When I first started drinking tea I thought it would be enjoyable to
sit and drink with a couple of friends and socialize. After attempting
to sit and drink a teapot with my girlfriend, who I figured would
tolerate my interest in tea the most, I realized almost none of my
friends were going to be interested in tea as much as I was. Almost
immediately tea became a solitary activity for me. One which I used to
relax instead of socialize. Since then I've tried to drink tea with my
friends on occasion. But it's never really enjoyable because they
don't focus on the tea as much as I like to. Fortunately I think I
recently cultivated a stronger tea-interest in one of my friends by
buying her a teapot and some decent tea. We haven't had a chance to
sit down and really enjoy some good tea yet, but when we do, for once I
might actually enjoy myself. What is everyone else's experience? Do
you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

unless he moves to china the first thing a tea lover realizes is that tea
appreciation is something he will never be able to share with anyone else he
knows.

Barky Bark > wrote:
>unless he moves to china the first thing a tea lover realizes is that tea
>appreciation is something he will never be able to share with anyone else he
>knows.

Umm, that seems a cruel thing to say in a Usenet group that exists to allow
people to get to know other people who share tea appreciation.
--scott
--
"C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis."

life is cruel, and I don't "know" any of you. My definition of "know" is
somebody with whom I have associated other than through tea. Words on a
screen don't count, and nobody I've ever "known" has had much interest in
tea whatsoever.
I have a feeling that's the OP's thoughts regarding his post too.

I love to drink with other serious tea drinkers, but there are never
any around. However some of my best tea drinking experiences have been
attempts to 'convert' friends who aren't into tea but who are into wine
or food. My sense is that a lot of people consider all the processes
involved with tea drinking to be an insurmountable pain in the ass, but
if you put some tea in front of them under the right circumstances they
will drink thoughtfully.

xDustinx wrote:
> When I first started drinking tea I thought it would be enjoyable to
> sit and drink with a couple of friends and socialize. After attempting
> to sit and drink a teapot with my girlfriend, who I figured would
> tolerate my interest in tea the most, I realized almost none of my
> friends were going to be interested in tea as much as I was. Almost
> immediately tea became a solitary activity for me. One which I used to
> relax instead of socialize. Since then I've tried to drink tea with my
> friends on occasion. But it's never really enjoyable because they
> don't focus on the tea as much as I like to. Fortunately I think I
> recently cultivated a stronger tea-interest in one of my friends by
> buying her a teapot and some decent tea. We haven't had a chance to
> sit down and really enjoy some good tea yet, but when we do, for once I
> might actually enjoy myself. What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

Oh and I wouldn't necessarily give up on your girlfriend. My wife
(like most people) cannot be forced to enjoy anything, and she really
doesn't drink tea at all, but we tried a series of Wuyi oolongs
recently and she really got into it.

xDustinx wrote:
> When I first started drinking tea I thought it would be enjoyable to
> sit and drink with a couple of friends and socialize. After attempting
> to sit and drink a teapot with my girlfriend, who I figured would
> tolerate my interest in tea the most, I realized almost none of my
> friends were going to be interested in tea as much as I was. Almost
> immediately tea became a solitary activity for me. One which I used to
> relax instead of socialize. Since then I've tried to drink tea with my
> friends on occasion. But it's never really enjoyable because they
> don't focus on the tea as much as I like to. Fortunately I think I
> recently cultivated a stronger tea-interest in one of my friends by
> buying her a teapot and some decent tea. We haven't had a chance to
> sit down and really enjoy some good tea yet, but when we do, for once I
> might actually enjoy myself. What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

xDustinx wrote:
> When I first started drinking tea I thought it would be enjoyable to
> sit and drink with a couple of friends and socialize. After attempting
> to sit and drink a teapot with my girlfriend, who I figured would
> tolerate my interest in tea the most, I realized almost none of my
> friends were going to be interested in tea as much as I was. Almost
> immediately tea became a solitary activity for me. One which I used to
> relax instead of socialize. Since then I've tried to drink tea with my
> friends on occasion. But it's never really enjoyable because they
> don't focus on the tea as much as I like to. Fortunately I think I
> recently cultivated a stronger tea-interest in one of my friends by
> buying her a teapot and some decent tea. We haven't had a chance to
> sit down and really enjoy some good tea yet, but when we do, for once I
> might actually enjoy myself. What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

I've always considered tea as a social activity. I've done most of my
research and had most of my experiences on mainland China, so it's the
way that I am used to. When I went back to the US for a brief stint in
04, I brought much tea with me and not too many people were interested.
My brother got into drinking pu'er, but as for my friends, I had few
takers. Drinking tea takes time. I guess it's slightly boring to play
around with some small pots and cups...unless you are being served by a
beauty.

On Fri, 21 Jul 2006 11:43:41 -0700, xDustinx wrote:

What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

Solitary

I encountered this recently and I thought I should share with all of
you. May be we all have forgotten this.

A friend from HongKong visited me last week. We were watching a movie
at her hotel room the other night. Before the start of the movie, she
was asking if I want to have a cup of tea. Sure, why not? As soon as
she passed me the mug, I noticed something quite different about it. I
sniffed and sipped. OMG, it is pu erh! I looked up at her and looked at
the dinning table, she was just using a normal coffee strainer to make
the tea! I totally forgotten that we can make pu erh with simple tea
pot!

"I didn't know you drink pu erh too!" And so that evening got more
interesting with new topic to talk about....

I think what everybody ought to do is to introduce the "taste" of tea
to your friends first. Let them try different type of tea without all
those complicated tools and steps. Get them interested with tea
drinking before introducing them to tea art. I think this is the least
intrusive way to introduce tea art.

On 21 Jul 2006 11:43:41 -0700, xDustinx wrote:

> What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

My answer to the compound question is "yes."

My wife readily succumbed to my addiction. We drink tea together at home,
both morning and evening. I also drink tea alone at work.

So it's not really an either-or proposition.

--
Derek

"Democracy means that anyone can grow up to be president, and anyone who
doesn't grow up can be vice president." -- Johnny Carson

Barky Bark wrote:
> unless he moves to china the first thing a tea lover realizes is that tea
> appreciation is something he will never be able to share with anyone else he
> knows.

Is China really full of tea conniseurs? I doubt it. I live in an area
with five Chinese supermarkets in one block. Unless I'm drastically
misjudging, while they have a lot of tea in them, none of it is quality
tea.

If your average Chinese person was a conniseur, then even five
supermarkets in Sydney, most of whose customers have lived in China or
Hong Kong or Taiwan or Vietnam, should have some decent tea in them.

Like I said, though, I could be misjudging.

Gavin

(Anyway, I share a love of tea with my better half.)

My wife and I both share an interest in tea, so for us it's something we
have in common. It's actually become a replacement for the cups of coffee
at various times during the day. Often we just use the gaiwan, but on the
weekends, when we have a little more time, we often get the whole 'kit' out
(tray, pots, jugs etc) and sit for an hour or two.

Sometimes though we feel like company - so what we do is when we ring
friends inviting them over, we actually ask if they fancy trying something
different and have a 'chinese tea party' rather than sit around and consume
the usual wine and crackers. Sounds crass but it works!

They then know what is going to happen and won't usually get bored or fed
up when the whole afternoon has centred around the tea. Most often than not
they end up down at the local market buying their own tea and accessories.
If they have taken an interest they will often come again and we'll
reciprocate. Some of our friends are also doing the same for their own
circle of mates; so in our own small way we are slowly increasing the
interest in tea.

Just my 2 bobs worth.
Mal
Oz



"xDustinx" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> When I first started drinking tea I thought it would be enjoyable to
> sit and drink with a couple of friends and socialize. After attempting
> to sit and drink a teapot with my girlfriend, who I figured would
> tolerate my interest in tea the most, I realized almost none of my
> friends were going to be interested in tea as much as I was. Almost
> immediately tea became a solitary activity for me. One which I used to
> relax instead of socialize. Since then I've tried to drink tea with my
> friends on occasion. But it's never really enjoyable because they
> don't focus on the tea as much as I like to. Fortunately I think I
> recently cultivated a stronger tea-interest in one of my friends by
> buying her a teapot and some decent tea. We haven't had a chance to
> sit down and really enjoy some good tea yet, but when we do, for once I
> might actually enjoy myself. What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?
>
>

just a comment about tea,
tea can be a "physical meditation for people that dont like to just sit
still, like me", the brewing ceremony can be done, while thinking and
enjoying the fact of brewing good tea, and drinking it can be a way of
reflecting on the character of the tea, the moment, and how to improve
our brewing methodology. if others are present then the process of
serving tea is a way to share and give without receiving. of course
there is the pleasure in having your guests enjoy the tea.... i myself
like to brew and share what i know about teas to people that are
interested, or learn from others from their knowledge/experiences with
tea..
last thoughts...curl up on a cozy couch in the winter with a book and a
cup of tea.
-icetea
http://teaarts.blogspot.com/

I too am stuck with solitary tea drinking. The problem is amplified by
the fact that I'm still in college and everyone in my age group thinks
tea is too feminine. The girls I know that drink only drink it because
of its health effects.
Is it just me, or does in hurt to watch someone make horrible green tea
from a supermarket bag, brew it for 15 minutes, and then chug it down
because it's good for them?

TeaDave wrote:
> I too am stuck with solitary tea drinking. The problem is amplified by
> the fact that I'm still in college and everyone in my age group thinks
> tea is too feminine. The girls I know that drink only drink it because
> of its health effects.
> Is it just me, or does in hurt to watch someone make horrible green tea
> from a supermarket bag, brew it for 15 minutes, and then chug it down
> because it's good for them?

with green tea,,, try dragon well (a chinese tea and after boiling it
put the hot water in a mug for 1 minute then put the hot water into
another pot or mug with the green tea by first pour the tea into a
container then into another the first will absorb some of the heat and
this is important with green tea, it is natural and should not be
stewed or cooked, which is what will happen with boiling water and this
will make it bitter...too american culture is still not quite recovered
from the "boston tea party", before that event americans drank tea
regularly, man and woman alike.....
--icetea
ps-- upnote tea is on the rise though more people are drinking tea
today than several years agom also try an asian community.... all the
kids drink tea its the rave!!!!!!!

Like one of the posters above, it is both a solitary and sociable event
in my life.

During my working day, I usually take around a half-litre of green tea,
it being highly condusive to a sharp brain. I have a porcelain teapot
for the office, which I use to brew green leaves (the pot half-filled
with water): one portion of leaves in the morning, and one portion in
the afternoon. With two robust brews per portion, I take four brews in
total. The smell of a good grade green leaf permeating the air is very
pleasurable, and often attracts colleagues to sit on my desk for
protracted conversations, and perhaps a small cup of the tea.

At home, I have the luxury of time sufficient for the preparation of
teas in the gongfu manner, usually pu'er or wulong. These are
typically taken either solo, or with my dear wife. Like many of the
posters in this thread, I have found that guests often enjoy a tea
session for the sake of curiousity and enjoyable atmosphere, but have
little inclination to pursue it of their own accord.

Our friends are divided approximately equally between being "Eastern"
and "Western", but, oddly enough, none of them could tell their YiWu
from their WuYi. Most appreciate the time, flavour, and feeling of
taking tea in the gongfu style, but I am genuinely surprised by the
lack of knowledge and palate-experience of our Mainland friends - who I
naturally (and unfairly) assume know everything about tea since birth,
simply because they are Chinese.

It is rare indeed to find a true tea-friend, and the relationships
initiated by shared Internet resources such as this group and its ilk
are invaluable to me (and thus also to my tastebuds).


Toodlepip,

Hobbes

Barky om7/21/06


> unless he moves to china the first thing a tea lover realizes is that tea
> appreciation is something he will never be able to share with anyone else he
> knows.

to the contrary, barky bark, in my beautiful city
we have a network of friends who more or less
regularly sit down to tea with the focus fully on
the tea itself. we also drink socially with the
primary focus elsewhere on occasion. i suspect
that your comment tells us as much about your
circle as anything else. still, i know we are lucky
in this way and that not everyone has the luxury
of tea companionship.

In answer to Dustin's question, I do drink alone
everyday in addition to the social occasions that
I mentioned above. I also drink tea with my
significant other whose interest in tea grows. She
enjoys Oolongs most of all, especially those of
a greener nature, most especially those from
Taiwan.

Michael

xDustinx wrote:
> What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

This NG and the time I was lost a block or so from The Tea Gallery in
NYC are as close as my tea drinking gets to social. Others around me
have begun to enjoy tea more, but it is not even close to serious. Even
my fiance has really begun enjoying tea, but if you asked her how much
tea to use, or what water temp, or how long to brew, or most anything
like that, it would be met with a stare and probably she would come and
ask me. But she does really enjoy a number of teas (especially oolongs)
and she has begun to realize that sugar/honey are not part of real tea
drinking. Although she does enjoy that damn chai, which I can't even
stand to smell.

Even being a tea drinker for 8 years or so, and an IT guy, I never
thought to use newgroups for much more than... So, anyhow, when I
stumbled across this place by accident I was about as happy as can be.
A place to talk to very nice folks who are into the same level (or
thereabouts) of appreciation and enjoyment as myself. Not much spam and
friendly, non-flaming, conversation.

I am determined to find The Tea Gallery some day though, and finally
try that social thing out.

- Dominic

I think it would be great if we drank tea while socializing with other
people. For me, I so enjoy drinking tea by myself but its even better
with friends and family who enjoy tea too!
KK

> I am determined to find The Tea Gallery some day though, and finally
> try that social thing out.

No hope of sociable tea in Pittsbourgh, eh?
Michael

Michael Plant wrote:
> No hope of sociable tea in Pittsbourgh, eh?
> Michael

I have been kicking around the idea of opening a small tea shop, but
I'm not sure how it would go over or what area would be best.
Pittsburgh is very compartmentalized, and each ethnic group stays to
their own area with little blending.

After my utter disapointment at TeaNY I know I could do better and
really provide a great atmosphere, I just think it would be lost on the
inhabitants of my area. I'd love to get away from doing IT work and I
am between getting a masters so that I can teach or opening a tea shop.
Any plans are about two years out, so we'll see how it goes. Other than
that, not a chance.

- Dominic

xDustinx wrote:
[....]
> What is everyone else's experience? Do
> you like to drink alone or with other "serious" tea drinkers?

For me, I do both.

In my small town there are not many serious tea drinkers, (as someone
said in another group) most of the people in my neighbor wouldnt know
their Wu Yi from their Yi Wu. So consequently I drink alone most of the
time.

I have cultivated a few tea drinkers, my wife amongst them, and so a
few times a month I do get to enjoy the social aspects of tea drinking
then. These are some of the best moments of my existence.

_____
Mike
http://www.pu-erh.net

there is a group in california...Cupertino and Fremont,,, (outside san
jose) http://www.atcasf.org/English/index.php ....it might look like
a school by looking at the website, but it is a nonprofit social study
group ran by a man and his wife. they do learns about tea, but also
they do alot of tea drinking and chatting...the way tea is suppose to
be enjoyed!, (shhhh, dont tell that japanese tea ceremony folks
though). we (wu-wo tea ceremony association) will have a tea ceremony
next year beginning early (2006) and and international ceremony in
2009, in oct. or nov, in california... i use the term ceremony loosely,
the way it is used in taiwan, what i am talking about is a tea
party/ceremony and cultural exchange... what i suggest is getting
together first starting out as a few group of friends meeting at a park
or public place and make tea together and bring some information about
brewing and tea in general and give to people that happen to come by
(if any) and make it a weekly/monthly thing, it would be nice to get a
local tea shop/store involved too. it might sound crazy to you but
this is how the nonprofit wu-wo tea ceremony organization got started
in taiwan 20some years ago...
and now we are coming to korea next year and usa in 2009, this is the
official site in chinese (some pics taipei)...
http://www.wu-wotea.com.tw/New_Folder10/cv.html
but i got some stuff here about it
http://teaarts.blogspot.com/2006/03/...ation-day.html
-icetea