Currently distractedly grandpaing ("grandpa" is definitely a verb) a pot of Oriental Beauty from a local tea shop while in a meeting. Not particularly memorable, but suits the occasion. (Also, it irks me that the minimum in-store purchase is 50 g per tea, because the vendor (owner?) does not want people to make "mini purchases" (their words), but it is perfectly possible to order in 25 g units online. Here I imagined that mailing out samples was the lowest-profit, most labor-intensive mode of tea retail business.) Statistics: Posted by sheep.payday2 — Wed Sep 18, 2024 6:52 am ..read more

1. 30 year aged pure GuShu raw pu'er. 2. 20 year aged pure GuShu raw pu'er. 3. 10 year aged pure GuShu raw pu'er. 4. 30 year aged single estate blend GuShu raw pu'er. 5. 20 year aged single estate blend GuShu raw pu'er. 6. 10 year aged single estate blend GuShu raw pu'er. 7. 30, 20, 10 aged single estate blend small trees raw pu'er. Yep, raw pu'er has to be aged to be called pu'er categorized under black tea. Pure unblended 100% GuShu will be best regardless of whichever region, that will be decided on your taste preference. Then blends of GuShu + small trees. Then small tress unde ..read more

Tea is very dependent on vintage/year like wine. If there is a particularly good year, or low yield but high demand, then prices will be higher. Also, it is not possible to compare tea from one farmer as every year will be a different batch and hence quality. You will be surprised to find that the value of puerh does not rise significantly over time, unlike wine. The only issue is it becoming more rare to find good puerh because the good stuff will be hidden/reserved for private consumption and that amount is slowly decreasing as time goes by. Statistics: Posted by Sunyata — Mon Sep 16, 2024 2 ..read more

You get it from older tea trees and specific varietals. Tea leaf that has slowly accumulated and stored nutrients which are released, and the "mineral" sensation that coats one's mouth and throat. Young tea trees will have much lesser hui gan because the environment is not pristine, they are grown like monocrops in rows/columns so they compete with one another for already scarce/depleted soil nutrients, plus excessive pruning and harvesting to keep yields high result in flat-tasting teas. When they grow old and produce low yield, farmers simply uproot and take new cuttings/clones to propagate ..read more

20240914_123310.jpg Chip and I are cleaning our kyusu collection and this one is my favorite AO Yamada Sou. Statistics: Posted by Jo — Sat Sep 14, 2024 4:51 pm ..read more

Isn't it also the simple act of this tea making routine that can bring comfort? Processing an event, day, misfortune, while making tea. Having somewhat recently gone through a period of exceptional and repeated loss— 5 events in 6 months— I can confirm that tea, and the friends I’ve made through tea, brought enormous comfort to me. Tea also gave me contemplative time to process those losses and come to terms with those most existential of questions. I spent many hours looking into the abyss with the rhythm of my session as my only comfort. In the immediate weeks following each loss my tea s ..read more

2021 Chawangpu Jinggu Lao Shu Zhuan 400g I have to recommend this Shu again. Especially for its price 24 $/400 gr Incredible "price performance ratio" Sweet, smooth, full aroma and taste... Teaware: chamotte clay shibo, Huaning pottery pitcher and cup. Statistics: Posted by pepson — Sat Sep 14, 2024 3:50 am ..read more

I found a begonia pot of sorts a while ago, which originally took me to this thread. I wonder if anybody here has come across this type, or knows how it relates to the export pots that have been discussed. IMG_20240904_084038 by multaa, on Flickr "Birb" carving with white infill. The calligraphy on the reverse side is not half bad, and the lid fits a-okay. The volume is 500 ml or so. IMG_20240904_084354 by multaa, on Flickr The pot looks like it was slip cast in one piece, and the spout joins the body seamlessly. I guess you could call this a single hole filter? At least it pours fast ..read more

Embroidery optional. Why, such a sweet design! And that photo alone could lift the mood, thanks for sharing. Statistics: Posted by sheep.payday2 — Fri Sep 13, 2024 9:28 pm ..read more

"Exclusive bottled water is municipal water World stars drink exclusively Voss water, but the water is no more exclusive than the fact that it is supplied by a municipal waterworks in Southern Norway." https://www.tv2.no/nyheter/eksklusivt-f ... /12823560/ They have wonderful municipal water in Norway and most of Europe, unlike the US. Statistics: Posted by Baisao — Fri Sep 13, 2024 5:50 am ..read more