Search found 1397 matches

by Baisao
Fri Apr 14, 2023 2:51 am
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Chaozhou/Shantou
Replies: 252
Views: 128357

Re: Chaozhou/Shantou

There is also sodium bicarbonate aka baking soda, available in any grocery store. Leaving a thick water based paste of the stuff all over the pot to sit over night and using a tooth brush on the pot the next day should go a long way. If needed, pouring white vinegar right over the pot with the agit...
by Baisao
Thu Apr 13, 2023 10:31 pm
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Chaozhou/Shantou
Replies: 252
Views: 128357

Re: Chaozhou/Shantou

wave_code Thanks for your input! I will likely steer away from magic eraser if this is the case. Honestly, I am hesitant to use any chemicals. After reading bit more on the percarbonate here, I’m not even sure it’s necessary to go to this extent. I want to clear something up: there is nothing wrong...
by Baisao
Thu Apr 13, 2023 5:47 pm
Forum: Green Tea
Topic: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?
Replies: 64
Views: 12149

Re: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?

No wonder I've been disappointed by most of the sencha I've been drinking the past few years from O-Cha, Yuuki-Cha, etc. I thought I was just unlucky with the teas I picked but it makes sense that first flush teas would be flavorless. That's the case with Chinese greens and Darjeelings as well. I n...
by Baisao
Tue Apr 04, 2023 4:59 pm
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Taiwanese pots
Replies: 87
Views: 44328

Re: Taiwanese pots

By no means masterpieces here, but maybe interesting in a historical context or as a curiosity... Here is an example of another Tong Fon/Dong Feng or in this case Tong Fong tea set complete (as far as I know) in the box, as well as some cups and saucers found separately. I have no idea when this wo...
by Baisao
Tue Apr 04, 2023 3:47 pm
Forum: Green Tea
Topic: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?
Replies: 64
Views: 12149

Re: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?

Ippodo is a successful boutique tea company, nothing wrong with that. I have really enjoyed their top gyokuro, sencha, iribancha and now hojicha. It is excellent 🍃 It’s the kind of tea that Japanese buy at department stores as gifts for others. It’s a very large company and not what most would cons...
by Baisao
Tue Apr 04, 2023 12:59 pm
Forum: Green Tea
Topic: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?
Replies: 64
Views: 12149

Re: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?

It's Japanese department store sencha. It isn't bad but it's not great either. You're paying a premium for the name to get tea quality you could get for less elsewhere. It's the Luis Vuitton handbag of sencha. Ippodo is a successful boutique tea company, nothing wrong with that. I have really enjoy...
by Baisao
Tue Apr 04, 2023 11:20 am
Forum: Green Tea
Topic: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?
Replies: 64
Views: 12149

Re: 2023 Shincha Harvest tea recommendations?

Good to hear about Thes du Japon’s Sincha Teafortea. I just received notification that Ippodo’s Sincha pre-orders are up on their site. Haven’t tried those yet. Oh I have not tried ipodo's tea yet. The tea's look so yummy. Here I am again about to go crazy in spring and over order 😅 It's Japanese d...
by Baisao
Mon Apr 03, 2023 2:37 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: What tea strainer do you use?
Replies: 17
Views: 4261

Re: What tea strainer do you use?

Right now, I'm loving my fine metal strainer. It's long-lasting and easy to clean. This strainer comes with a stand and is super fine for a metal strainer. You can check them out here: https://teaandwhisk.com/products/gongfu-tea-strainer?q=fine%20strainer -Leo ./download/file.php?id=13447 teasnow ,...
by Baisao
Sun Apr 02, 2023 3:36 am
Forum: Japan
Topic: Ode to the Kyusu
Replies: 634
Views: 310726

Re: Ode to the Kyusu

I think that’s a much nicer kyusu than the one you posted on February 19th. I don’t know the maker but it is unglazed so you’ll have the added effect of the shudei interacting with the tea. For me, shudei contributes a bright, prickly sensation to tea.
by Baisao
Wed Mar 15, 2023 3:12 pm
Forum: Tea/Teaware Vendors
Topic: Yinchen Studio
Replies: 54
Views: 19811

Re: Yinchen Studio

Here is a complex full hand pot from the xray group using clean clay. Note this taiwan facing price, which would probably normally be much higher for western audience ./download/file.php?id=13304 That definitely puts the price of ornate, fully handmade pots into perspective. Based on the rest of th...
by Baisao
Tue Mar 14, 2023 11:40 pm
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Yixing
Replies: 5884
Views: 1828960

Re: Yixing

nohwonder wrote:
Tue Mar 14, 2023 4:29 pm
There are studies that show that patina is at least partially from tea compounds. Here's one: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/a ... 9814000945
I don’t think anyone doubts that.

Weren’t we discussing that specific teapot, not patina in general?
by Baisao
Tue Mar 14, 2023 12:43 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Water Water Everywhere... What’s Your Water?
Replies: 471
Views: 241556

Re: Water Water Everywhere... What’s Your Water?

Speaking of... it is also that people do go up in arms over the tiniest threat to their perceived right to bear dangerous firearms, but do not care enough for the water that keeps them alive. entering political territory... Hope I'm not the only one to see the ironic hilarity in this turn of the th...
by Baisao
Sun Mar 12, 2023 10:29 pm
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Yixing
Replies: 5884
Views: 1828960

Re: Yixing

I am wondering what everyone's take on the source of the exterior patina is. This pot is pretty young and confirmed my suspicion that it's probably just sebum from handling that produces a shine after a bit of use, quickly on dense clays, more slowly on more porous clays. Certainly not tea, as I do...
by Baisao
Fri Mar 10, 2023 1:35 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Tea when sick
Replies: 33
Views: 9375

Re: Tea when sick

I do a couple things now when sick. The first is to take an ordinary Indian black tea and add ginger to it. I either slice fresh ginger on a mandolin or use sugar-preserved ginger. I find that the astringency of the ordinary Indian black tea seems to help my throat. The ginger helps with throat, sin...
by Baisao
Fri Mar 10, 2023 1:13 am
Forum: China & Taiwan
Topic: Facebook vendor: Chemical Free Purple Clay Exchange
Replies: 81
Views: 13176

Re: Facebook vendor: Chemical Free Purple Clay Exchange

The craftsmanship is a lot better than I’d have imagined at that price point. The seams from the press mold seem well hidden and the edges have been cleaned. It goes without saying that the level of customer service you received surpasses what you would receive from the domestic reseller. The seam ...