buscon Posted December 27, 2009 I've been loving tea since 15 years, I can suggest to try the gong fu cha ceremony: http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kung_fu_cha Long ching tea is great, I've drunk it for years. Pu-erh tea is endless world of taste, someone would say that has a lot of qi Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lozen Posted December 27, 2009 I found a tea place in eau claire! It's called Ingenuitea. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Non Posted December 27, 2009 (edited) Be careful with the polycarbonate, or any other plastic. Especially since you use hot water. I remember reading somewhere that polycarbonate materials (chemicals) get dissolved in the water or liquid in the container, and can cause serious problems with sexual functions, and decrease testosterone when consumed. Edited December 27, 2009 by Non Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Boris the Blade Posted December 28, 2009 (edited) - Edited August 27, 2010 by Boris the Blade Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
witch Posted January 26, 2010 I have started drinking a small amount of tea--against my own principles! Long story. Anyhow, I was out of regular teabags, and I had this canister of Chinese, at least I think it's Chinese tea, so I made tea from that. The leaves are loose and flat and black, I put about a tablespoon in a teaball and made some weak tea. The leaves are very old, not sure how long I've had this canister. It's a gold canister with a gold dragon curling around it. The tea tasted very different from any tea I've ever had, and I have a feeling of well-being that I've never had from drinking tea before. I had a very small amount, the tea was a pale yellow color. Any idea if that was normal tea or not? Or is that just the difference between brewing loose tea and chopped up tea in teabags? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Encephalon Posted January 26, 2010 I just discovered Raspberry Leaf tea. I'm drinking about six cups a day, at $1.31/oz in bulk, because it purportedly gives middle-aged men like myself a chance for our adrenals to recover after half a lifetime of being a shell-shocked caffeine addict. But, yeah, it's mostly used by pregnant women. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
buscon Posted January 26, 2010 My Favorites are Te guan yin and Da Hong Pao (Big red robe) tea... so good to have it again. hey Boris, I've just seen your tea: great stuff! I love green and pu-erh tea, but sometimes I appreciate oolong too. The tea tasted very different from any tea I've ever had, and I have a feeling of well-being that I've never had from drinking tea before. I had a very small amount, the tea was a pale yellow color. Any idea if that was normal tea or not? Or is that just the difference between brewing loose tea and chopped up tea in teabags? Difficult to help you - don't you have a name on the can or a photo of the tea ? Otherwise is very hard to say... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
witch Posted January 26, 2010 Well it's written in Chinese characters. There is a coworker here who is Chinese, I will bring it in and have him translate. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
de_paradise Posted January 27, 2010 I recently got hooked on Taiwan's Oolong tea, the gaoshan, or the high-mountain variety. I researched it and its lower caffeine than even green tea, and most of that can be taken out on the first brewing for 5 minutes. I tell people its the secret to my youthful looks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 27, 2010 I just brewed a cup of Twining English Breakfast (black) tea. to keep me awake for a while longer. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mal Posted January 27, 2010 Today it's Dragon Well for me, it's my first green tea and still my standby favorite. When I finish off the tin I want to try out the "superior west lake dragon well" from http://www.enjoyingtea.com/lunchinlondr.html I've got a few different varities from there and they are very tasty. They recomended the snow water green cloud tea and it's very nice. So much tea to taste Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aetherous Posted January 27, 2010 I really like kukicha (Japanese twig tea). Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marblehead Posted January 27, 2010 So much tea to taste And so many women to kiss. (Sorry, Just couldn't resist that.) Peace & Love! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeblast Posted January 30, 2010 I've bought tea from this shop, the silver needle in particular was top notch! I'm on the newsletter and this article on Tea in take and the 4 seasons looked pretty cool so I thought I'd share.. http://www.amazing-green-tea.com/chinese-tea-and-health.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mal Posted January 31, 2010 I'm on that mailing list too and was about to post that as well It's a good site. Anyone tried their Longjing Tea (King) 12.5g - $31.00 I'm looking at geting some more dragon well in a few months. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted January 31, 2010 Someone posted green teas are supposed to be refrigerated. I've never heard that before. I'm under the impression keeping teas in an air tight container is fine. Any thoughts on storage? Thanks Michael Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
joeblast Posted February 1, 2010 I tried the kong long jing, it was allright. I think it was the first time I ever tried that kind, it was a little...I dont know...it wasnt bad, but I wasnt a super huge fan of it either. Not when I had a bag of silver needle sitting right next to it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
~jK~ Posted February 3, 2010 (edited) Someone posted green teas are supposed to be refrigerated. I've never heard that before. I'm under the impression keeping teas in an air tight container is fine. Any thoughts on storage? Thanks Michael In China it is sealed in batches and sold in open air markets from large open containers with higher grades sealed in individual serving pouches. but never refrigerated. Meditation of TEA The function of Tea in meditation escaped me until I made a trip to the Taoist temples in Beijing. Often I think of Tea as just something to buy at the supermarket. Even here in China it has been this way. I've learned to enjoy teas as here it is everywhere and it is free with dinner, meetings etc. But I did not see the lifestyle of Tea or the true meanings of the word. To make a Tea, Is to extract the essence out of something by boiling it, whereas by "boiling" it can be literally with hot water or by heated actions. Either way the essence is extracted. This is also the ancient way of making medicines for the sick. I watched an old man drink a cup of tea after work. As soon as he was served in the busy tea house, his attention focused only on the small cup resting like a dot in the center of the small round table. As he watched the steam drifting up a few inches and disappearing, it was as if the tenseness of the day was rising on the steam. I could almost see the weight lifting from his back as his shoulders and facial expression relaxed. He mildly placed both hands around his cup as if guarding it from all outsiders and softly stroked it with the tips of his fingers while teasing the steam with his breath. First, gently blowing the steam away and then inhaling the fragrant vapors into his nose. It was as if he was whispering to his mate. His face relaxed into an expression of baby-like innocence. When he sipped, it was more like a kiss as he even closed his eyes the first few times his lips touched the small cup, afterwards, he slightly opened them to follow the cup to the table. Finally when the tea was about half gone, he just held it and looked deeply in the depths as his workday passed out of his mind. It was clear that he was meditating. In the center of the capital of the worlds most populated nation where, a few blocks away, over one hundred twenty million people passed through a single train station on Chinese New Years day, he was alone with his tea as if resting by a lake high in the mountains. He was once again back to his essence, the excess baggage of the workday was gone. When leaving, he took with him the expression of innocence that had found him. I could see he had found a mindset the Chinese call "wu-wei" or going with the flow. As I looked around the room, I could see that he was not the inventor of this meditation. It seemed to be as old as Chinese tea. It was a small ceremony for meditation. The Chinese people work very hard 12 hour days. I'm sure that this little ceremony evolved from absolute necessity. ~..~ A point less frequently explored is that Tea was the beginnings of Chinese herbal medicine. Edited February 3, 2010 by ~jK~ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Aetherous Posted February 3, 2010 That was an amazing story! So true. Here is something cool I saw last week, on Silver Needle tea...funny host... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rain Posted February 4, 2010 In China it is sealed in batches and sold in open air markets from large open containers with higher grades sealed in individual serving pouches. but never refrigerated. Meditation of TEA The function of Tea in meditation escaped me until I made a trip to the Taoist temples in Beijing. Often I think of Tea as just something to buy at the supermarket. Even here in China it has been this way. I've learned to enjoy teas as here it is everywhere and it is free with dinner, meetings etc. But I did not see the lifestyle of Tea or the true meanings of the word. To make a Tea, Is to extract the essence out of something by boiling it, whereas by "boiling" it can be literally with hot water or by heated actions. Either way the essence is extracted. This is also the ancient way of making medicines for the sick. I watched an old man drink a cup of tea after work. As soon as he was served in the busy tea house, his attention focused only on the small cup resting like a dot in the center of the small round table. As he watched the steam drifting up a few inches and disappearing, it was as if the tenseness of the day was rising on the steam. I could almost see the weight lifting from his back as his shoulders and facial expression relaxed. He mildly placed both hands around his cup as if guarding it from all outsiders and softly stroked it with the tips of his fingers while teasing the steam with his breath. First, gently blowing the steam away and then inhaling the fragrant vapors into his nose. It was as if he was whispering to his mate. His face relaxed into an expression of baby-like innocence. When he sipped, it was more like a kiss as he even closed his eyes the first few times his lips touched the small cup, afterwards, he slightly opened them to follow the cup to the table. Finally when the tea was about half gone, he just held it and looked deeply in the depths as his workday passed out of his mind. It was clear that he was meditating. In the center of the capital of the worlds most populated nation where, a few blocks away, over one hundred twenty million people passed through a single train station on Chinese New Years day, he was alone with his tea as if resting by a lake high in the mountains. He was once again back to his essence, the excess baggage of the workday was gone. When leaving, he took with him the expression of innocence that had found him. I could see he had found a mindset the Chinese call "wu-wei" or going with the flow. As I looked around the room, I could see that he was not the inventor of this meditation. It seemed to be as old as Chinese tea. It was a small ceremony for meditation. The Chinese people work very hard 12 hour days. I'm sure that this little ceremony evolved from absolute necessity. ~..~ A point less frequently explored is that Tea was the beginnings of Chinese herbal medicine. sharply observed, beautiful text. thank you very much. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mal Posted March 20, 2010 Just pre-ordered my 2010 season King and Jipin grade Dragon Well tea. I'm excited Someone posted green teas are supposed to be refrigerated. I've never heard that before. I'm under the impression keeping teas in an air tight container is fine. Any thoughts on storage? Thanks Michael Also found another link that mentions freezing and refrigeration Green Tea Storage - Guarding Against Five Thieves Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
thelerner Posted March 24, 2010 Thanks Mal, I joined the tea newsletter you recommended and they're taking preorders for the first spring teas. I've gone through my 3 ounces of Pi Lo Chun green tea, which was good, earthy, short soaking time. I bought it at Teavana, it cost a bit more then I usually spend. The last few days I'm drinking some inexpensive Japanese Genmai Cha, green tea w/ toasted brown rice(HIME brand). About $3.75 bought a large bag of it. The toasted rice makes it sweet and filling. Perfect for chilly mornings. Michael Share this post Link to post Share on other sites