Contemplating oolong.
the New "It" tea of the moment
(no small thanks to recent weight-loss claims)
Wuyi: smokey, roasted, distinct rich flavour
how to blend....
May 30, 2006
May 24, 2006
My 1st Custom Tea order
Got a request to make a tea for someone as a present. Should be interesting, as I'm customizing a tea for someone second-hand. As I can't talk with the person who will be drinking the tea, the best I can do is go on instinct....make a guess based on a few (and most conflicting) clues - it's not like I can straight out ask the receiver as they have no idea that they are about to receive a specialized blend. I do know that they prefer black tea...at least it narrows it down.
I'll keep the blog updated when the feedback comes through.
So that's what's brewing in the kitchen this week...
Keep the requests coming!
Thanks,
Madam Potts
I'll keep the blog updated when the feedback comes through.
So that's what's brewing in the kitchen this week...
Keep the requests coming!
Thanks,
Madam Potts
May 18, 2006
A Little Less Sacred
One doesn't have to dip one's spoon into the tea community too far before discovering that there are 2 types of tea drinkers. Both groups are necessary, neither is better or worse. Like any two party system, they need each other to exist: opposite yet equal. And of course that means there are those who would prefer to stay in the center, feeling there's validity to both parties. The two parties of the tea parties fall out something like this:
The Tea-Totalers. All they drink is tea. They take the grade, the water temperature, the serving ware all very seriously. Whether Asian or British style influence, they are steeped in the traditions, rituals and ceremony of tea. There's nothing that they don't kow about making the perfect cuppa. They pass this intricate knowledge of tea to others thereby continuing the long history of tea. Without them, tea would not be as trendy as it is, though the majority of them despise the idea of tea benig "trendy".
The Nouveau Leaf-ers. They love tea. It's not the only beverage, but they pride themselves in knowing more than the average person about tea. Whether for trend or health or just unique taste, they have acknowledged that there lies a whole other world behind that label "TEA". They don't fuss so much with steeping time and water temperatures and would be equally willing to grab a "to-go" cup of tea as have it served gong-fu style.
Anyone reading this blog knows that as an herbalist who stumbled into tea, that I associate myself with the latter of the tea parties. I've always felt recipes and instructions were merely guidelines and that rules were meant to be learned and then unlearned in order to find the next stage of growth. We do that a lot in America. Some people call it "bastardizing", but then if that's the American way, then it allows things to be added into the melting hodge-podge pot we call our culture...
I'm glad tea is trendy. If you interview the owners of the tea companies and tea cafes, you'll find a lot of tea purists as well as tea centerists...you'll find people who love and respect tea for everything that it is. You'll find people interested in high-quality products.
Sure you'll always have low-quality products mass produced by large conglomerates, but then, hasn't even THAT been the gateway product that has ushered numerous people into learning more and more about what true quality tea is all about?
Enjoy your tea how you wanna....
Dare to be a little less sacred.
Just make it YOURS.
The Tea-Totalers. All they drink is tea. They take the grade, the water temperature, the serving ware all very seriously. Whether Asian or British style influence, they are steeped in the traditions, rituals and ceremony of tea. There's nothing that they don't kow about making the perfect cuppa. They pass this intricate knowledge of tea to others thereby continuing the long history of tea. Without them, tea would not be as trendy as it is, though the majority of them despise the idea of tea benig "trendy".
The Nouveau Leaf-ers. They love tea. It's not the only beverage, but they pride themselves in knowing more than the average person about tea. Whether for trend or health or just unique taste, they have acknowledged that there lies a whole other world behind that label "TEA". They don't fuss so much with steeping time and water temperatures and would be equally willing to grab a "to-go" cup of tea as have it served gong-fu style.
Anyone reading this blog knows that as an herbalist who stumbled into tea, that I associate myself with the latter of the tea parties. I've always felt recipes and instructions were merely guidelines and that rules were meant to be learned and then unlearned in order to find the next stage of growth. We do that a lot in America. Some people call it "bastardizing", but then if that's the American way, then it allows things to be added into the melting hodge-podge pot we call our culture...
I'm glad tea is trendy. If you interview the owners of the tea companies and tea cafes, you'll find a lot of tea purists as well as tea centerists...you'll find people who love and respect tea for everything that it is. You'll find people interested in high-quality products.
Sure you'll always have low-quality products mass produced by large conglomerates, but then, hasn't even THAT been the gateway product that has ushered numerous people into learning more and more about what true quality tea is all about?
Enjoy your tea how you wanna....
Dare to be a little less sacred.
Just make it YOURS.
May 02, 2006
The Challenge is on
Up until now I have customized teas for people that I know or for such a SPECIFIC purpose that the blend made itself known according to said purpose....
Now the Challenge begins. I have had 2 requests this week to create a tea for someone I have never met. The form that I send to people interested in having me formulate a personalized blend only gives me clues of their taste aestetic. The idea of it is more to help the buyer formulate ad verbalize an idea of what they might want, what appeals to them. Certainly what is "appealing" can be any variety of things based on mood, time of day, season...etc. Rarely is it ever one single idea, so some answers seem contradictory. And this is what I assumed would happen....
I've been putting it out there for awhile, that this is what I do, what I like to do, what I want to do more of. I am glad to have the feedback and interest of people I meet and blog readers. Personalized tea is a small flight of fancy, an side step from just grabbing the usual tea off the shelf. I like the idea that the consumer has a say about what they are consuming. People can be as specific as they want on their Customization Form. Especially if they really would like a specific taste/tea....they control that. I even give everyone a sample of the tea so they have a second chance at the input that goes into their tea.
So, keep the requests coming. and I'll let you know how this all plays out!
Remember: It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world!
Now the Challenge begins. I have had 2 requests this week to create a tea for someone I have never met. The form that I send to people interested in having me formulate a personalized blend only gives me clues of their taste aestetic. The idea of it is more to help the buyer formulate ad verbalize an idea of what they might want, what appeals to them. Certainly what is "appealing" can be any variety of things based on mood, time of day, season...etc. Rarely is it ever one single idea, so some answers seem contradictory. And this is what I assumed would happen....
I've been putting it out there for awhile, that this is what I do, what I like to do, what I want to do more of. I am glad to have the feedback and interest of people I meet and blog readers. Personalized tea is a small flight of fancy, an side step from just grabbing the usual tea off the shelf. I like the idea that the consumer has a say about what they are consuming. People can be as specific as they want on their Customization Form. Especially if they really would like a specific taste/tea....they control that. I even give everyone a sample of the tea so they have a second chance at the input that goes into their tea.
So, keep the requests coming. and I'll let you know how this all plays out!
Remember: It's a mad, mad, mad, mad world!
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