Tea comparisons?
 

(Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)

I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
same, but does anything like this exist?

Thanks!

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)

LOL - you're on a roll!

> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
> same, but does anything like this exist?

FWIW, this one is for Earl Grey, but since the base tea and amount of
bergamot changes from source to source and I've already discovered what I
like, I tend to disagree with the ratings >:o

http://www.concentric.net/~Dusted/.


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)

LOL - you're on a roll!

> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
> same, but does anything like this exist?

FWIW, this one is for Earl Grey, but since the base tea and amount of
bergamot changes from source to source and I've already discovered what I
like, I tend to disagree with the ratings >:o

http://www.concentric.net/~Dusted/.


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

Heres' one I look at from time to time...

http://www.normbrero.com/cgi-bin/viewTea.cgi

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)
>
> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
> same, but does anything like this exist?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Resa
>

Heres' one I look at from time to time...

http://www.normbrero.com/cgi-bin/viewTea.cgi

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)
>
> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
> same, but does anything like this exist?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Resa
>

In article >,
"Melinda" > wrote:

> Heres' one I look at from time to time...
>
> http://www.normbrero.com/cgi-bin/viewTea.cgi

i think the resident michael plant is/was involved with
the above site. but i don't think it's current anymore -
i haven't seen any new reviews in ages..........p*

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
>
> I have no immediate answer to your question, but I will say here that ROT
> and Upton are huge companies,

Upton is huge? By what measure? Volume sold? Number of teas offered? Number
of employees? Something else?

--
~~Bluesea~~ exercising one of those inquiring minds
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/17/2005 7:29 PM, Serendip wrote:
> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)
>
> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
> same, but does anything like this exist?
>
> Thanks!
>
> Resa

Thanks to all for the websites!

Resa

On 2/17/2005 7:47 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>> (Warning - my second newbie post of the day.)
>
> LOL - you're on a roll!
>
>> I've searched, but can't find anything like this... are there any sites
>> that compare teas from one company to another, for example, lapsang
>> souchong from Adagio compared to that from ROT, IPOT, Upton, etc.? I
>> realize it couldn't be complete, and teas aren't going to be exactly the
>> same, but does anything like this exist?
>
> FWIW, this one is for Earl Grey, but since the base tea and amount of
> bergamot changes from source to source and I've already discovered what I
> like, I tend to disagree with the ratings >:o
>
> http://www.concentric.net/~Dusted/.

Thanks. So... will you drop the other shoe, and share which Earl Greys
you like best, please? I know, everyone has their own preferences, etc.,
but... please?

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
>
> Thanks. So... will you drop the other shoe, and share which Earl Greys
> you like best, please? I know, everyone has their own preferences, etc.,
> but... please?

Sure, no problem.

My #1 absolute favorite is the Original Earl Grey TE10 from Upton.
#2 is Bigelow's.

If I'm feeling really desperate for a fix of EG, I'll have a cup of
Twinings, but I'd mostly really rather not because I don't get the same
sense of satisfaction and enjoyment that I do with the others.

Ceylon-based EG makes me gag and I once ran across then avoided an
Assam-based EG. To tell the truth, I haven't liked any Assam or Assam blends
that I've encountered. Note that my favorites use a base of China black and
Twinings is a blend of several. The TE10 has less bergamot than Bigelow's
and Upton offers the Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11) that has way
too much bergamot for me although it's their most popular EG.

:)

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/19/2005 4:32 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> Thanks. So... will you drop the other shoe, and share which Earl Greys
>> you like best, please? I know, everyone has their own preferences, etc.,
>> but... please?
>
> Sure, no problem.
>
> My #1 absolute favorite is the Original Earl Grey TE10 from Upton.
> #2 is Bigelow's.
>
> If I'm feeling really desperate for a fix of EG, I'll have a cup of
> Twinings, but I'd mostly really rather not because I don't get the same
> sense of satisfaction and enjoyment that I do with the others.
>
> Ceylon-based EG makes me gag and I once ran across then avoided an
> Assam-based EG. To tell the truth, I haven't liked any Assam or Assam blends
> that I've encountered. Note that my favorites use a base of China black and
> Twinings is a blend of several. The TE10 has less bergamot than Bigelow's
> and Upton offers the Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11) that has way
> too much bergamot for me although it's their most popular EG.
>
> :)
>

Thanks! And good to hear that there CAN be such a thing as too much
bergamot - when I order from Upton, I'll try both. Thanks!

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/19/2005 4:32 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> > "Serendip" > wrote in message
> > ...
> >>
> >> Thanks. So... will you drop the other shoe, and share which Earl Greys
> >> you like best, please? I know, everyone has their own preferences,
etc.,
> >> but... please?
> >
> > Sure, no problem.
> >
> > My #1 absolute favorite is the Original Earl Grey TE10 from Upton.
> > #2 is Bigelow's.
> >
> > If I'm feeling really desperate for a fix of EG, I'll have a cup of
> > Twinings, but I'd mostly really rather not because I don't get the same
> > sense of satisfaction and enjoyment that I do with the others.
> >
> > Ceylon-based EG makes me gag and I once ran across then avoided an
> > Assam-based EG. To tell the truth, I haven't liked any Assam or Assam
blends
> > that I've encountered. Note that my favorites use a base of China black
and
> > Twinings is a blend of several. The TE10 has less bergamot than
Bigelow's
> > and Upton offers the Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11) that has
way
> > too much bergamot for me although it's their most popular EG.
> >
> > :)
> >
>
> Thanks! And good to hear that there CAN be such a thing as too much
> bergamot - when I order from Upton, I'll try both. Thanks!

You're welcome!

If you haven't already, I suggest that you try a Ceylon-based EG (TE15,
TE17, TE20, &/or TE09) as a couple of my friends prefer those over my base
China black.

Of the different English Breakfast teas that I've had, my #1 favorite is the
Ceylon EB Wilson Select (TB18).


--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 1:06 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2/19/2005 4:32 PM, Bluesea wrote:
>> > "Serendip" > wrote in message
>> > ...
>> >>
>> >> Thanks. So... will you drop the other shoe, and share which Earl Greys
>> >> you like best, please? I know, everyone has their own preferences,
> etc.,
>> >> but... please?
>> >
>> > Sure, no problem.
>> >
>> > My #1 absolute favorite is the Original Earl Grey TE10 from Upton.
>> > #2 is Bigelow's.
>> >
>> > If I'm feeling really desperate for a fix of EG, I'll have a cup of
>> > Twinings, but I'd mostly really rather not because I don't get the same
>> > sense of satisfaction and enjoyment that I do with the others.
>> >
>> > Ceylon-based EG makes me gag and I once ran across then avoided an
>> > Assam-based EG. To tell the truth, I haven't liked any Assam or Assam
> blends
>> > that I've encountered. Note that my favorites use a base of China black
> and
>> > Twinings is a blend of several. The TE10 has less bergamot than
> Bigelow's
>> > and Upton offers the Extra Bergamot English Earl Grey (TE11) that has
> way
>> > too much bergamot for me although it's their most popular EG.
>> >
>> > :)
>> >
>>
>> Thanks! And good to hear that there CAN be such a thing as too much
>> bergamot - when I order from Upton, I'll try both. Thanks!
>
> You're welcome!
>
> If you haven't already, I suggest that you try a Ceylon-based EG (TE15,
> TE17, TE20, &/or TE09) as a couple of my friends prefer those over my base
> China black.
>
> Of the different English Breakfast teas that I've had, my #1 favorite is the
> Ceylon EB Wilson Select (TB18).


Again, thank you. (Does Upton track referrals? Considering that I've had
to refill my pen from all the notations, if they do, you should get credit!)

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
>
> Again, thank you. (Does Upton track referrals? Considering that I've had
> to refill my pen from all the notations, if they do, you should get
credit!)

:)

I don't know. I've never looked or asked.

Refill your pen? Do you use a fountain pen? (I do.)

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 1:51 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>>
>> Again, thank you. (Does Upton track referrals? Considering that I've had
>> to refill my pen from all the notations, if they do, you should get
> credit!)
>
> :)
>
> I don't know. I've never looked or asked.
>
> Refill your pen? Do you use a fountain pen? (I do.)

Yes, fountain pens only. Well, mostly only.

The now-refilled pen happens to be a (no longer manufactured) Rotring
Freeway with smooth-as-butter custom ground fine italic nib, filled with
Herbin Bleu Myo ink. <-- That was to show that I *can* (and will!) pay
attention to things like steep times, blends, etc! :)

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/20/2005 1:51 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> >
> > Refill your pen? Do you use a fountain pen? (I do.)
>
> Yes, fountain pens only. Well, mostly only.
>
> The now-refilled pen happens to be a (no longer manufactured) Rotring
> Freeway with smooth-as-butter custom ground fine italic nib, filled with
> Herbin Bleu Myo ink. <-- That was to show that I *can* (and will!) pay
> attention to things like steep times, blends, etc! :)

Kewl! I keep 4 fps filled with Noodler's contract inks - permanent,
waterproof, fp-safe inks and use them in my tea journal so I don't have to
be concerned about getting drips of water in it which I keep in the kitchen
for easy reference.

I invite you to come on over to alt.collecting.pens-pencils sometime. We're
mostly into using fps (despite the name of the group) and the participants
are mostly nice, just like here.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 2:48 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On 2/20/2005 1:51 PM, Bluesea wrote:
>> >
>> > Refill your pen? Do you use a fountain pen? (I do.)
>>
>> Yes, fountain pens only. Well, mostly only.
>>
>> The now-refilled pen happens to be a (no longer manufactured) Rotring
>> Freeway with smooth-as-butter custom ground fine italic nib, filled with
>> Herbin Bleu Myo ink. <-- That was to show that I *can* (and will!) pay
>> attention to things like steep times, blends, etc! :)
>
> Kewl! I keep 4 fps filled with Noodler's contract inks - permanent,
> waterproof, fp-safe inks and use them in my tea journal so I don't have to
> be concerned about getting drips of water in it which I keep in the kitchen
> for easy reference.
>
> I invite you to come on over to alt.collecting.pens-pencils sometime. We're
> mostly into using fps (despite the name of the group) and the participants
> are mostly nice, just like here.
>

Thanks - I've been reading acpp for about 10 years, and have known
Nathan since the days when he actually had time to do pen repair! Thanks
for the contract ink suggestion - have a couple of his colors, but not
any of those... yet. This also means that we may "know" each other
already - small world!

There *are* some really nice and helpful people there, but to be honest
- I learned how to killfile because of that group. I keep thinking that
someone will have posted about the LA show, but nothing yet.

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> >
> > I invite you to come on over to alt.collecting.pens-pencils sometime.
We're
> > mostly into using fps (despite the name of the group) and the
participants
> > are mostly nice, just like here.
>
> Thanks - I've been reading acpp for about 10 years, and have known
> Nathan since the days when he actually had time to do pen repair! Thanks
> for the contract ink suggestion - have a couple of his colors, but not
> any of those... yet. This also means that we may "know" each other
> already - small world!
>
> There *are* some really nice and helpful people there, but to be honest
> - I learned how to killfile because of that group. I keep thinking that
> someone will have posted about the LA show, but nothing yet.

Oops, sorry! I didn't recognize your name from there. Yes, I've killfiled
some participants, but it's not nearly as bad as other ngs I'm in. That's
why I said "mostly" :).

Nathan posted something this month about the LA show. Check the threads on
"more info on lubricating inks" and "Fountain pen as highlighter?"

I've got others of his inks, too. For the contracts, I use the black, legal
lapis, aquamarine blue, and hellbender red. The black is totally awesome -
the best of any black I've ever used and I'm quite smitten with the legal
lapis, too.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 3:36 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> "Serendip" > wrote in message
> ...
>> >
>> > I invite you to come on over to alt.collecting.pens-pencils sometime.
> We're
>> > mostly into using fps (despite the name of the group) and the
> participants
>> > are mostly nice, just like here.
>>
>> Thanks - I've been reading acpp for about 10 years, and have known
>> Nathan since the days when he actually had time to do pen repair! Thanks
>> for the contract ink suggestion - have a couple of his colors, but not
>> any of those... yet. This also means that we may "know" each other
>> already - small world!
>>
>> There *are* some really nice and helpful people there, but to be honest
>> - I learned how to killfile because of that group. I keep thinking that
>> someone will have posted about the LA show, but nothing yet.
>
> Oops, sorry! I didn't recognize your name from there. Yes, I've killfiled
> some participants, but it's not nearly as bad as other ngs I'm in. That's
> why I said "mostly" :).

LOL! Nothing to apologize for - I don't think I've posted there for
years and years, and I barely scan the threads, so wouldn't have noticed
your name. I guess the good news is that you're not in my killfile! :)


> Nathan posted something this month about the LA show. Check the threads on
> "more info on lubricating inks" and "Fountain pen as highlighter?"

The show is today, so I was hoping for a report. I don't know what I'm
expecting, but I'm always curious.

> I've got others of his inks, too. For the contracts, I use the black, legal
> lapis, aquamarine blue, and hellbender red. The black is totally awesome -
> the best of any black I've ever used and I'm quite smitten with the legal
> lapis, too.

I was figuring that legal lapis would be the tea journal ink, but
perhaps I should get eternal brown - more tea colored, kinda! (And keeps
this on topic, maybe - thanks for changing the subject line!) Too bad
there aren't sample sizes of the ink... yeah, I know, cartridges, but
Nathan doesn't have them.

Now to pull together what info I should record, as I wait for the Upton
site to stop choking on a hairball or whatever it is that has it no
longer responding, and place my order.

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/20/2005 3:36 PM, Bluesea wrote:
>
> LOL! Nothing to apologize for - I don't think I've posted there for
> years and years, and I barely scan the threads, so wouldn't have noticed
> your name. I guess the good news is that you're not in my killfile! :)

I try to remain on better behavior ;).

> > Nathan posted something this month about the LA show. Check the threads
on
> > "more info on lubricating inks" and "Fountain pen as highlighter?"
>
> The show is today, so I was hoping for a report. I don't know what I'm
> expecting, but I'm always curious.

Ah, so!

> I was figuring that legal lapis would be the tea journal ink, but
> perhaps I should get eternal brown - more tea colored, kinda! (And keeps
> this on topic, maybe - thanks for changing the subject line!) Too bad
> there aren't sample sizes of the ink... yeah, I know, cartridges, but
> Nathan doesn't have them.

Since he's still developing his line, maybe he'll get a round tuit
eventually.

I like to rotate the colors so that it's easy to find where one journal
entry quits and another starts.

> Now to pull together what info I should record,

Some ideas -

I start with item code if the vendor uses them, name of tea, vendor, and
date. Next are brewing details: x tsp. in x oz at xxx° for x min. and my
opinion of the results. After my trials, I note at the bottom whether I want
to reorder that particular tea from that vendor or not. I highlight the best
amount/temp/time for the teas that I keep on hand 'cause sometimes I forget
and highlighting makes it easy to find the combo that works best.

On the last page and working back towards the front, I list tea, sometimes
vendor, and page no. in the same color ink in which I did the entry. That
makes it easier to locate when I want to review what I previously wrote.

> as I wait for the Upton
> site to stop choking on a hairball or whatever it is that has it no
> longer responding, and place my order.

Something must be wrong. It hasn't come up for me, either, and I started
before I typed what I include in my tea journal so it should have been done
way before now. It was fine when I got those codes for EB earlier.

Funny that you said hairball - my cat likes to drink Darjeeling and white
teas if I don't stop her so, be forewarned. I've taken to using a lid from a
plastic tub to keep her and her cat hair out of my cup/mug.

--
~~Bluesea~~
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Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

"Bluesea" > wrote in message
...
>
> Some ideas -

I also record stupid things I don't want to ever repeat like when I added
vanilla extract to cherry bancha in a warped attempt to make cherry-vanilla
bancha.

Also attempts at creating my own blends, recipes, whatever pertains to tea.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 4:29 PM, Bluesea wrote:

>> LOL! Nothing to apologize for - I don't think I've posted there for
>> years and years, and I barely scan the threads, so wouldn't have noticed
>> your name. I guess the good news is that you're not in my killfile! :)
>
> I try to remain on better behavior ;).

:)

>> I was figuring that legal lapis would be the tea journal ink, but
>> perhaps I should get eternal brown - more tea colored, kinda! (And keeps
>> this on topic, maybe - thanks for changing the subject line!) Too bad
>> there aren't sample sizes of the ink... yeah, I know, cartridges, but
>> Nathan doesn't have them.
>
> Since he's still developing his line, maybe he'll get a round tuit
> eventually.
>
> I like to rotate the colors so that it's easy to find where one journal
> entry quits and another starts.

Good idea - I was thinking that each tea would have its own page, so I
could go back and add notes such as "see p.37 - better tea from x
company" or whatever.

>> Now to pull together what info I should record,
>
> Some ideas -
>
> I start with item code if the vendor uses them, name of tea, vendor, and
> date. Next are brewing details: x tsp. in x oz at xxx° for x min. and my
> opinion of the results. After my trials, I note at the bottom whether I want
> to reorder that particular tea from that vendor or not. I highlight the best
> amount/temp/time for the teas that I keep on hand 'cause sometimes I forget
> and highlighting makes it easy to find the combo that works best.

Perfect! Thanks!

> On the last page and working back towards the front, I list tea, sometimes
> vendor, and page no. in the same color ink in which I did the entry. That
> makes it easier to locate when I want to review what I previously wrote.

Yes, this would be a nightmare without an index - thanks!

>> as I wait for the Upton
>> site to stop choking on a hairball or whatever it is that has it no
>> longer responding, and place my order.
>
> Something must be wrong. It hasn't come up for me, either, and I started
> before I typed what I include in my tea journal so it should have been done
> way before now. It was fine when I got those codes for EB earlier.

I had gotten to 11 samples, and was checking if I had ordered one,
and... nothing. Still nothing. I did read that they had (very) recently
moved to a new server - maybe that is more responsible for this than my
11 samples...

> Funny that you said hairball - my cat likes to drink Darjeeling and white
> teas if I don't stop her so, be forewarned. I've taken to using a lid from a
> plastic tub to keep her and her cat hair out of my cup/mug.

No cats here, but I'll keep that in mind!

Resa

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/20/2005 4:29 PM, Bluesea wrote:
>
> >> as I wait for the Upton
> >> site to stop choking on a hairball or whatever it is that has it no
> >> longer responding, and place my order.
> >
> > Something must be wrong. It hasn't come up for me, either, and I started
> > before I typed what I include in my tea journal so it should have been
done
> > way before now. It was fine when I got those codes for EB earlier.
>
> I had gotten to 11 samples, and was checking if I had ordered one,
> and... nothing. Still nothing. I did read that they had (very) recently
> moved to a new server - maybe that is more responsible for this than my
> 11 samples...

Yes. My last order included 17 samples.

--
~~Bluesea~~
Spam is great in musubi but not in email.
Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

"Serendip" > wrote in message
...
> On 2/20/2005 5:45 PM, Bluesea wrote:
> >> I had gotten to 11 samples, and was checking if I had ordered one,
> >> and... nothing. Still nothing. I did read that they had (very) recently
> >> moved to a new server - maybe that is more responsible for this than my
> >> 11 samples...
> >
> > Yes. My last order included 17 samples.
>
> Phew! I'd hate to think I brought down a whole tea company with my very
> first order!! ;)

LOL!

--
~~Bluesea~~
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Please take out the trash before sending a direct reply.

On 2/20/2005 5:45 PM, Bluesea wrote:
>> I had gotten to 11 samples, and was checking if I had ordered one,
>> and... nothing. Still nothing. I did read that they had (very) recently
>> moved to a new server - maybe that is more responsible for this than my
>> 11 samples...
>
> Yes. My last order included 17 samples.

Phew! I'd hate to think I brought down a whole tea company with my very
first order!! ;)