Chinese New Year!!!
Granddaughter Schey and I went to Happy Luckys after Church like we normally do, and hopped up onto the bar stools that we usually occupy.
“Hey, what did you bring us today?!” Preston asked.
With great excitement, I pulled out my bag of Taiwanese Wild Mountain Black Tea which caught Joe’s eye further down behind the cash register.
“Wow, is that it?!” Joe exclaimed. (He and Preston had tasted the previous small sample from Butiki but this was MORE!)
“Yep, I brought the whole bag in so Eric, Andi, and Schey could have some of this tea too!”
I’ve never seen Preston move so fast! He had a Gaiwan, 6 tasting cups and an aroma set (for me) ready in no time.
I invited a young man at the bar (he was drinking tangerine stuffed puer that the shop now carries thanks to advice from Steepster mrmopar) to join in the tasting.
Preston warmed the Gaiwan, placed the leaves inside…waited, then passed the Gaiwan for everyone to smell the aroma. Delicious waffles…this is what we all think the tea smells like!
We each held the first golden-amber pour in our cups up high as Eric made a toast in Chinese 新年快乐 (xīn nián kuài lè) for Happy New Year!
All that I heard after that were….GROANS AND SIGHS OF DELIGHT!
I’ve seldom seen so many speechless, excited tea people. It was a pleasure bringing a grand tea to my friends.
In the past month…I’ve shared 2 tea’s that have been in the top 3 that Eric and Joe have ever tasted…Master Hans Black Tea from Verdant and Butiki’s Taiwanese Wild Mountain Black.
One final word:
What takes my breath away when I drink this tea is the finish.
Just when I’ve swallowed the tea it lifts me up and I’m floating on the most gentle ribbon of lingering flavor that undulates on and on like small ripples in the water. Eventually, my whole body feels the thrill of the tea. (Hard to explain how good it is)
This was a grand way to celebrate Chinese New Year!
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Awesome review Bonnie. Question, what is an aroma set? Teach me o’ wise one as I have no Happy Luckys and no Bonnie in my neighborhood.
you’re a good friend to share Bonnie! that orange pu sounds tasty as well!
http://siam-tee.de/product_info.php?cPath=14_22&products_id=120 You ahould find the pictures here of aroma sets. You pour the tea in the tall cup and place the small shallow cup over it. Next, hold your thumb on the top of the tall cup, fingers under the small cup and upend it. Lift the tall cup letting the tea drain into the small cup. Bring the now empty cup up to your nose and smell the tea aroma, rolling the cup between the palms of both hands. Finally, drink the tea in 3 sips (slurps).
The proof that I’m not wise is that I can’t spell a simple word like should!!!
A simple pinky slip that I would never have noticed.
I now understand the concept of the aroma cup. Do you find it to make an obvious olfactory difference or is it more a part of the experience of connecting and enjoying the cup? Maybe both? I love to examine the leaf and smell it both dry and wet. I love watching the leaf dance. I can almost see myself enjoying this process except for the whole tiny cup thing.
I’m not wise, I can’t spell should!
Thanks for the review, Bonnie. I’ll have to give this one a try. I’ve also been curious about the tangerine stuffed puer for awhile, having seen it a few places now.
I am glad they are having success with the orange puerh, it is a great starting point on a tea journey.
I think you just did ;)
The aroma cup enhances the experience for sure and is useful when you really want to dive deeper into scent.
I feel like I’ve just read one great love story!! Best review ever!!!!
What a lovely, lovely review! You really made the tea and the moment come alive.
Thank you. What nice things to say! I know that I talk about my tea house all the time, but what some people don’t know is that going to church and the tea house are the ONLY places I go regularly to interact with people (other than the grocery store or gas station). I feel ‘safe’. These people understand my limitations and never make me feel uncomfortable when my brain gets stuck and I can’t remember a word (which happens often in public). I use a cane in public too. One time at church I didn’t have my cane and went to cross myself and fell over,.which was really funny! Migraines and fibromyalgia play tricks on the brain. My fondness for my tea house is in my heart and in the teacup.
Wow, that is quite a compliment to have one of our teas be in the top 3 favorite teas of another tea purveyor. I love how you describe the finish. So poetic! :)
very wonderful fellowship all around!
Awesome review Bonnie. Question, what is an aroma set? Teach me o’ wise one as I have no Happy Luckys and no Bonnie in my neighborhood.
you’re a good friend to share Bonnie! that orange pu sounds tasty as well!
http://siam-tee.de/product_info.php?cPath=14_22&products_id=120 You ahould find the pictures here of aroma sets. You pour the tea in the tall cup and place the small shallow cup over it. Next, hold your thumb on the top of the tall cup, fingers under the small cup and upend it. Lift the tall cup letting the tea drain into the small cup. Bring the now empty cup up to your nose and smell the tea aroma, rolling the cup between the palms of both hands. Finally, drink the tea in 3 sips (slurps).
The proof that I’m not wise is that I can’t spell a simple word like should!!!
A simple pinky slip that I would never have noticed.
I now understand the concept of the aroma cup. Do you find it to make an obvious olfactory difference or is it more a part of the experience of connecting and enjoying the cup? Maybe both? I love to examine the leaf and smell it both dry and wet. I love watching the leaf dance. I can almost see myself enjoying this process except for the whole tiny cup thing.
I’m not wise, I can’t spell should!
Thanks for the review, Bonnie. I’ll have to give this one a try. I’ve also been curious about the tangerine stuffed puer for awhile, having seen it a few places now.
I am glad they are having success with the orange puerh, it is a great starting point on a tea journey.
I think you just did ;)
The aroma cup enhances the experience for sure and is useful when you really want to dive deeper into scent.
I feel like I’ve just read one great love story!! Best review ever!!!!
What a lovely, lovely review! You really made the tea and the moment come alive.
Thank you. What nice things to say! I know that I talk about my tea house all the time, but what some people don’t know is that going to church and the tea house are the ONLY places I go regularly to interact with people (other than the grocery store or gas station). I feel ‘safe’. These people understand my limitations and never make me feel uncomfortable when my brain gets stuck and I can’t remember a word (which happens often in public). I use a cane in public too. One time at church I didn’t have my cane and went to cross myself and fell over,.which was really funny! Migraines and fibromyalgia play tricks on the brain. My fondness for my tea house is in my heart and in the teacup.
Wow, that is quite a compliment to have one of our teas be in the top 3 favorite teas of another tea purveyor. I love how you describe the finish. So poetic! :)
very wonderful fellowship all around!