2/6/06


Today after work I stopped at the "Ranch 99 Market" (an Asian
supermarket on Hwy 99 north of Seattle) and picked up a 7oz bag of
sencha for $3, and a 7.4oz jar (with a glass-and-plastic stopper) of a
very green Ti Kuan Yin for $10.

There are companies that would not sell you the box empty
for that price. Congratulations, if these teas proved OK.

The jar has a mostly yellow label that appears to be branded "ASIAN
TASTE (R)" and the tea itself is described as "Xue Feng Ti Kuan Yin"
... and some Japanese katakana above it reads something like
"tekkanmen" (more precisely, "te-small tsu, ka-n, me-n") and I've just
noticed a gold "ASIAN TASTE" label on the bottom of the jar as well.

Now having a third infusion -- this stuff is absolutely delicious, and
easily stands up to the "Monkey Picked Tiguanyin" that Michael Plant
sent me a sample of last month (for all I know, it's the same stuff).

If I recall, I sent you some of Silk Road Teas TGY, perhaps private reserve
number 37? Let me know. If that's the case, you have quite a find there, as
the 37 is an especially fine tea. Tell me about the finish and aftertaste of
the tea you bought. Is it long and complex on the tongue and at the back of
the throat?

I must return to that store soon and try the same brand's Dragonwell;
there's also some green tea there that strongly resembles the "Green
Pekoe Blues" that I got a sample of from Adagio last Christmas. Lots
of other interesting-looking stuff there, too, but I didn't want to go
on a crazy buying spree just yet.

You can go crazy in Chinese supermarkets and grocers; the tea is packaged in
so many interesting designs.

damn, I just love green oolongs,

Same here.

Michael