2004 Yang Qing Hao Dingji Yesheng
Context: This is a tea I know, but don't know. I have a cake, of which this session is from. I have had samples from various places. I didn't care much for this tea out of the lineup a mere 3-4 years ago, even 2...it
How I Evaluate Teas / Tasting Note Breakdown
I think with any serious tea drinker that's reading tasting notes, they likely fall into one of the following buckets: 1. It's fun to read what friends think about a tea. 2. It's a reference point for how others think about evaluating tea. 3.
The 8 TDS Difference - It's Huge For Tea, But Not Why You Think.
First, some brief housekeeping: * I am going to be doing testing with Saratoga bottled but in plastic cause I'm just not willing to spend on their price for glass. More to come on this. * I am also going to be testing a couple filters for tap water. More
The Kettle Stone Situation
BIG DISCLAIMER: I procured fresh, never used Lizella clay kettle stones from the most recent firing of a batch of Lizella teapots. These were as fresh as fresh comes, and were only used for about 2.5 days. I am good friend's with Mark and he is a
The Tea Community Needs More Love
The tea community needs more love - not just passion Passion is wonderful, magnetic, and good. Passion can also be misguided Having passion is...sadly rare; we should celebrate it when we see it. Yet, passion alone doesn't get us there. We can be immensely passionate but blind
Oh Woe is Water
So there I am I'm sitting down on a Monday morning to have some CYH Zhiwang (2007), a "unicorn piss" tea as one member of the community calls it haha đ. I prepare my 1960's hongni teapot, preheat the vessel, grab my leaf, and get
1980s Yang Qing Hao Anxi Tie Guan Yin Oolong
Context: 10g sample, first session of two. While most brews are Empirical Water Glacial (link below), slightly heavier empirical water cross between glacial and spring was used for this tea. It was 40% spring per recipe, 60% filtered tap in this batch. After some feeling it out, the water is
The Modern Tea Canon
My goodness would I just adore having a room like that. Those sorts of spaces feel almost...sacred. Havens, in a world of havoc. To be surrounded by endless books, a never ending fountain of knowledge to immerse myself in...a sort of, paradise, in a form. Perhaps one day
Communi-tea
For several years, I enjoyed tea alone; drinking more-so to have some with my Bible reading time or opting for it instead of coffee. Eventually a few folks that also knew what a dragon pearl was came around, but I hadn't known for much longer than them. Then
Opportuni-tea
â From the Latin: "Coming toward a port." If youâre ready to dock somewhere with real access â not just to good tea, but to its stories, culture, memories, and knowledge... Without the fluff, the gatekeeping, or the snark... Then welcome. Youâve found the right port. I am
2007 Yang Qing Hao Xishi Shenpin
Context: This is a cake I know very well from the brand I know the most from the category and age of tea I drink the most. This statement has been true and growing over about 4 years. I've gone through more than a cake of this and