Lol.
Edit: Out of curiosity, what are some websites that y'all know of that have the best quality stuff? It would be fun to compare...
Those things are not sold online... best quality is always bought in person only.swordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 7:41 amLol.
Edit: Out of curiosity, what are some websites that y'all know of that have the best quality stuff? It would be fun to compare...
While i very much appreciate what Yunnansourcing has done for the knowledge and spread of Chinese tea in the west, and I have often bought teas from Scott, and from shops such as Essence of Tea, and Chawangshop - you cannot expect to get top level teas from them. They have improved the quality of what is available for a western market significantly, and spent the time and effort to biuld these so important relationsships.swordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 7:13 amInteresting. So what about companies like Yunnan Sourcing, Taiwan Teacrafts, Leafy Green, or Hojo? Places that have direct relationships with the growers/source their product directly, actually go to the place and work with the people who are making the tea? For those of you who have had the enviable opporunity to compare the stuff available in Asia to the stuff you can find on sites like that compares with the stuff available on sites like that? For example, Taiwan teacrafts sources directly and processes a good amount of their stuff themselves.
That’s really cool info. So it seems that even if I did live in a place where higher quality was available, it would be a lot of money/effort to even be “allowed” to get the good stuff. Like, a cultural thing? It’s cool that tea is taken so serieously there.theredbaron wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:13 pmHowever, shops and tea people in Asia have not just spent 10 or 15 years on building those relationships, but decades, or even generations. Top level teas are also very limited for Asian lea lovers, and often cost more than shops like the ones which primarily sell to a western market can invest in, as not many westerners would be able or willing to pay those prices. Then - not many westerners would be able to appreciate those teas, especially without guidance, which in Asia is the way of learning and appreciating tea - a tea teacher/tea master guides you like an apprentice on how to appreciate tea. Even n Asia itself, special teas will often only be offered to customers who know how to appreciate them, and are not openly on sale.
ditto!theredbaron wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:13 pmI can only suggest to anyone who has more than a passing interest to spend some time in Asia's tea centers, such as KL, Taiwan, etc. to see the amazing (and often very confusing) world of tea
I had the same experience. I was told after 5 years buying tea, letting me taste their top quality gaoshan, that I can not buy it, that I still need another few years before I am readyswordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:32 pm
That’s really cool info. So it seems that even if I did live in a place where higher quality was available, it would be a lot of money/effort to even be “allowed” to get the good stuff. Like, a cultural thing? It’s cool that tea is taken so serieously there.
Out of curiosity, for the stuff that isn’t openly on sale, do people who “meet the requirements” for tea excellence just build relationships with shops so the proprietor knows them and will sell to them, or what? I’m imagining someone going into a shop in another city and asking for the secret menu or something.
As Bok said.swordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:32 pm
That’s really cool info. So it seems that even if I did live in a place where higher quality was available, it would be a lot of money/effort to even be “allowed” to get the good stuff. Like, a cultural thing? It’s cool that tea is taken so serieously there.
Out of curiosity, for the stuff that isn’t openly on sale, do people who “meet the requirements” for tea excellence just build relationships with shops so the proprietor knows them and will sell to them, or what? I’m imagining someone going into a shop in another city and asking for the secret menu or something.
Bok wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 2:20 pmI had the same experience. I was told after 5 years buying tea, letting me taste their top quality gaoshan, that I can not buy it, that I still need another few years before I am readyswordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 1:32 pm
That’s really cool info. So it seems that even if I did live in a place where higher quality was available, it would be a lot of money/effort to even be “allowed” to get the good stuff. Like, a cultural thing? It’s cool that tea is taken so serieously there.
Out of curiosity, for the stuff that isn’t openly on sale, do people who “meet the requirements” for tea excellence just build relationships with shops so the proprietor knows them and will sell to them, or what? I’m imagining someone going into a shop in another city and asking for the secret menu or something.
That sounds like so much fun. Wish that was common here.theredbaron wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 4:21 pmAnd in a sense, it is less about money than about the relationships you build with tea people. In Asia it is less about tea shops selling tea than people forming tea circles, where they meet drink tea, talk tea, and whatever other topic that needs taling about. Some people may have lots of money, so they spend more, pay for the expensive teas they then all drink together, etc.
How shall i explain it best? Life in Asia is generally much more outside than in the west. People meet much more casually than in the west. They meet after work, or go eating together, and so they also drink tea together.
Life in Asia has its sark sides as well, but that microcosm of tea is very enjoyableswordofmytriumph wrote: ↑Tue Jan 01, 2019 5:26 pm
That sounds like so much fun. Wish that was common here.