I want to thank everyone who has signed up for the Tea Swap - again we've had an enthusiastic showing of participants. If you do not receive your swap by the end of the month, please let me know. Also, all comments are welcomed about your personal experience with the swap and can be posted on the blog.
Meanwhile, I've been busy taking orders for customized blends. I just finished one order to satisfaction and am working on my next. Both blends were ordered as gifts, as surely it is one idea that no one else will come up with. If this continues, I shall be very busy come Christmas!
What's in My Cup: Lately I have been revisiting black tea, and have found a greater appreciation for the richer tastes of Lapsang Souchong (among others). I traditionally have been a fan of whites and light to medium oolongs. Momma Potts was right - You have to go back and try things again because your taste buds really DO change!
July 18, 2006
July 12, 2006
Tea Swap!
THE SUMMERTIME TEA SWAP 2006
Start: Immediate
End: August 1st
What is a TEA SWAP? A tea swap is a friendly exchange wherein you send off a sample of tea and in exchange, you will receive a sample of tea from someone else.
How much tea should I send? The idea is to keep it simple. Many companies have and use "sample sizes" (approx. 1oz) . A ziplock of some loose tea works best for most people. Although some people have been know to use the Swap to off-load more than that (streamlining their tea shelves or just very generous Sippers)
Does it have to be an unopened box or sample? No, the idea of sending a swap inherently means that it is something you are taking off your tea shelf and exchanging it with someone else who has done the same thing. There is no expectation of a "new" swap.
Do you count herbal tea as "tea"? While technically herbal tea is not tea (as it doesn't contain the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant), However, it is not differentiated in this swap.
Can I ask for a specific tea swap? I ask what people have to swap and what they want in order to try my best to make good matches. This is not a guarantee, but if a match can be made, then I will try my best to orchestrate that.
Who do I send my tea too? First, email me with your name, address, what they have to swap and (if applicable) the tea they'd hope to receive or would be excited to try. In about a week, I will email you back with the name of the person to whom they should send their Swap.
What if I don't get my tea? Email me immediately, as I maintain a record of who was to send to who. I will email a reminder to the late swapper. If you still receive nothing, again let me know - I always make sure 100% that a tea is always received for each sent swap!
NOTE: if you failed to send your swap last time you will not be allowed to participate in any future swaps.bBy joining the swap, you are committing to sending your Tea Swap within a week's time. Like eBay - don't promise and then not deliver - that's not nice...
So what are you waiting for? No, really? What are you waiting for?
Share your favorite tea, share your experience, share the passion!
Email your name, address, tea to swap and any preferences to: madpotsoftea@aol.com
Let the SUMMERTIME Madness begin!
Madam Potts
Start: Immediate
End: August 1st
What is a TEA SWAP? A tea swap is a friendly exchange wherein you send off a sample of tea and in exchange, you will receive a sample of tea from someone else.
How much tea should I send? The idea is to keep it simple. Many companies have and use "sample sizes" (approx. 1oz) . A ziplock of some loose tea works best for most people. Although some people have been know to use the Swap to off-load more than that (streamlining their tea shelves or just very generous Sippers)
Does it have to be an unopened box or sample? No, the idea of sending a swap inherently means that it is something you are taking off your tea shelf and exchanging it with someone else who has done the same thing. There is no expectation of a "new" swap.
Do you count herbal tea as "tea"? While technically herbal tea is not tea (as it doesn't contain the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant), However, it is not differentiated in this swap.
Can I ask for a specific tea swap? I ask what people have to swap and what they want in order to try my best to make good matches. This is not a guarantee, but if a match can be made, then I will try my best to orchestrate that.
Who do I send my tea too? First, email me with your name, address, what they have to swap and (if applicable) the tea they'd hope to receive or would be excited to try. In about a week, I will email you back with the name of the person to whom they should send their Swap.
What if I don't get my tea? Email me immediately, as I maintain a record of who was to send to who. I will email a reminder to the late swapper. If you still receive nothing, again let me know - I always make sure 100% that a tea is always received for each sent swap!
NOTE: if you failed to send your swap last time you will not be allowed to participate in any future swaps.bBy joining the swap, you are committing to sending your Tea Swap within a week's time. Like eBay - don't promise and then not deliver - that's not nice...
So what are you waiting for? No, really? What are you waiting for?
Share your favorite tea, share your experience, share the passion!
Email your name, address, tea to swap and any preferences to: madpotsoftea@aol.com
Let the SUMMERTIME Madness begin!
Madam Potts
July 09, 2006
One Year Later: The Pi Lo Chun Challenge
Tonight I stumbled across the fact that I had 2 canisters of Pi Lo Chun, both strangely enough from the same company. One sample was from an order made a year ago and had rather forgot about on the tea shelf, the other I received in the mail today.
ABOUT Pi Lo Chun
- From the Fujian province in China; also called bi luo chun.
- The tea leaves distinctly look like little green snails
(and translated, the name means "green snail spring")
- Hand-picked and processed in the Spring, which can make this an expensive brew, but with the delicate balance of the taste, I wouldn't settle with the cheap stuff....
- Taste: floral/grassy
So, in the spirit of science and knowledge, I thought it would be fun to do a side by side comparison. And what a difference a year makes!
I brewed both samples and then took the
Pi Lo Chun Challenge.
A sip from one....A sip from the next.
The first sample smelled stronger, the liquor was a darker yellow, the taste ended with a harsh bitter after-taste. This was obviously the older sample. The second was a fresher cup, lighter, and smoother, no residual after taste at all. Just a fine cup of tea...
And for your blogging pleasure, I took a picture so that you could bear witness to this event!
ABOUT Pi Lo Chun
- From the Fujian province in China; also called bi luo chun.
- The tea leaves distinctly look like little green snails
(and translated, the name means "green snail spring")
- Hand-picked and processed in the Spring, which can make this an expensive brew, but with the delicate balance of the taste, I wouldn't settle with the cheap stuff....
- Taste: floral/grassy
So, in the spirit of science and knowledge, I thought it would be fun to do a side by side comparison. And what a difference a year makes!
I brewed both samples and then took the
Pi Lo Chun Challenge.
A sip from one....A sip from the next.
The first sample smelled stronger, the liquor was a darker yellow, the taste ended with a harsh bitter after-taste. This was obviously the older sample. The second was a fresher cup, lighter, and smoother, no residual after taste at all. Just a fine cup of tea...
And for your blogging pleasure, I took a picture so that you could bear witness to this event!
Yes, as you can see for yourself, it is quite apparent which tea will reign supreme on the tea shelf and which shall be banished to the underworld! No use in keeping bitter-tasting tea (unless of course you LIKE that, which however, I do not).
Life's to short to drink bad tea.
Keep it Mad, Keep it Fresh....
July 08, 2006
July 05, 2006
Tea - on Ice!
I found an iced tea blend that I REALLY like. It's been awhile since I posted a recipe, but I'm feeling extra mad today. So by all means, enjoy this cooled down delight and if you try it out, let me know how you like it. If you would like to try it but have not these ingredients laying about, then as always, shoot me an email:
Summertime on Ice
Lemon Grass
Speramint
Hibiscus
Lemon Peel
Anise Seed
Stay Cool,
Madam Potts
Summertime on Ice
Lemon Grass
Speramint
Hibiscus
Lemon Peel
Anise Seed
Stay Cool,
Madam Potts
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