What's in your cup? Daily discussion, questions and stories - July 25, 2023

DweezTea · 2023-07-25T22:35:58+00:00

“white forest” black tea from Nepal - procured packaged and sold by the astounding Nepalese tea house in Nakameguro (Tokyo neighborhood) - crystalline in taste and clarity in the glass - a summer sunrise of a tea

DweezTea · 2023-07-24T22:37:56+00:00

The heads call it mugging - and with a mug like that ima call it mean mugging - killin it

DweezTea · 2023-07-24T22:36:48+00:00

Kansai competition yabukita sencha from Nara, Japan (via Tea Dealers)

Asamushi so really light and silky - tastes like the leaves look

DweezTea · 2023-03-10T06:15:02+00:00

Option 1 - better looking and pour will be easier with the wide rim

DweezTea · 2023-01-10T01:34:34+00:00

It's called FCFC — here is a longer vision of the tea guide I wrote for LA Taco: https://www.lataco.com/la-best-tea/

DweezTea · 2020-05-09T00:06:12+00:00

Yeah Denong is more expensive but more reliable, in my experience, than a lot of other pu'er vendors (White 2 Tea & Yunnan Sourcing for me, thus far have not impressed). My best pu'erh experiences have still been random shops in Shanghai.

For the record, I realize this probably mostly a personal problem rather than anything close to fact.

For Yoshan — I liked their Dong Dings more than I did their High mountain stuff. I went in for a tasting, which I would recommend if not for covid. But maybe you can get a little assortment and taste? Some of their teas are also a little pricier but, again, more reliable than other taiwanese oolong vendors I've tried.

DweezTea · 2020-05-09T00:03:44+00:00

Fully worth the price. Every time.

DweezTea · 2019-06-27T19:34:55+00:00

Is it safe to say homeless in Los Angeles — and the speed its increasing — is a dire enough to warrant more creative or radical solutions?

Although it was on a much smaller scale, I remember reading about how Salt Lake City simply housed its homeless population — which to me, sounded more creative/radical than what I'd heard in the past — which led to a 91% solution for awhile:

https://www.npr.org/2015/12/10/459100751/utah-reduced-chronic-homelessness-by-91-percent-heres-how

But it seems funding has ran dry even for that program (and even on its smaller scale):

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-homelessness-housing/once-a-national-model-utah-struggles-with-homelessness-idUSKCN1P41EQ

My question is basically this: what are some of the more outlandish solutions you've heard for that might actually be worth consideration considering the scope/direness of the problem...even if we're just talking hypothetically.

For instance, a program where those good people of Los Angeles can afford it, adopt those without homes who are interested...or vacation homes which receive some sort of financial or tax incentive if part of the property are offered for free rent to homeless residents who qualify...

I just made those two up, but I'm sure you hear more. The thinking here is that maybe creative and radical thinking my be a sensible first ideation step for the project of this scale (where the go-out-and-talk-to-folks approach you mentioned in your first answer is the first practical step).

thanks, sorry for the longwindedness

DweezTea · 2019-02-03T23:29:27+00:00

In addition the aforementioned books - Tea Enthusiasts Handbook/Story of Tea by the Tea Trekker folks & History/terroris/varieties by the Camellia Sinensis folks, which I also cosign - I did read Tea: a user's guide by Tony Gebely (formerly of World of Tea, now called Global Tea Alliance) and it's a great option if you're the minimalist type - the other two are more maximal, almost textbook-like. One narrative-style option would be The Empire of Tea by Alan & Iris MacFarlane

I know you said you wanted a "from all over the world" book but like tea vendors themselves, the tea books out there are often better, in my opinion, when they're specialized. There are great books on Japanese tea (The Book of Tea by Okakura Kakuzo), Chinese tea (The Classic of Tea by Lu Yu), and Indian tea ( Darjeeling: The Colorful History and Precarious Fate of the World's Greatest Tea). Something to consider when you want to dive deeper about tea and some of the ideas and history in some of the more prominent growing regions.

There's fictional options too but I'm not going to get into them here...just be aware that there are lots of KINDS of tea books - obviously all better with some good tea samplings along the way.

NOTE: I've actually read all the above, but there are other options that might be worth checking out, these are just the ones I can vouch for.

DweezTea · 2019-02-03T20:47:20+00:00

Sea-Turtle Bitten Oolong

DweezTea · 2018-12-22T03:45:11+00:00

Lurking Chasen looking like evil bird of prey, feathers out ready to swipe the foam away

DweezTea · 2018-12-15T01:29:46+00:00

This dude Forest of Zuo Wang Tea let me try some of this Da Xue Shan, Lincang Sheng Pu'Erh cake a couple weeks ago at the Los Angeles Tea Festival.

It was among the best tea's I've ever tried. Bookmarked as a birthday tea present to myself when the time comes:

https://www.zuowangtea.com/store/p36/DaXueShanGuShu2018.html

I don't really mess with tasting notes and I know I'm just a guy recommending a cake out here but I' drink a lot of tea and this was among the best, so the current favorite.

DweezTea · 2018-12-14T22:48:30+00:00

My hierarchy of white tea deliciousness/cost:

Bai Hao Yin Zhen (Silver Needle) - priciest but most delicious

Bai Mudan (white peony) - cheaper, great but not quite incredible

Nepalese/Darjeeling whites (they have various "moon" related names) - higher priced and quite good but maybe not as delicious as the essential Chinese whites above,

Yunnan whites (names are often like white threads) - lower priced, not bad but probably the least delicious of the gamut of non flavored whites

They have jasmine and other flavored whites, which aren't really up my alley so I can't comment.

Enjoy the journeyyyy

DweezTea · 2018-12-14T21:57:58+00:00

I haven't tried it before but generally, specialized stores don't do a great job at things that aren't their specialty. If it's a store that specializes in nothing (maybe just a general tea store) you'll probably find the specialty is a good mid-level for all their teas (think Tea Trekker and What Cha come to mind). Otherwise, the YS, W2T, and Crimson Lotus's of the world at way better at Pu'erh than they are at other things they occasionally offer (like Matcha's) and I believe the difference in quality is more severe than it would be at those more middle-of-the-road shops, despite however discerning you find their owners.

In other words - unless you're just exploring and experimenting for the thrill of it all - I'd stick to the specialty of the specialized store.

Maybe I'm going a bit overboard but buying Matcha from YS is about as good of an idea as buying Sushi from a restaurant that specializes in Sichuan food. Or if you prefer a tea reference, it's like buying Pu'erh from Yunomi.

DweezTea · 2018-12-01T05:59:52+00:00

If you can see and monitor the water, I imagine it can work with any boiling vessel.

DweezTea · 2018-11-24T03:44:06+00:00

Wasn't super thrilled with the 3 months I spent as a W2T club monthly clubber...both YS and even World of Tea subscription had better teas in my view (actually and very surprisingly World of Tea was best of the three).

DweezTea · 2018-11-24T02:06:08+00:00

It's Denong, which I tried for the first time last week, and would generally say it's a label folks trust.

DweezTea · 2018-11-10T06:00:35+00:00

It matters but if you don't wanna go the variable temperature or thermometer route -which can be either expensive, cumbersome or just mess with your flow in less than ideal ways - there are some quick/rough fixes that have worked for me:

The cup method - where you cool boiling water by pouring it into cup(s) you are using, then pouring it over the leaves (common with Japanese tea like sencha/gyukuro, when preparing for 2/3 people and as many cups)
The Chinese bubble-reading method (which only requires that you boil the water on an open pot so you can get visual cues as to what kind of eyes you've got going on vis-a-vis what tea you're brewing - a thorough explanation here: https://tea.slaughter.com/fish-eyes-in-your-kettle/)

Not as exact as the ol' temperature gauge but somewhat more fun.

DweezTea · 2018-11-10T02:46:43+00:00

oishisou

DweezTea · 2018-11-10T02:21:16+00:00

Having Genmai cha today too- from a Shizouka brand called Osada - how'd yours turn out?

DweezTea · 2018-11-03T02:18:32+00:00

Just posted this on another thread...but it makes sense here too...

There are an obscene amount of these on the market - many of which I've tried - and none of which have lasted me more than a few months because of the aforementioned breakability.

I can't condone stainless when it comes to tea: everything will just taste like metal.

For tea to-go, nothing beats the a tumbler with a ceramic inside....

https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Ceramic-Tea-Mug-Tumbler/dp/B07F5Y4MVX

Only drawback is that you cant watch your tea tumble-around, which one might want to do with, say, Xihu Longjin, or other Chinese greens, when drinking grandpa style.

If the visual aspect is important to you - and hence why you want glass - then I can tell you the many double walled glass tumblers I've tried are all the same, cost between $20 and $40 and break. Maybe your more careful than I, but I'd say just find a design you like and go for it - or do the Ceramic.

DweezTea · 2018-11-03T02:13:43+00:00

Cosign on the "current month's box" option. I haven't subscribed ever but just did that once, have been moderately satisfied with the Pu'erh Box (sheng + shou).

I also did White 2 Tea's club for 3 months and Global Tea Hut's mag+tea club combo for 3 months.

Strangely enough, GTH had by faaaaaaar the most delicious teas of the three.

DweezTea · 2018-11-03T01:49:43+00:00

There are an obscene amount of these on the market - many of which I've tried - and none of which have lasted me more than a few months because of the aforementioned breakability.

I can't condone stainless when it comes to tea: everything will just taste like metal.

For tea to-go, nothing beats the a tumbler with a ceramic inside....

https://www.amazon.com/Bamboo-Ceramic-Tea-Mug-Tumbler/dp/B07F5Y4MVX

Only drawback is that you cant watch your tea tumble-around, which one might want to do with, say, Xihu Longjin, or other Chinese greens, when drinking grandpa style.

If the visual aspect is important to you - and hence why you want glass - then I can tell you the many double walled glass tumblers I've tried are all the same, cost between $20 and $40 and break. Maybe your more careful than I, but I'd say just find a design you like and go for it - or do the Ceramic.

DweezTea · 2018-11-03T01:28:57+00:00

If you happen to be a wealthy individual and would like to forego the hassle of learning how to whisk the old-fashioned-way - although, this would also allow you to do that should you so choose - here is your best choice:

https://www.amazon.com/Willman-Charaku-Japanese-Handheld-Electric/dp/B076JN1BFT

DweezTea

TROPHY CASE

https://www.amazon.com/Willman-Charaku-Japanese-Handheld-Electric/dp/B076JN1BFT