies

Varietal Honeys, Agave Nectar and Citron Preserves

2006-10-26T23:19:38Z

I have always loved good teas, but have just recently really began to really get into learning more about teas and visiting tea shops pretty darn often.

I joined your community because I really have begun to have quite the passion for good tea.

Usually with green teas or oolongs, I usually drink them unsweetened but with a lot of other teas, I've been adding sweetners.

The teashop by my house uses a citron preserve as an option for sweetening some teas. They recommend it in hibiscus and I can't disagree as this is pretty darn good. I have also tried it in Earl Grey thinking that it would do well to bring out the flavour of the bergamot. It tastes good in Earl Grey, but I think it overpowers the bergamot more than it enhances it, so I've started to dabble in varietal honeys. I think that Orange Blossom Honey in Earl Grey is great and I've been searching for more varietal honeys to play with. I've also considered using different preserves to enhance some of the teas.

It's great fun trying to find excellent combinations.

I've been searching for some apple blossom honey. I have a good number of different varieties of honeys now and I'm trying to get my favourite tea shop to carry more varietal honeys.

I was wondering if any of you guys have tried matcha. I love good matcha tea. And it's great because it can be used to make good icecreams.

Oh, and finally, I can't forget to mention Agave Nectar as a good smooth sweetner. My local tea shop carries it, but I find it at the local Korean megamart as well.

I was thinking that maybe it would be fun to try other nectars as well. Agave is pretty neutrel, so it makes the most sense, but there are certainly other ways to go.

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

Healthy Teas.....

2006-10-26T11:54:40Z

So what are you favorite?

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

Tea is better then water!

2006-10-24T17:03:05Z

I've been saying this since I was a wee little boy and every day the proof grows stronger, dehydrating my ass!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5281046.stm

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

teat industry X--post

2006-10-19T14:46:01Z

Hi,

Wanting to take my love of tea further, and want to actually work in the tea industry. Does anyone her actually work for a tea company of some sort? Just wondering how you got in and what qulification I may need. I have a good knowledge of tea, but it may not be enough.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Anne

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

more good tea news

2006-10-12T23:03:00Z

Green Tea May Promote Long Life
…if you drink enough of it. A study from Tohoku University in Japan recently found that adults who drank five cups or more of green tea daily had a lower risk of death from all causes than did those who drank less than one cup. This was a big study – more than 40,000 participants aged 40 to 79 were tracked for 11 years beginning in 1994. At the outset, none of the participants had any history of heart disease, stroke or cancer. Over the 11 years, more than 4,000 of the participants died, but when the researchers compared death rates to green tea consumption, they found that those who drank five or more cups per day had a risk of death from all causes that was 16 percent lower than those who drank less than one cup per day. What’s more, deaths due to cardiovascular disease were 26 percent lower among green tea drinkers than among participants who didn’t drink much of the tea during a seven-year follow-up on deaths linked to specific causes These findings were stronger for women than for men: among women, those who drank five or more cups of green tea daily had a 31 percent lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared to women who drank less than a cup per day. The study was published in the September 13, 2006 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_38555.html

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

Happy Tea Friends

2006-09-18T23:53:04Z

Hi, Jace here. Just wanted to say 'ello to you all, I'm a big tea drinker; I'm the only tea drinker in my household. Every Christmas at least one of my friends will get me something tea related; last year it was a Winnie the Poh tea mug with a month's worth tea which was really cool. Hope to chat with you folks soon.

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

tisane

2006-09-18T23:38:35Z

anyone here enjoy it?

posted in Tea Fiends - 6 replies

chinese tea glass/jar thingy

2006-08-18T19:01:15Z

I'm watching a documentary on China and I'm seeing these glasses/jar that everyone seems to carry around to drink tea out of (especially in the poor villages). It looks like a pnit size glass but more cylindrical and it has some sort of close-able top on it.

Anyone know where to find these?

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

paris tea?

2006-08-17T02:05:31Z

I'll be in Paris in July; suggestions? I'll probably go to Mariage Freres. Any others?

posted in Tea Fiends - 5 replies

New Integrative Medicine tribe.

2006-08-10T19:15:08Z

Tea is good medicine and I hope to see some of you at the Integrative Medicine tribe to back me up with arguments for adding tea to the diet :)

To Join:
tribes.tribe.net/integrativemedicine

some Integrative Medicine basics:

What is Integrative Medicine?
Integrative medicine is healing-oriented medicine that takes account of the whole person (body, mind, and spirit), including all aspects of lifestyle. It emphasizes the therapeutic relationship and makes use of all appropriate therapies, both conventional and alternative.

Note from Chris:
Often I find myself reaching out to tribe members for advice on so many medical issues that go beyond the herbal scope. I am also frankly a bit turned off by people who support anything that might be dangerous or for which there is no high-quality scientific evidence of safety and effectiveness. This tribe might not be for all of you and I'm going to keep it moderated for now so we don't get just any old crazy folk dropping in to spam or promote snake oil.

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Good "swamp water" (iced green tea) recipe?

2006-08-10T06:56:55Z

There's a tea house on the corner of Hayes and aguna that has "swamp water" (iced green tea). It's bright green which is really weird. I'm too shy to ask how they make it and my first two experiments have been awful. Does anyone have a good iced green tea recipe that they'd care to share?

Thanks

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

FRESH!

2006-08-01T02:56:55Z

Just a random thought I'd throw in the mix. A few years back I started getting tea (specifically various oolongs) on a seasonal basis from an importer, who would buy right as each season was available in Asia. The funny thing is you can really tell the difference. Friends who have oolong with me leaving bouncing off the walls. While coffee is supposed to be the major caffeine buzz, tea seems to have more, at least if you don't let it sit for months.

And of course the flavor is better too. I've hoarded some of my fave teas waiting for a special occasion and realized this is pointless. Unless they are Pu-eehr they rapidly lose the qualities I loved them for.

Anyhow, just my random musings on tea ;-)

posted in Tea Fiends - 1 reply

Tea houses in Boston/Cambridge?

2006-07-28T17:14:26Z

Have any recommedations for tea houses in Boston and Cambridge, Mass?

posted in Tea Fiends - 4 replies

Great Tearooms in Triangle area NC?

2006-07-25T17:53:24Z

Any suggestions for tearooms in the Raleigh area? I live in Cary

posted in Tea Fiends - 2 replies

wu-wo tea ceremony

2006-07-25T16:32:24Z

Wu-Wo , 無我的意義

http://teaarts.blogspot.com/

posted by icetea @ 3/07/2006 02:12:00 PM

30屆泡茶師從台北誕生 "30th Class of Tea Masters at Taipei"
http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/icetea8qt/album?.dir=dc31

posted by icetea @ 3/07/2006 01:28:00 PM

Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony ,(無我茶會)
出處--
第三屆陸羽茶學研討會
暨第三十屆泡茶師頒証典禮
An American Perspective of
Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony
題目﹕( 一個西方人對無我茶會的觀點 )
…“Tea is a bridge for people to communicate”…
by
Steven R. Jones,
( 瓊斯史迪芬 )
Taipei, Jan. 20, 2006

1.My first time at a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.
綱要 ( 我與無我茶會的接觸之始 )
I remember the first time I was invited to a “Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony”. I did not know what to expect; the only thing I was sure of was they would have tea. I thought to myself what an inconvenience it must be to go out, brew tea, and do it without breaking and spilling everything. And what about getting dirty or should I say how ‘not’ to get dirty? Well the time came and I went to the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. I arrived early so I did not see what was going to happen yet; and I did not have a visual concept of the tea brewers’ seating arrangement. Then I began to see people coming, saying hello, and discussing things. I noticed that the people were carrying a bag or a backpack. They would go to the information booth to sign in, take a seat number card from the drawing bag, and then they would look for their seat spaces. Some would have a little trouble finding their spaces; but someone was always there to help. As things started to unfold, and I mean literally; because each tea brewer would unpack and setup their tea ware on a mat on the ground. All the different tea sets looked beautiful, spread out on the green field. I told some people I wished I had brought my camera. I was with a young woman and she said something in Chinese to a man and then told me she would get some pictures for me later; I was very happy with all the teamwork and friendliness. This kind of event with all the tea brewers on the ground sitting next to each other seemed to me like having a picnic; but in this gathering, it was very orderly and rehearsed. I was told this was the first time they had been to this particular park. I asked how do they know what to do and what to bring and when to begin, the man I was talking to told me to slow down and just enjoy myself and maybe next time I could also participate in a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. Then I would understand the answers to my own questions. I told him it looks hard. He stared at me for a moment as if he had remembered that it was difficult for him the first time too. Then he laughed and said, “You will learn, just keep coming to the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremonies.”, and he laughed warmly again. This made me feel very comfortable. He walked with me and explained about the different tea sets and brewing styles. I was amazed; I had never seen so many beautiful teapots in my life. Later he said we had better go and sit down now the brewing is about to begin. We went outside the brewing area, and sat down with our other friends. Everyone stopped talking and it was very quiet.
Then the brewing began, I could hear water being poured, see steam, and smell tea. After some brewing and serving, a tea brewer came up to me with a small tray and some cups of tea and I took one, we bowed, and I said thanks and the tea brewer just smiled. I remember it was a little cold that day so the teacup felt nice and warm in my hands. Then came the taste, I drank a few sips and fell in love with tea.

2. The Tea and my five senses:
( 感官的領域 )
The Tea completely activated all of my five senses:
1. The sound of the tea, being poured, like a bubbling mountain spring.
2. The aroma of the tea, changes when hot, cold, or if the cup is empty with only traces of tea, all have different fragrances. A small cup with an irresistible aroma …, like a high quality aloes-wood heating in an incense burner giving off its different scents as it changes temperature and heats.
3. The sight of the tea, teas have different colors, like a rainbow after a summer rain.
4. The touch of the tea, the cup so warm in my hands and warm feeling of the tea in my throat and body just made me glow with content.
5. The taste of the tea, I remember that the most, just wonderful!
Usually when I drink something, it is because I am thirsty. However, this time was very different; this was not to quench my thirst, but to “Experience the Tea” and all its nuances with all my five senses and my mind. I do not know why I became so attract to this tea event. Maybe it was the people, the tea, the ceremony, or all of these things. I thought it would be such a great thing to do, if I could learn and participate in a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. This would really make me feel proud to understand a part of Tea Culture and Taiwanese Culture. I was new in Taiwan and did not know much of the Chinese language. However, during a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, I would not have to say much anyway. Therefore, if I learned about the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, I could participate, brew, serve tea, and just smile and bow. Tea and Taiwanese Culture is one reason why I have stayed in Taiwan so long. Tea is a fascinating and satisfying subject; and tea is a great conversational topic. I often refer to tea as a bridge between people that they use to socialize. I used to be very fat, I changed my lifestyle; and studied and practiced tea, and at the same time, I lost weight too. Tea keeps me busy and it is not fattening either.

3. The procedures of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony
( 無我茶會的論述 )
The Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony event is not rushed and there is time left for retrospective thinking about how we brewed and how we can possibly improve next time. There is also time for enjoying the moment, mental drifting, pondering, and meditating. A drawing is held at the beginning of the ceremony and the participants’ seat or space numbers are randomly chosen. The seating arrangement is in a prearranged circle or closed formation shape. This gives the arrangement a continuity and equality without a leader or any ranking status to the seating. Having this kind of seating arrangement is like a closed chain where each participant is a vital link in this circuit that is connected and energized by the tea brewing. By sitting next to one another and being in a closed formation facing towards the center, one can gaze across the field or area and see the fellow brewers with all the same purpose: brew, serve, drink, and enjoy tea.
Each Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony event will serve tea in one direction and by doing this; the serving is cyclic without any resistance to the flow of the ceremony. In this way, the motion will be in the same direction. For example, let us say the tea serving will be to the left. Each participant will make tea and serve it to the fellow brewers on the left. In addition, each participant will receive from the right, and will keep a cup of his or her own tea. The process of giving or receiving in one direction, bonds the tea brewers and ceremony together. Brewing and reserving a cup for yourself is a way of knowing how well you have brewed for the people you are serving. And being served is a way of enjoying the tea from the group. A personal satisfaction comes with brewing and drinking your own tea. And by having, other teas brewed and served to you only add variety to the enjoyment of the moment and the refreshing taste of the tea.
There are many ways to brew tea and during a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, each tea brewer decides how he or she will make the tea. One example is the traditional Chinese way called, Gong Fu or Skilled Method; a small ceramic teapot and tea pitcher are used. Another way is the Japanese style of using a small bowl with a bamboo whisk to froth up some powdered green tea. Or the covered bowl brewing method, which is simply tea in a bowl topped with a lid. It is all up to the individual brewers on what they want to bring.
There is an awe of silence that covers the area when the tea brewers sit down and the ceremony begins. The tea for the ceremony is brewed for about the same time, one or two minutes; this is because the tea brewing vessels are of similar size, therefore the tea brewers are in a sort of rhythm. To see the tea brewers pouring the tea at about the same time, from the teapots into the tea pitchers is like watching a river flow down stream but in this case there is no downstream and no upstream, just a continuous circle of flow. The tea is the blood and the physical element constant of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.

4. The Spirit of Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony and the meaning of Wu-Wo.
( 無我茶會的精神?與無我的意義 )
This time let us reach for the spirit of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony and look at the meaning of the words again. Let us first break down the two words “Wu-Wo”, and taking the English interpretation “unselfish”. In this definition, we are giving and humble not bound to physical attachments. In addition, we become a linked part of the ceremony. Now let us just look at the first word Wu, for the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony we take this word to mean “none or empty”. The limits for where this concept reside are larger and farther as than the mind can determine, therefore it is without boundaries. Emptiness and boundless to include all of “the none”, this is so vast that it encompasses an infinite space, which can be called “all or everything”. Now for the easier word Wo, in our case this represents the individual and is just one of many. When ‘one’ learns and follows the principles and participates, “one” becomes part of the Wu-Wo tea Ceremony, ‘one’ empties and becomes none and part of the whole. This is the true Spirit of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.
After the last brew, the participants sit and drink tea while contemplating and enjoying the full experience of the Tea. They will sit silently and humbly; and become “one” with the Tea Ceremony. When observing a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony it is easy to see a harmony that almost seems structured but actually, it is the united freedom of the group as being “Whole”. Think of a flock of birds flying across the sky appearing as identical birds in synchronous wing beating flight. However, the birds are of different size, gender, age, and their wings are beating at different rates. However, their direction, speed, and purpose are the same and they cross the sky so elegantly that they are ONE. These elements create the Spirit of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony, and it is in the social, individual, and ideal differences, that are bound in unity by the Spirit Tea.

5. Cooperation ,like a flock of birds.
( 團體是整體之美、類似成群的鳥兒 )、
As a river constantly flows right and left and spirals in circles, but its resulting force is in one direction. The river might slow down, speed up, or even stop; but only for a fixed amount of time before it will be flowing again in the same direction. And like a flock of birds, each being individual but crossing the sky in tempo with the same migration purpose out of instinct. Disappearing in the sky, but not forever, for the flock will return only to leave once again. And as the sun and moon rise and set at opposite times and one being cold and at night and the other being hot and in the day; but both in perpetual orbit forever, never too close and never too far. This is the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony from beginning to end and as all the participants say good-bye and talk about when’s the last time they have seen each other or ask what kind of tea others brewed. This ending is part of a cycle and not the end of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony; because as the participants leave the area, plans are already being made for the next time to have another Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony for some occasion or just for the celebration of tea itself.

6. Wu-Wo Tea Ceremonies can be friendship events.
( 友誼的交流 )
I have now been to many Wu-Wo Tea Ceremonies; usually we are in public places and share tea with the spectators that come to see the ceremony. We also serve tea to people that just happen to be there, like passersby that are just walking around or maybe someone that has noticed us. So they come over to see what is going on. I have met many friends this way. It is very fun because the rules are simple, just make tea, and enjoy! We went to “Chiang Kai-Shek Memorial Hall” in Taipei, for Mothers’ Day and had a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. For the Moon Festival we went to “Chinpaosan Cemetery” in Taipei County where the legendary pop singer who hypnotized China and Asia during the 1980s Theresa Teng is buried. At this place we honored a fellow classmate, who past away, Lin Jong Feng and had a Memorial Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. Recently, we had a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony in Mucha just outside of Taipei city. That night we attended a lecture and presentation on Modern Art, later we all sat in a circle and had an open discussion group about the art presentation and the meaning of “Wu-Wo”. We spent the night there and the next day we had a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony on the roof of the building were we stayed in, I sang a short song right before the end of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. This was a two-day event. We often have Wu-Wo Tea Ceremonies in Taiwan and I have met many new friends, local and foreign. Once we got together with two other Tea Associations and had a tea ceremony at Elephant Mountain in Taipei, this was very good because we interacted with members from other the tea groups and served tea to the regular mountain hikers as they reached the mountain summit. I would say the hikers were quite glad to see us as we offered cups of refreshing tea to quench their thirst. The tea groups worked together, some people retrieving fresh water, others boiling water, others brewing tea, and still others serving tea. I myself went around the mountain summit to the different brewing locations and introduced the tea being brewed and offered the passersby to have a cup of tea. I got lots of questions about how did I, as a foreigner get involved with the tea groups. People asked how they could get involved; I gave my email and telephone number out to many people that day. In this Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony there were three tea groups all brewing and participating together. This Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony turned out to be a real social event for exposing many new people to the joys of Tea.
One also can organize a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony in any Country; for example, we are now organizing a Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony for America, in Los Angeles next year, (scheduled summer 2006). And this year we had an International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony at Wuyi Mountain in China, and in 2007 another in Korea, and in 2009 maybe in America or Beijing.

7. History of International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony
(國際無我茶會的史跡 )
Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony is a style of tea ceremony developed and perfected in Taiwan in the 1980s by Founder Tsai, Rong Tsang. Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony originally came from a celebration on Mother’s Day called “Family Tea Ceremony” (officially, on May 12, 1991 at The Taipei Music Hall Square, it held around 500 people and their Families). Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony has had over fourteen years of history, and now has expanded for all people in all Countries.
As of 2005, the International event, “Tea Appreciation Day” was established as a day for celebrating tea all over the world, which originates from the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony. Tea Appreciation Day is held on one day during the first weekend of May or close to it. People and organizations can gather together for an International Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony to make and serve tea with the attending individuals and passing strangers alike. Activity leaders must follow local laws and regulations. There is no need to register with any organization, (including The International Wu-Wo Tea Association).

8. Conclusion
( 結論 )
Tea comes in many forms and tastes and is the second most popular beverage in the world after water. Tea drinking is often a social affair. When people of different cultures, social ranks, races, and nationalities gather together for tea, we can say that such social tea drinking helps to cultivate human relationships and promote harmony and understanding among the community. Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony is one where everyone, regardless of language, Country, or background, comes together to make, serve, and drink tea. The term, “Wu-Wo”, means selflessness by being part of the whole, and to promote cooperation and appreciation of others’ cultural and social differences. You can achieve a state of selflessness, harmony, and wholeness, with your fellow tea friends as you become immersed in the Spirit and Basic Principles of the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony.
I used to think the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony was just a tea party, but it has become much more to me as the years pass. I have come to understand that tea is much more than a drink. I have a saying “Tea is a bridge for people to communicate”. So many people have helped me to understand the Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony and Tea itself. Therefore, I would like to thank: my wife Chang, Li-hsiang, the teachers, my co-workers, my classmates, and the countless new friends I have made. So I will just say, I thank the “old and new” people of the International and Taiwan Wu-Wo Tea Association, for helping me with my tea adventure and learning of tea.

出處--
第三屆陸羽茶學研討會
暨第三十屆泡茶師頒証典禮

* * *
Presently:
* Tea Culture: writer, translator, lecturer, and tea arts performer.
* Tea Arts, Blogger, (http://teaarts.blogspot.com/)
* Translating into English (無我茶會) "Wu-Wo Tea Ceremony" and about the many facets of Tea Culture.
* A writer for "Tea Culture Monthly"
Lu-Yu Tea Culture Institute, Progress Report
(茶藝月刊陸羽茶藝中心工作報告)
* International Wu-Wo Tea Association, Member, Photographer
* Tea Arts and Culture and Incense Lore Scholar
* American English Instructor
E-mail: icetea@email.com

瓊斯史迪芬
* 翻譯
* 茶藝網站主人
* 茶道追求者
* 中華國際無我茶會會員
* 美國語言老師
E-mail: icetea@email.com 網址: http://teaarts.blogspot.com/

posted by icetea @ 3/07/2006 01:21:00 PM

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Iced Tea

2006-07-25T02:51:26Z

I am following up on Onivia's green ice tea question. I grew up with Lipton tea as the only tea in the house. Now I am a bit stuck on how to make good iced tea with my loose teas. I have to admit I am a tea snob, in that I only want to make as much as I may drink in a day, I hate the taste of "old" tea.

As always any help or input would be most welcome

posted in Tea Fiends - 8 replies

Blue Spring Oolong

2006-07-16T02:24:31Z

Has anyone tried this? I had some a while back, and it was very unique. Very delicious.

posted in Tea Fiends - 3 replies

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2006-06-27T15:24:08Z

Last week we went to Mandalay Restaurant for the first time and ordered Tea Salad. In the center of the plate was a small pile of wet tea leaves and surounding it were sesame seeds, dried shrimp, garlic chips, a lil jalapeno, dried lentils, peanuts and pimento. The waitress announced the salad and its ingredients, then proceeded to ask if we wanted her to stir it together. Pic here- http://www.flickr.com/photos/pengrin/166286950/
It was delicious, any other edible tea recipes?

posted in Tea Fiends - 0 replies

Tea Party

2006-05-29T06:29:45Z

To borrow Stephania's suggestion. I think a Tea Fiend tea party would be a hoot. Several locations. Would anyone be up for something like that?

posted in Tea Fiends - 25 replies

Decaf Jasmine Green?

2006-05-20T05:45:30Z

Hey fab tea fiends -

Anyone know of a company that makes that delightful Jasmine Green/Jasmine Fancy, without the caffeine? I'd drink twice as much of it or more if I didn't get so wired...

Thanks,
- Billie

posted in Tea Fiends - 18 replies

How to prepare Pu-erh nuggets?

2006-05-17T08:18:20Z

I picked up some Pu-erh Tuocha and it comes in 1/2 balls (I heard it has a lot of caffeine). How do I prepare this? Crumble up a 1/2 ball and put in in a bag or tea ball? What's the recommended steep time for this?

Thanks,
Olivia

posted in Tea Fiends - 5 replies

Favorite snack with tea

2006-05-01T16:35:48Z

I have to go with the classic scones, hot from the oven with lemon curd or home made jam.

posted in Tea Fiends - 45 replies

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