For the Love of Tea!

This is my personal set I can travel with or have some quiet time at home. A mix of Taiwan, Japan and China pieces collected for a casual service of favorite Chinese Oolong teas. The Yixing teapot I call "Hellboy" because the carving and color reminds me of the broad shoulders of the comic book character! Looks can be deceiving, this teapot holds just two ounces. Enough for a satisfying three to four rounds of a high quality variety, like this Tie Guan Yin from Lupicia.

2.26.11
Sakura Tea (Kyoto, Japan) from Obubu Tea Plantations
-this beautiful tea is much like 'white' tea, at first it's as if you are simply taking a sip of water, unless you actually take a sip of water to compare. Best lingered over for its subtle fragrance and gazed at for its artistic composition of a single floating blossom dotted with tiny air bubbles. Continue sipping as it releases springtime to your senses. What a joy to be discovered!
2.23.11
Kirkland Signature Green Tea (Ito En) from Costco Hawai`i
-yes, Costco! Not that I've forgotten my original Chinese teas or teapots, but this is another myth-busting discovery. Have you ever wondered about the very 'green' green tea served at sushi bars and nowhere else, even in the same Japanese restaurant at the dinner tables? The sushi bar secret is matcha (powdered green tea) added to the steeping leaves. Hot water quickly flushed over the powdery leaves straight into the drinking cup retains the bright green color of the matcha. Now Ito En, via Costco Hawai`i, is distributing a tea-bagged version of this tradition, complete with airtight individual wrap and premium cloth bags that allows the matcha to strain through with the first few dunks of the bag. 100/box, well under $20. Yet another reason to take that island vacation you've been dreaming about!
12.20.09
Golden Osmanthus (Taiwan) from L'Epicier-Honolulu
-a mild, green-style oolong. Not sweetened, but a slight sweet-grass sensation on the tongue. I was expecting more of a 'flowery' fragrance, but this was brewed in a gaiwan. Maybe it needs the heat of a clay pot. Must season a new teapot ; )
03.22.09
Organic High Mountain Oolong (Taiwan) from Teahome-Ebay (see Tea & Teaware on Ebay, below)
-This entry's all bold, because there's a myth-busting story here... I found a little jam jar packed with a mystery tea in the freezer door last night. I don't even remember how it got there, knowing that 'freezing tea is a no-no.' Well, I am pleased to report IT'S NOT TRUE! At least in this case, the flavor & aroma turned out to be unmistakeable from the day I received this order in the mail (at least one year ago)! In four pourings, this tea's characteristics step from fragrant, full-bodied, creamy to refreshing. I've added a link in my Ebay listings for the big bag, try it now, and freeze for later!
07.17.07
Mingchen Chinxuan (Taiwan) from L'Epicier-Honolulu
-a personal favorite, green-style oolong, honey/milky
Long Zhu "Dragon Ball" (China) from Fun Alliance
-a "Kam's Pick," elegant green tips, jasmine scented
07.18.07
Chai Green from Stash Tea w/vanilla creamer
-just alittle spicy, to go with Hong Kong style tapioca from my neighbor ;)
07.20.07
Oolong (loose in brown bag) from Ten Tea
-from my grocer, pungent roasty flavor, quite fragrant, good "wake-up" brew
08.02.07
Nan Tou Golden Lily Oolong (Taiwan) from TeaHomeUS
-refreshing green-style oolong. Any TeaHomeUS product cannot be beat for benchmark quality & value, straight from the grower.
08.20.07
Chai Spice Black from Stash Tea w/vanilla creamer
-a classic, bold and rich. Great coffee substitute, wonderful with dark chocolate, sweets and Indian food, of course!
11.26.07
I'm stuck on chai! Sorry I haven't been adding more exotic varieties, but it's been a busy few months. I just bought a new Twinings chai tea, and will report ASAP!
11.28.07
I also encountered some REALLY BAD Chinese-style teabags of an off brand. I should've suspected from the sale price. Not worth reporting.
Indian Spiced Chai Tea from Twining's of London w/vanilla creamer
-"Spiced" is the keyword, a potent fragrance greets you as the box and inner wrappers are opened. Surprisingly, the brew's color and aroma is closer to Lipton orange pekoe than the strong black tea of other chai's, or its own dry teabag. Yet, not a bad thing, the spices still warm and come through in the sipping.
05.31.08
Jade Organic from Mighty Leaf
-smooth & refreshing. First-class presentation of bagged teas, I received this variety in an assortment of silk steeping pouches encased in a lined leather box.
06.10.08
Ginger Twist from Mighty Leaf
-Caffeine free. There's a fruity punch to this "herbal infusion." I'm not often one for this type, but it got me with the tang of lemongrass and a zing of ginseng and ginger.
07.17.08
Tie Guan Yin from Lupicia
-A Fujian Oolong tea described in the company catalog and pictured below. Fragrance is naturally floral and nutty. Taste is a bit minty and astringent, classified as a "green" tea.

In my exploration, I've found the names and phrases used to describe tea, equipment and techniques to have different spellings, even within paragraphs of the same text at times. Probably due to the fact that most writings are translated from Chinese characters, interpreted in a variety of Chinese dialects, as well as the Japanese language. There is no hard and fast rule of what is "correct" in all instances. A simple example would be: oolong vs. wulong vs. wu-lung. Taking this information to a local tea vendor can be challenging, depending on how the words are enuciated. Chinese words translated to English can be even more perplexing. Here, I will post names as they are written from my vendors for particular varieties. Hope this helps!

Kyoto Obubu Tea Plantations is searching for all their customers affected by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, in order to bring aid to their families. They are asking for our help. ***2012 UPDATE***: One year later, KOTP has located all their customers. The donations were used to bring needed supplies (and tea!) to evacuated families. The company continues its work with their Tea Relief Caravan. Mahalo (thank you) for your support!

less alcohol, more tea
less meat, more vegetables
less salt, more vinegar
less sugar, more fruit
less eating, more chewing
less talking, more working
less taking, more giving
less worry, more sleep
less riding, more walking
less anger, more happiness

~Author Unknown