Great info, thanks. Do you remember where did you get these numbers from?
I think these are correct estimates, but if you happen to to remember the
ref, it would be nice.
I am especially interested in the caffeine distribution between steeps. Is
it possible to remove the bulk of it by washing tea just a bit longer?
If only I has an access to a liquid chromatograph at home!
Thanks.

Alex.


"Space Cowboy" wrote in message
om...
For a bench mark tea has 50% levels of caffeine compared to coffee.
The convention is to throw the first cup of tea which contains 80% of
the caffeine which is another bench mark. So the cup is low in
caffeine to start and almost gone by the second cup. Another
alternative is brew the cup normally and dilute it 10 to 1. A weak
cup of tea is what I suggest for beginners regardless of the caffeine.
An everyday cuppa for the beginner is often just too much tea. So
start weak and develop your taste. When we mention tea here if comes
from a certain plant. In general use it means any plant. My local
tea shoppe has customers weaning themselves from coffee so it stocks
decaffeinated teas and tisanes (herbals). My blend for coffee guests
is chocolate tea with sweet(clotted) cream. For coffee drinkers a
decaffeinated coffee would be more satisfying than tea.

Jim

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
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

Great info, thanks. Do you remember where did you get these numbers from?
I think these are correct estimates, but if you happen to to remember the
ref, it would be nice.
I am especially interested in the caffeine distribution between steeps. Is
it possible to remove the bulk of it by washing tea just a bit longer?
If only I has an access to a liquid chromatograph at home!
Thanks.

Alex.


"Space Cowboy" wrote in message
om...
For a bench mark tea has 50% levels of caffeine compared to coffee.
The convention is to throw the first cup of tea which contains 80% of
the caffeine which is another bench mark. So the cup is low in
caffeine to start and almost gone by the second cup. Another
alternative is brew the cup normally and dilute it 10 to 1. A weak
cup of tea is what I suggest for beginners regardless of the caffeine.
An everyday cuppa for the beginner is often just too much tea. So
start weak and develop your taste. When we mention tea here if comes
from a certain plant. In general use it means any plant. My local
tea shoppe has customers weaning themselves from coffee so it stocks
decaffeinated teas and tisanes (herbals). My blend for coffee guests
is chocolate tea with sweet(clotted) cream. For coffee drinkers a
decaffeinated coffee would be more satisfying than tea.

Jim

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
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

In article , Alex Chaihorsky wrote:
Interesting. My experience and many that of my friends are different. Over
time (about a month of a daily usage) mate appears to clam me down and
deepen my sleep. As someone who spends much of my time in deep thoughts
(mathematical modeling in genetics and immunology) I also noticed that its
is easier for me now to "deepen" my thoughts and keep myself in that state
for longer.

I certainly find that improved ease of concentration to be the case;
but I get that from tea and coffee as well. Coffee and yerba mate
tend to make me a little "twitchier", whereas tea is much smoother,
not that I mind either way. I try to avoid all of them within a few
hours of bed -- I became a lot more sensitive after I gave up caffeine
for a few weeks earlier this year; before, I could drink a pot before
bed and sleep fine -- , but it's sometimes difficult because they're
all so tasty! :-)


N.

In article , Alex Chaihorsky wrote:
Interesting. My experience and many that of my friends are different. Over
time (about a month of a daily usage) mate appears to clam me down and
deepen my sleep. As someone who spends much of my time in deep thoughts
(mathematical modeling in genetics and immunology) I also noticed that its
is easier for me now to "deepen" my thoughts and keep myself in that state
for longer.

I certainly find that improved ease of concentration to be the case;
but I get that from tea and coffee as well. Coffee and yerba mate
tend to make me a little "twitchier", whereas tea is much smoother,
not that I mind either way. I try to avoid all of them within a few
hours of bed -- I became a lot more sensitive after I gave up caffeine
for a few weeks earlier this year; before, I could drink a pot before
bed and sleep fine -- , but it's sometimes difficult because they're
all so tasty! :-)


N.

Certainly.
Honeybush is a good source of isoflavones which are estrogen mimickers.
However some oncological risks may be involved if you overdo it. (I know
because I have several patents in the field of soy isoflavone as estrogen
balancers)
I say that because when people say that they drink something as a nectar of
life, they are not usually talk about just a cup a day

Alex.

"~Candace~" wrote in message
. com...
I drink honeybush tea like it's the nectar of life. Speaking as a woman, I
can honestly say that I do notice positive effects on my hormonal balance.
It also has the one thing I find most important in a tea--it tastes like
sin, it's so good.
(now stepping back into lurkdom)

--
~Candace~

Orphan Beads ~low cost and bartering for the financially challenged
beader~
http://snipurl.com/6s4t

Princess Auctions ~please see for most current updates and auction
information~
http://snipurl.com/8s8o

"fLameDogg" wrote in message
. ..
"Emach" none wrote in news
I am a great fan of rooibos. I have steeped it for as long a ten
minutes and it still tastes great - and you can drink it all day long
with no ill effects. You might try honeybush as well, also from South
Africa. I think it has a more spicy, tart flavor. My source is
www.timeless-teas.com.

I forgot about honeybush. I've never tried it, but I'll definitely
put it on my list. Spicy and tart sounds good--it brings to mind
that old joke about coffee and women.

Speaking of women, I remember reading a claim that honeybush is
helpful to women's hormonal balance, or something. That leads to
something I'd meant to mention, but didn't--a lot of the stuff about
rooiboss (and yerba mate, honeybush, and good old tea) one reads is
absolutely dripping with hyperbole. But I'm sure most people
realize that.
--
fD

Certainly.
Honeybush is a good source of isoflavones which are estrogen mimickers.
However some oncological risks may be involved if you overdo it. (I know
because I have several patents in the field of soy isoflavone as estrogen
balancers)
I say that because when people say that they drink something as a nectar of
life, they are not usually talk about just a cup a day

Alex.

"~Candace~" wrote in message
. com...
I drink honeybush tea like it's the nectar of life. Speaking as a woman, I
can honestly say that I do notice positive effects on my hormonal balance.
It also has the one thing I find most important in a tea--it tastes like
sin, it's so good.
(now stepping back into lurkdom)

--
~Candace~

Orphan Beads ~low cost and bartering for the financially challenged
beader~
http://snipurl.com/6s4t

Princess Auctions ~please see for most current updates and auction
information~
http://snipurl.com/8s8o

"fLameDogg" wrote in message
. ..
"Emach" none wrote in news
I am a great fan of rooibos. I have steeped it for as long a ten
minutes and it still tastes great - and you can drink it all day long
with no ill effects. You might try honeybush as well, also from South
Africa. I think it has a more spicy, tart flavor. My source is
www.timeless-teas.com.

I forgot about honeybush. I've never tried it, but I'll definitely
put it on my list. Spicy and tart sounds good--it brings to mind
that old joke about coffee and women.

Speaking of women, I remember reading a claim that honeybush is
helpful to women's hormonal balance, or something. That leads to
something I'd meant to mention, but didn't--a lot of the stuff about
rooiboss (and yerba mate, honeybush, and good old tea) one reads is
absolutely dripping with hyperbole. But I'm sure most people
realize that.
--
fD

"Dave" wrote in message

Speaking of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, I have the small kit sold under
that
name in some bookstores,

That must be the new age Zen Tea someone was talking about. Why do you call
that *Japanese* ? That doesn't exist in Asia. Tea is a drink. Serving it is
a party.

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.

I'd say a breakfast tea organised by Martha Stewart would be 10000000 times
closer to Japanese tea than your circus. She'd get the feeling.

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.

Can you read English ? As you bought it, you should read the Book of Tea.

Like I said, I would really
like to experience something as close to The Real Thing as I can manage.

Get invited to drink tea by Japanese people. If you can't, look for a
tearoom/restaurant that will treat you as a guest.
Even if that takes ages to get the room well and the flowers in their place,
the real thing is just that. : receiving friends and serving them tea.
I don't know any bookstore that sells that.

Kuri

"Dave" wrote in message

Speaking of the Japanese Tea Ceremony, I have the small kit sold under
that
name in some bookstores,

That must be the new age Zen Tea someone was talking about. Why do you call
that *Japanese* ? That doesn't exist in Asia. Tea is a drink. Serving it is
a party.

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.

I'd say a breakfast tea organised by Martha Stewart would be 10000000 times
closer to Japanese tea than your circus. She'd get the feeling.

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.

Can you read English ? As you bought it, you should read the Book of Tea.

Like I said, I would really
like to experience something as close to The Real Thing as I can manage.

Get invited to drink tea by Japanese people. If you can't, look for a
tearoom/restaurant that will treat you as a guest.
Even if that takes ages to get the room well and the flowers in their place,
the real thing is just that. : receiving friends and serving them tea.
I don't know any bookstore that sells that.

Kuri

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
news
You are absolutely right - I do have a very limited understanding of your
task and was just trying to warn you about the minefield you are trying to
enter

I do appreciate the serioius warnings, and I am trying not to do anything
foolish in this endeavour. Thank you for your help in that.

As long as you are aware that it is a minefield, Godspeed. I actually
admire
your cowboy courage. How very Texan of you! (I have to admit that TX is my
favorite state of mind and I would definitely live there if I could).
I wish our Prez instead of pretending to be a Texan would actually be one.
I
do not think we would be in this mess now... (Sorry for off-topic remark,
but I am a disappointed Republican and I do have to vent somewhere

I actually agree with you on this. Not a problem.!


Houston.... Yea, I remember Being a geologist by education (gold, not
oil) myself I did spend some time there and yes, there are no &^%$ing
tearooms there! Even if that were, the tea will be horribly spoiled buy
all
that barbeque sauce smell that is everywhere.
But if you are in Reno (where are no tearooms either) drop by my place and
you would get a full gongfu service (with wenxianbei) on greener varieties
of oolongs like fresh Te Guan In and Nai Xian that I brought from China in
July and if you manage to stay sober (one can get drunk from gongfu tea,
you
know) we may also try Shui Xian Yan (Wild Shui Xian) from our friend Roy
Fong at Imperial Court in San Francisco. You will pay be back with Texan
accent

Wow. Thank you. I am not sure what to say. "Thank you" is about all I can
think of...


Best,

Alex.

P.S. Drop me a line on my e-mail xyz1953(remove (remove
everything within brackets) and I will send you my phone number so we can
chat if you want.

You know, I will give you the full story if you are interested, via email.
I just didn't want to post it on the net at this point. Let me know, and I
will send it later today with my real return addy. Thank you for the
consideration.

Dave


"Dave" wrote in message
...

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

Imagine someone who is not at all familiar with Christianity is writing
a
book about a boy who misbehaved and went to church and Christian
service
on
the spot set him straight. Certainly for the purposes of your book you
will
have to grossly simplify the subject and probably do that without
understanding that certain tiny points in Christianity were discussed
for
centuries and people died for them. Imagine the depth of insults for
serious
Christians.
It is entirely up to you, but I would avoid touching subjects of such
depth
and ceremonial value for such purposes. Your story suppose to teach
children
that everything should be done a certain way, and you yourself take a
shortcut through may be the most ceremonial thing invented by humans
short
of Catholic Mess where the whole meaning is that there is no shortcut


I am sorry if I sound as a bore and its entirely your business how and
what
you write (nothing, and certainly no tea ceremony should stay in the
way
of
the First Amendment) but you may want to at least to think of
alternatives.
Let Japanese be sloppy about their culture and us - about
Euro-American.
But
the opposite create resentment.

Sorry if I was unpolite.

Alex Chaihorsky
Reno, Nevada.


I don't really think you are being impolite at all. Your words spring
from
a very limited understanding of what I am trying to accomplish, because
I
deliberately did not outline the entire story. I understand your
position
(I think), but there is honestly a great deal more to it than that.
Unfortunately I cannot discuss it in any greater detail at the moment.
Perhaps as it unfolds, and I get closer to registering it with the
Library
of Congress. Right now it is all in front of me, and is not yet
written.
Sorry about that. Really.

I do appreciate your input, a great deal actually. And if I felt you
were
being impolite, I would at least know that you are being honest.

Dave



"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

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
news
You are absolutely right - I do have a very limited understanding of your
task and was just trying to warn you about the minefield you are trying to
enter

I do appreciate the serioius warnings, and I am trying not to do anything
foolish in this endeavour. Thank you for your help in that.

As long as you are aware that it is a minefield, Godspeed. I actually
admire
your cowboy courage. How very Texan of you! (I have to admit that TX is my
favorite state of mind and I would definitely live there if I could).
I wish our Prez instead of pretending to be a Texan would actually be one.
I
do not think we would be in this mess now... (Sorry for off-topic remark,
but I am a disappointed Republican and I do have to vent somewhere

I actually agree with you on this. Not a problem.!


Houston.... Yea, I remember Being a geologist by education (gold, not
oil) myself I did spend some time there and yes, there are no &^%$ing
tearooms there! Even if that were, the tea will be horribly spoiled buy
all
that barbeque sauce smell that is everywhere.
But if you are in Reno (where are no tearooms either) drop by my place and
you would get a full gongfu service (with wenxianbei) on greener varieties
of oolongs like fresh Te Guan In and Nai Xian that I brought from China in
July and if you manage to stay sober (one can get drunk from gongfu tea,
you
know) we may also try Shui Xian Yan (Wild Shui Xian) from our friend Roy
Fong at Imperial Court in San Francisco. You will pay be back with Texan
accent

Wow. Thank you. I am not sure what to say. "Thank you" is about all I can
think of...


Best,

Alex.

P.S. Drop me a line on my e-mail xyz1953(remove (remove
everything within brackets) and I will send you my phone number so we can
chat if you want.

You know, I will give you the full story if you are interested, via email.
I just didn't want to post it on the net at this point. Let me know, and I
will send it later today with my real return addy. Thank you for the
consideration.

Dave


"Dave" wrote in message
...

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

Imagine someone who is not at all familiar with Christianity is writing
a
book about a boy who misbehaved and went to church and Christian
service
on
the spot set him straight. Certainly for the purposes of your book you
will
have to grossly simplify the subject and probably do that without
understanding that certain tiny points in Christianity were discussed
for
centuries and people died for them. Imagine the depth of insults for
serious
Christians.
It is entirely up to you, but I would avoid touching subjects of such
depth
and ceremonial value for such purposes. Your story suppose to teach
children
that everything should be done a certain way, and you yourself take a
shortcut through may be the most ceremonial thing invented by humans
short
of Catholic Mess where the whole meaning is that there is no shortcut


I am sorry if I sound as a bore and its entirely your business how and
what
you write (nothing, and certainly no tea ceremony should stay in the
way
of
the First Amendment) but you may want to at least to think of
alternatives.
Let Japanese be sloppy about their culture and us - about
Euro-American.
But
the opposite create resentment.

Sorry if I was unpolite.

Alex Chaihorsky
Reno, Nevada.


I don't really think you are being impolite at all. Your words spring
from
a very limited understanding of what I am trying to accomplish, because
I
deliberately did not outline the entire story. I understand your
position
(I think), but there is honestly a great deal more to it than that.
Unfortunately I cannot discuss it in any greater detail at the moment.
Perhaps as it unfolds, and I get closer to registering it with the
Library
of Congress. Right now it is all in front of me, and is not yet
written.
Sorry about that. Really.

I do appreciate your input, a great deal actually. And if I felt you
were
being impolite, I would at least know that you are being honest.

Dave



"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

"Dave" wrote in message
...

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
news
You are absolutely right - I do have a very limited understanding of
your
task and was just trying to warn you about the minefield you are trying
to
enter

I do appreciate the serioius warnings, and I am trying not to do anything
foolish in this endeavour. Thank you for your help in that.

As long as you are aware that it is a minefield, Godspeed. I actually
admire
your cowboy courage. How very Texan of you! (I have to admit that TX is
my
favorite state of mind and I would definitely live there if I could).
I wish our Prez instead of pretending to be a Texan would actually be
one.
I
do not think we would be in this mess now... (Sorry for off-topic
remark,
but I am a disappointed Republican and I do have to vent somewhere

I actually agree with you on this. Not a problem.!


Houston.... Yea, I remember Being a geologist by education (gold, not
oil) myself I did spend some time there and yes, there are no &^%$ing
tearooms there! Even if that were, the tea will be horribly spoiled buy
all
that barbeque sauce smell that is everywhere.
But if you are in Reno (where are no tearooms either) drop by my place
and
you would get a full gongfu service (with wenxianbei) on greener
varieties
of oolongs like fresh Te Guan In and Nai Xian that I brought from China
in
July and if you manage to stay sober (one can get drunk from gongfu tea,
you
know) we may also try Shui Xian Yan (Wild Shui Xian) from our friend Roy
Fong at Imperial Court in San Francisco. You will pay be back with Texan
accent

Wow. Thank you. I am not sure what to say. "Thank you" is about all I
can
think of...


Best,

Alex.

P.S. Drop me a line on my e-mail xyz1953(remove
(remove
everything within brackets) and I will send you my phone number so we
can
chat if you want.

You know, I will give you the full story if you are interested, via email.
I just didn't want to post it on the net at this point. Let me know, and
I
will send it later today with my real return addy. Thank you for the
consideration.

Dave

Quick addendum while the wife gets dressed. When I say "the fully story" up
above, I mean I can fill you in on the details I didn't post before. I
don't mean you have to read everything I've written up to now. You are
one of the people with the knowledge I need, and I suspect that, once you
understand the personal dynamics and other details, you will understand
exactly what it is I am looking for (and why I don't think I need to capture
the full Tea Experience in print. The story is about the people in it, not
the tea in it. The tea just plays a part at one point.)

Let me know. And thank you again for all your input, and warm
consideration. Whether you help me with this story or not, I would very
much like to continue talking with you about tea. Like I said, you are the
man with the knowlege I a seeking.

Dave



"Dave" wrote in message
...

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

Imagine someone who is not at all familiar with Christianity is
writing
a
book about a boy who misbehaved and went to church and Christian
service
on
the spot set him straight. Certainly for the purposes of your book
you
will
have to grossly simplify the subject and probably do that without
understanding that certain tiny points in Christianity were discussed
for
centuries and people died for them. Imagine the depth of insults for
serious
Christians.
It is entirely up to you, but I would avoid touching subjects of such
depth
and ceremonial value for such purposes. Your story suppose to teach
children
that everything should be done a certain way, and you yourself take a
shortcut through may be the most ceremonial thing invented by humans
short
of Catholic Mess where the whole meaning is that there is no shortcut


I am sorry if I sound as a bore and its entirely your business how
and
what
you write (nothing, and certainly no tea ceremony should stay in the
way
of
the First Amendment) but you may want to at least to think of
alternatives.
Let Japanese be sloppy about their culture and us - about
Euro-American.
But
the opposite create resentment.

Sorry if I was unpolite.

Alex Chaihorsky
Reno, Nevada.


I don't really think you are being impolite at all. Your words spring
from
a very limited understanding of what I am trying to accomplish,
because
I
deliberately did not outline the entire story. I understand your
position
(I think), but there is honestly a great deal more to it than that.
Unfortunately I cannot discuss it in any greater detail at the moment.
Perhaps as it unfolds, and I get closer to registering it with the
Library
of Congress. Right now it is all in front of me, and is not yet
written.
Sorry about that. Really.

I do appreciate your input, a great deal actually. And if I felt you
were
being impolite, I would at least know that you are being honest.

Dave



"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

For me, drinking and eating are things that happen when I remember I have to
do those things. So a lot of tea for me is 2-3 cups a day--but rather
consistently. It's also a drink that my oldest child (5yrs) enjoys on
occassion. Caffeine has never had a noticable effect on me, so I do use tea
as an oasis of calm in my rather hectic days--and my son has picked this up
from me. When I serve him a warm mug full, he calms right down--speaking
softly, moving gently--such a drastic change from his normal
bounce-off-the-wall behavior.

On a totally useless note, how can one Not like a tea called Honeybush? The
imagry from this name is just so....well....cool.

--
~Candace~

Orphan Beads ~low cost and bartering for the financially challenged beader~
http://snipurl.com/6s4t

Princess Auctions ~please see for most current updates and auction
information~
http://snipurl.com/8s8o

"Alex Chaihorsky" wrote in message
om...
Certainly.
Honeybush is a good source of isoflavones which are estrogen mimickers.
However some oncological risks may be involved if you overdo it. (I know
because I have several patents in the field of soy isoflavone as estrogen
balancers)
I say that because when people say that they drink something as a nectar
of life, they are not usually talk about just a cup a day

Alex.

"~Candace~" wrote in message
. com...
I drink honeybush tea like it's the nectar of life. Speaking as a woman,
I can honestly say that I do notice positive effects on my hormonal
balance. It also has the one thing I find most important in a tea--it
tastes like sin, it's so good.
(now stepping back into lurkdom)

--
~Candace~

Orphan Beads ~low cost and bartering for the financially challenged
beader~
http://snipurl.com/6s4t

Princess Auctions ~please see for most current updates and auction
information~
http://snipurl.com/8s8o

"fLameDogg" wrote in message
. ..
"Emach" none wrote in news
I am a great fan of rooibos. I have steeped it for as long a ten
minutes and it still tastes great - and you can drink it all day long
with no ill effects. You might try honeybush as well, also from South
Africa. I think it has a more spicy, tart flavor. My source is
www.timeless-teas.com.

I forgot about honeybush. I've never tried it, but I'll definitely
put it on my list. Spicy and tart sounds good--it brings to mind
that old joke about coffee and women.

Speaking of women, I remember reading a claim that honeybush is
helpful to women's hormonal balance, or something. That leads to
something I'd meant to mention, but didn't--a lot of the stuff about
rooiboss (and yerba mate, honeybush, and good old tea) one reads is
absolutely d