Oh, he is definetly NOT Japanese. He is an arrogant Texan (the kind I grew
up around.)

Dave


"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
A Japanese person that needs tea or anything else but self-discipline to
control his/her temper or mood is either not Japanese or need a doctor
ASAP.

Alex.


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Matcha: Gotcha. Thanks. And thank you for putting my ignorance in
perspective. I really need to write about the Japanese ceremony, as it
is
the ritualistic side that matters to the story. I am not trying to
write
a
book that covers the complete breadth and depth of the ceremony (if any
one
book could do that) but just give an idea as to the meaning. It's for a
kids book, and the main focus is on how everything has to be a certain
way,
and any faux pas is absolutely taboo. It's about how ettiquette (sp?)
is
EVERYTHING. Main idea in the story: a kid who enjoys misbehaving is
being
taught to behave, and the Japanese Tea Ceremony is his final exam. It's
a
kid's book, so only the fundamentals of the philosophy behind it all are
to
be examined.

Thanks again for your input. I probably still have no idea just how
ignorant I am, but I am working on it.

PS: Does the tea made and drunk in the JTC have calming effects on the
drinker? Seems I read this somewhere, but can't remember where. That
would
help my story, so if it doesn't, what effects does it have? Is it
highly
caffeinated? (I hope not.)

Dave


PPS: I am in Houston, and would LOVE to find a decent teahouse here.
Also,
what books would you recommend I read, besides The Book Of Tea? TIA


"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
Dave,

I am an opponent of the Japanese tea ceremony and prefer Chinese one.
It will take me hours to explain why. But believe me - writing about
Japanese Tea Ceremony
without spending years studying and practicing it is like writing a
manual
on an extremely old and complex religious practice and even ell-known
masters usually do not feel worthy of such writings.
Chinese one has no (or almost no) ritualistic side whatsoever.
Anyway, if I were you I would read, read, read. Tell us where you live
and
may be we will be able to direct you to a good teahouse in your area.
There
you can try what you learn and get some fun out of it too.
Yes, it is good that you understand how ignorant you are and its good
that
you are honest about it. The problem is that you have no idea HOW
ignorant
you are. Nothing wrong about it, there is so much to know about tea
that
anyone (including myself, naturally) who does not feel as an ignoramus,
just
have no idea of the scope of the subject.

The Web is a wonderful tool and you can learn a lot by using Google.
That
is
why I leave your question about Matcha without an answer. It is one
thing
to
answer a quick question for someone who just needs a quick answer, as
we
already did. If you are seriously interested in tea you have to start
digging yourself.

Alex.


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Hey Alex, thanks for the reply.

Okay, well, I didn't know what plant the green tea came from. To me,
there
are a lot of things called "tea," including herbals which I
understand
have
no caffeine. Like I said, I am ignorant but honest. Now I at least
know
who to ask.

I am seeking to become familiar with the Japanese Tea Ceremony, both
for
my
own pleasure and for the ability to write about it with some
accuracy.
Can
you tell me what Macha (Matcha?) is? And how will I know if that is
what
I
am buying? I *think* I saw some at the Chinese grocery the other
day,
but
want to know for certain. I really would like to do this right.

Speaking of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, I have the small kit sold
under
that
name in some bookstores, as well as another called "About Tea" or
something
like that. The second one contains only a book of meditative
thoughts
and
two ceramic cups. The first contains other paraphernailia for the
purpose
of actually trying to replicate the ceremony with some feeling of
seeing
the
genuine thing. I am sure it is the abbreviated version, for
Americans,
but
it's a start. Any ideas on where to go next? I hope to someday fly
to
Florida for the purpose of having tea with the guy who wrote the
forward
to
the copy of The Book Of Tea that came in the first kit. If not
there,
and
him, then somewhere else appropriately genuine. Like I said, I would
really
like to experience something as close to The Real Thing as I can
manage.

Caffeine in the tea. Sigh. Someone else suggested decaffeinating it
myself, and I may try that. Will definetly check out the link they
posted.
In the meantime, I will only have a cup when I am trying to stay
awake
(like
right now.) So very gratifying. Plain and unsweetened, with a
slight
bitter edge (which makes me think "Like life itself.). I am hooked.

Thanks again.

Dave


"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
m...
Dave, you have answered your question yourself.
Jasmin tea is TEA, i.e. leaves of C. sinensis, so how could it not
have
caffeine?
All tea that is made of C. sinensis leaves have caffeine. Unless it
was
decaffeinated.
If you have sleep disorder stay clear of tea.
Try mate (made of Yerba) the alcaloid tyere is not caffeine but
mateine,
it
is said to actually help sleep.

Alex.


"Dave" wrote in message
...
Please forgive the ignorance, but I really do not know anything
about
Tea.
Does Jasmine tea (made with Jasmine blossoms and green tea)
contain
caffeine?

Am currently doing research, and getting sucked into the world of
Tea.
I
also have a sleep disorder, and am supposed to stay away from
caffeine.
Therefore, the question.

Any help is appreciated. Very happy to have found this group, and
look
forward to many happy cups together.

Dave