All,

Are there seasons for tea? If so, what are they? What times of year is
is best to buy certain teas? Is this why the prices sometimes fluctuate?

Steve

PS Is IPOT overpriced or just that good?

Steve,

In my opinion IPOT teas are well worth the price I pay for them.

Teas do have their seasons. For example, again IMO, green teas picked in the
early spring are the best ones in general. Bao Zhongs have a spring and a
winter picking, each of which presents different qualities, the later being
more out front and "bolder." Darjeelings have a first and second flush,
again, the later is often more "honeyed" and richer, while the former more
delicate and greener in style. Sencha and Gyokuro (Japanese teas) also taste
different depending on their season, the earliest being the gentlest. That's
of course not the end of it. There is no end to it.

Based on all this, there is no correct season. It depends on your
preferences. Teas that have been well stored should be OK most any time,
although I would not buy delicate Japanese or Chinese spring teas too far
out of season.

Generally, in the USA, spring teas won't be available until a month to six
weeks after they are picked. This is not necessarily a bad thing. As vendors
try to make room for their new teas, prices will fall somewhat sometimes for
their older stock. Beyond that, I don't think you'll see wild price
flucuations. It's important to note however that those early spring teas are
sometimes truly great and command a very high price. Long Jin and Bi Lo Chun
are two examples of Chinese green teas whose first pickings can command an
extraordinarily high price.

Wonder if I didn't confuse you more than help you.

Best,
Michael


Steve HaydU0ad.2157$j15.102@trnddc0710/9/04


All,

Are there seasons for tea? If so, what are they? What times of year is
is best to buy certain teas? Is this why the prices sometimes fluctuate?

Steve

PS Is IPOT overpriced or just that good?

Steve,

In my opinion IPOT teas are well worth the price I pay for them.

Teas do have their seasons. For example, again IMO, green teas picked in the
early spring are the best ones in general. Bao Zhongs have a spring and a
winter picking, each of which presents different qualities, the later being
more out front and "bolder." Darjeelings have a first and second flush,
again, the later is often more "honeyed" and richer, while the former more
delicate and greener in style. Sencha and Gyokuro (Japanese teas) also taste
different depending on their season, the earliest being the gentlest. That's
of course not the end of it. There is no end to it.

Based on all this, there is no correct season. It depends on your
preferences. Teas that have been well stored should be OK most any time,
although I would not buy delicate Japanese or Chinese spring teas too far
out of season.

Generally, in the USA, spring teas won't be available until a month to six
weeks after they are picked. This is not necessarily a bad thing. As vendors
try to make room for their new teas, prices will fall somewhat sometimes for
their older stock. Beyond that, I don't think you'll see wild price
flucuations. It's important to note however that those early spring teas are
sometimes truly great and command a very high price. Long Jin and Bi Lo Chun
are two examples of Chinese green teas whose first pickings can command an
extraordinarily high price.

Wonder if I didn't confuse you more than help you.

Best,
Michael


Steve HaydU0ad.2157$j15.102@trnddc0710/9/04


All,

Are there seasons for tea? If so, what are they? What times of year is
is best to buy certain teas? Is this why the prices sometimes fluctuate?

Steve

PS Is IPOT overpriced or just that good?

Steve,

In my opinion IPOT teas are well worth the price I pay for them.

Teas do have their seasons. For example, again IMO, green teas picked in the
early spring are the best ones in general. Bao Zhongs have a spring and a
winter picking, each of which presents different qualities, the later being
more out front and "bolder." Darjeelings have a first and second flush,
again, the later is often more "honeyed" and richer, while the former more
delicate and greener in style. Sencha and Gyokuro (Japanese teas) also taste
different depending on their season, the earliest being the gentlest. That's
of course not the end of it. There is no end to it.

Based on all this, there is no correct season. It depends on your
preferences. Teas that have been well stored should be OK most any time,
although I would not buy delicate Japanese or Chinese spring teas too far
out of season.

Generally, in the USA, spring teas won't be available until a month to six
weeks after they are picked. This is not necessarily a bad thing. As vendors
try to make room for their new teas, prices will fall somewhat sometimes for
their older stock. Beyond that, I don't think you'll see wild price
flucuations. It's important to note however that those early spring teas are
sometimes truly great and command a very high price. Long Jin and Bi Lo Chun
are two examples of Chinese green teas whose first pickings can command an
extraordinarily high price.

Wonder if I didn't confuse you more than help you.

Best,
Michael


Steve HaydU0ad.2157$j15.102@trnddc0710/9/04


All,

Are there seasons for tea? If so, what are they? What times of year is
is best to buy certain teas? Is this why the prices sometimes fluctuate?

Steve

PS Is IPOT overpriced or just that good?

Michael Plant wrote:
Teas do have their seasons. For example, again IMO, green teas picked in the
early spring are the best ones in general. Bao Zhongs have a spring and a
winter picking, each of which presents different qualities, the later being
more out front and "bolder." Darjeelings have a first and second flush,
again, the later is often more "honeyed" and richer, while the former more
delicate and greener in style. Sencha and Gyokuro (Japanese teas) also taste
different depending on their season, the earliest being the gentlest. That's
of course not the end of it. There is no end to it.
....

Wonder if I didn't confuse you more than help you.

Not at all--it makes sense on a certain level.. And it helps direct my
purchasing to an extent. If I am looking for something sweeter and
lighter in a style of tea, I should try something picked earlier first.
I'm slowly being convinced that I need to try a green pu-erh, even
after my bad SpecialTeas Tuo Cha experience.

Regards,
Steve

Quite right. Just to confuse things, Jasmine scented teas and Pu'ers s******
at seasons. Most Pu'ers benefit from aging so the subleties of seasonal
picking are immaterial. The tea for Jasmine scented types is usually picked
in spring, but has to sit and wait for the Jasmine blossoms in the autumn,
so the tea starts in spring, but isn't finished until later.

howlerman

"Michael Plant" wrote in message
...
Steve,

In my opinion IPOT teas are well worth the price I pay for them.

Teas do have their seasons. For example, again IMO, green teas picked in
the
early spring are the best ones in general. Bao Zhongs have a spring and a
winter picking, each of which presents different qualities, the later
being
more out front and "bolder." Darjeelings have a first and second flush,
again, the later is often more "honeyed" and richer, while the former more
delicate and greener in style. Sencha and Gyokuro (Japanese teas) also
taste
different depending on their season, the earliest being the gentlest.
That's
of course not the end of it. There is no end to it.

Based on all this, there is no correct season. It depends on your
preferences. Teas that have been well stored should be OK most any time,
although I would not buy delicate Japanese or Chinese spring teas too far
out of season.

Generally, in the USA, spring teas won't be available until a month to six
weeks after they are picked. This is not necessarily a bad thing. As
vendors
try to make room for their new teas, prices will fall somewhat sometimes
for
their older stock. Beyond that, I don't think you'll see wild price
flucuations. It's important to note however that those early spring teas
are
sometimes truly great and command a very high price. Long Jin and Bi Lo
Chun
are two examples of Chinese green teas whose first pickings can command an
extraordinarily high price.

Wonder if I didn't confuse you more than help you.

Best,
Michael


Steve HaydU0ad.2157$j15.102@trnddc0710/9/04


All,

Are there seasons for tea? If so, what are they? What times of year is
is best to buy certain teas? Is this why the prices sometimes fluctuate?

Steve

PS Is IPOT overpriced or just that good?

Howler,

I would be remiss if I were not to point out that the base tea from which
the Pu-erh is produced counts for a lot in the final product's taste and
style. Good base tea ultimately yields a good tasting tea. Since the base
leaves will differ from season to season, the season the leaves are picked
does in fact influence the quality of the Pu-erh you drink. This I know from
tasting experience. As for Jasmine, I can say little.

Michael


10/28/04


Quite right. Just to confuse things, Jasmine scented teas and Pu'ers s******
at seasons. Most Pu'ers benefit from aging so the subleties of seasonal
picking are immaterial. The tea for Jasmine scented types is usually picked
in spring, but has to sit and wait for the Jasmine blossoms in the autumn,
so the tea starts in spring, but isn't finished until later.

howlerman

Wise words Michael and I do stand chastised. I did understate the Pu'er
position - in my simplistic way I was seeking to play down the importance of
season here, compared with, say, a good Longjing where even a couple of
weeks can make a noticeable difference. I certainly agree that a good early
season Pu'er is a fine thing, but an early Pu'er that's been poorly
processed and stored can be a whole lot worse than a late one that's been
properly looked after. All part of the fun and mystique of Pu'er.

howlerman


"Michael Plant" wrote in message
...
Howler,

I would be remiss if I were not to point out that the base tea from which
the Pu-erh is produced counts for a lot in the final product's taste and
style. Good base tea ultimately yields a good tasting tea. Since the base
leaves will differ from season to season, the season the leaves are picked
does in fact influence the quality of the Pu-erh you drink. This I know
from
tasting experience. As for Jasmine, I can say little.

Michael


10/28/04


Quite right. Just to confuse things, Jasmine scented teas and Pu'ers
s******
at seasons. Most Pu'ers benefit from aging so the subleties of seasonal
picking are immaterial. The tea for Jasmine scented types is usually
picked
in spring, but has to sit and wait for the Jasmine blossoms in the
autumn,
so the tea starts in spring, but isn't finished until later.

howlerman

No chastisement, just discussion. And I agree with you completely about the
Longjing as an example of a tea much more sensitive to season than Pu-erh.
Not to mention the issue of storage and processing, when it comes to Pu-erh.
Good points all. I recently learned about the relationship between seasons
and Pu-erh styles, and got a little carried away with myself.

Michael




10/28/04


Wise words Michael and I do stand chastised. I did understate the Pu'er
position - in my simplistic way I was seeking to play down the importance of
season here, compared with, say, a good Longjing where even a couple of
weeks can make a noticeable difference. I certainly agree that a good early
season Pu'er is a fine thing, but an early Pu'er that's been poorly
processed and stored can be a whole lot worse than a late one that's been
properly looked after. All part of the fun and mystique of Pu'er.

howlerman


"Michael Plant" wrote in message
...
Howler,

I would be remiss if I were not to point out that the base tea from which
the Pu-erh is produced counts for a lot in the final product's taste and
style. Good base tea ultimately yields a good tasting tea. Since the base
leaves will differ from season to season, the season the leaves are picked
does in fact influence the quality of the Pu-erh you drink. This I know
from
tasting experience. As for Jasmine, I can say little.

Michael