Pat wrote:
> Many commercial blends that are sold as loose tea are CTC and some are
> only about a notch above being dust.

I fully agree with everything you've said. I hope someday people will
finally lay this "floor sweeping" notion to rest. I find it funny when
folks try to talk down on certain teas, like kukicha, "twig tea", seen
as a peasant drink not worth a cent and now highly regarded.

> I also like high-quality tea but could not possibly afford to drink it
> exclusively, given the large quantities of tea that I consume every
> day.

By no means am I rich, but I manage to drink almost exclusively
higher-quality teas. In PA we have stores called 'Wegmans" which has
one of the most amazing tea selections of anywhere I know plus a great
variety of asian stores. Wegmans allows purchase of any quantity of
loose tea, and while some may be $39.99 lb., $10 worth of Jasmine Green
Pearls will last a nice length of time. I drink between 4-8 cups a day
of tea and rarely drop into a lower grade tea unless I actually want
it. I also tend to get two brewings from my tea if I want to stretch
it.

> I also like what many would deem to be "lower quality" teas sold in
> supermarkets.

PG tips, Twinnings, Tazo, Republic of Tea, etc. I don't see as that low
of quality... although I'm not a Twinnings fan at all. I also tend to
shop in small Asian markets where I get an incredible value for my
money and most of the time can get world class teas at supermarket
prices.

I'm new 'round here, but can appreciate anyones personal tastes and
life is WAY too short to get up in a bunch over someones tea
preferences over the internet I really just hope to share some of my
personal knowledge of the subject and I rarely find others to talk tea
with, even being a IT guy by trade it never "clicked" to turn to the
internet to have some discussion about tea.