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beppe · 11-10-2010, 05:04 PM

This morning I went to this old shop in down town Milano where one finds all sort of fancy foods and drinks, and teas obviously. Last month I got 50 gr of very nice Rooibos from the guy, so I went there for my acquisition of teas as I want to learn to drink tea. I am not a complete ignoramus, I mean I like tea. This thread gives me the occasion of sharing my experience and to get feedback by the very knowledgeable and distinguished members.

I had a list and asked him 50 gr. samples. He sort of would have liked to give me 100 gr. doses, but I insisted explaining him that I wanted to find my way through that difficult subject and I did not want to get stuck with a lot of stuff. To my questioning He explained me to conserve it in the paper bags, maybe in glass jars, but always in the paper bags. He also told me that tea should keep for about 2 years.

I got 6 teas from him.
Keemun
GunPowder (the one I have is too old, why not start anew, I like green tea anyhow, it is the tea that I have been drinking lately: he wrote Verde = Green on the bag)
Lapsang (That is what he wrote. I had it once at the house of old diplomats that had served in China, and I remember that I liked it very much and how it surprised me, and then lately green bony chicken mentioned it and Am also so I put it in my list)
Sencha (I asked for a large leaf green chinese, he said Japan and gave me that, and that's it)
White tea (he was pleased, I have Olong already)
Ceylon (He wanted me to have a medium tea good in the morning and afternoon. I asked him about Assam that I have already and he told me that it is the strongest and than advised me with the Ceylon. I did not tell him of the Tanzania that I have, that is quite strong and that I will compare with the Assam that I bought the other day).

He told me that with loose leafs teas I am much better off, but by a wide margin better off than from confectioned packages. So, that's the way I am starting this exploration. Now I will slowly and gently go through these teas and make notes, and try to build a sensitivity and a taste.

I got the info from wikipedia about temperatures, steeping times, multiple steeping and all that. I will see about other details on the way if I develop interest and enjoyment.

11-10-2010, 05:04 PM	#4303
beppe Grand Sorcerer Posts: 5,161 Karma: 81026524 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Italy Device: Kindle3, Ipod4, IPad2	This morning I went to this old shop in down town Milano where one finds all sort of fancy foods and drinks, and teas obviously. Last month I got 50 gr of very nice Rooibos from the guy, so I went there for my acquisition of teas as I want to learn to drink tea. I am not a complete ignoramus, I mean I like tea. This thread gives me the occasion of sharing my experience and to get feedback by the very knowledgeable and distinguished members. I had a list and asked him 50 gr. samples. He sort of would have liked to give me 100 gr. doses, but I insisted explaining him that I wanted to find my way through that difficult subject and I did not want to get stuck with a lot of stuff. To my questioning He explained me to conserve it in the paper bags, maybe in glass jars, but always in the paper bags. He also told me that tea should keep for about 2 years. I got 6 teas from him. Keemun GunPowder (the one I have is too old, why not start anew, I like green tea anyhow, it is the tea that I have been drinking lately: he wrote Verde = Green on the bag) Lapsang (That is what he wrote. I had it once at the house of old diplomats that had served in China, and I remember that I liked it very much and how it surprised me, and then lately green bony chicken mentioned it and Am also so I put it in my list) Sencha (I asked for a large leaf green chinese, he said Japan and gave me that, and that's it) White tea (he was pleased, I have Olong already) Ceylon (He wanted me to have a medium tea good in the morning and afternoon. I asked him about Assam that I have already and he told me that it is the strongest and than advised me with the Ceylon. I did not tell him of the Tanzania that I have, that is quite strong and that I will compare with the Assam that I bought the other day). He told me that with loose leafs teas I am much better off, but by a wide margin better off than from confectioned packages. So, that's the way I am starting this exploration. Now I will slowly and gently go through these teas and make notes, and try to build a sensitivity and a taste. I got the info from wikipedia about temperatures, steeping times, multiple steeping and all that. I will see about other details on the way if I develop interest and enjoyment.