What is in your cup?

[beppe]

Windy here, with a surprisingly soft sea, so that my km of swim went like a marvel. But on the beach, the sand kept stinging me and I had hard time reading Gerald Durell of all things.

Now I am fighting the dehidratation induced by the Mistral, with tall glasses of rum agricol topped by orange juice.

For dinner I will give to the two creatures that the Goddes (may she always look upon me with sympathy and never ending favor) has bestowed me with, melon and pata negra ham. I might open a jar of foie gras, just for the fun of it. The wine? Well, that Chardonney. But after these 2 tall glasses who could notice? Candles, no doubt.

[astra]

Originally Posted by aceflor

(the other one is clafoutis)

Clafoutis
The description is fantastic. I love cherries in almost any way possible.

Originally Posted by beppe

my km of swim went like a marvel

Originally Posted by aceflor

swam 1 km this morning

Is it a new trend?
I mean swimming? or doing anything measured by 1?
If it is swimming then I am out of my league here.
However, if it is 1, then I am in. I just run/jogged/trudged? 1 mile.

A bit of aloe vera after that (this time the real one, about 30ml, which was not as bad as Stitchawl made me believe it should be )

Now the one before the last cup of The East India Company's Emperors Yunnan.



I tried today two new Chinese green teas.
Good? Bad? - Chinese green tea
I think both were box standard China Green. Not bad but nothing outstanding.
Mao Feng, Yellow Mountain Green Tea and Liu An Gua Pian.
Both were steeped as was suggested by Chah: 2 tsp per cup; 75°C, 3 minutes for first brew and then add 30 seconds for each subsequent infusion.
I didn't reinfuse Mao Feng, Yellow Mountain Green Tea but I reinfused twice Liu An Gua Pian. Reinfused cups were OKeish. The flavour as good as the first.
I think I am too demanding to Chinese green tea. I became a bit spoiled and need something special, more than standard green tea flavour. Like Dragon Well. Although, I didn't drink the latter for 7 or 8 months. My palate has significantly changed since then when it comes to judging teas. Maybe I would change my opinion about Dragon Well now.

Anyway, back to Chah and their cooked Pu-Erh instead of green Pu-Erh.
I received today a reply. Probably the most astounding reply, I ever received in my life as a result of a complaint.

Spoiler:

Dear Axxx,

I understand your disappointment. I’d like to apologise, and also to explain - due the sheer weight of customer demand, we have moved to cooked pu-erh.

The situation on the naming we have is a tricky one; Imagine 9 out of 10 customers call a sparkling Californian white wine a “champagne”. In order to successfully sell your sparkling wine, you would have to call it champagne too, knowing it wasn’t totally accurate.

We have some reserves in stock and I will see to it that you are sent some of the tea you received in the past. Unfortunately, we shall not be importing any more uncooked pu-erh for now and I may not be able to supply this tea in the future, even by request.

I know this is unusually candid for a customer service email but I felt total honesty was best in this situation.

Again, accept our apologies. As far as taste goes, I’m with you on this one hence us originally stocking true uncooked. Sadly we’re outvoted.


Sincerely,

XXX
Director
Chah Online

It left me speechless for a while.
I always appreciate honesty, but receiving such a "candid" reply from a Director? Well done Chah....to a certain degree?

Spoiler:

I decided not to dwell on misleading description of the tea

Anyway, I go to find another source of green Pu-Erh in the UK.

[Latinandgreek]

vanilla tea. I lucked out an pd got an HP touchpad for super cheap, I'm typing this message on it :-)

[VydorScope]

Hope any of you on the Eastern seaboard of the US are doing well! At least its "only" cat 1 now... Hold on to your cups!

[Stitchawl]

Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene
Im begging of you please don't take my man
Jolene, jolene, jolene, jolene
Please don't take him just because you can
Your beauty is beyond compare
With flaming locks of auburn hair
With ivory skin and eyes of emerald green
Your smile is like a breath of spring
Your voice is soft like summer rain
And I cannot compete with you, jolene

( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gtv3idYAC8I )

Wow! What a song to wake up with! Funny to think of a beauty like Dolly Parton being worried...

Good morning, everyone. Another Sunday in another end of August. Some Twining's "Prince of Wales" tea in my mug today, to go along with another round of hummus, babbaganous, Kalamata olives, and pita bread. Good combination!

"Prince of Wales" is surprisingly good. Surprising, because it's one of Twining's, but good because it really has body to it. At least the loose leaf variety does. I don't find their tea bag stuff worth drinking.

Originally Posted by astra

Clafoutis
The description is fantastic. I love cherries in almost any way possible.

I had to look this one up too! I had no idea. Thought it was some sort of disease...

A bit of aloe vera after that (this time the real one, about 30ml, which was not as bad as Stitchawl made me believe it should be )

...which leads me to wonder if I just grew an unpleasant tasting Aloe way back when?!? I have two growing right now. As my last taste test was many years ago, I will make two cups this afternoon and try again.

Now the one before the last cup of The East India Company's Emperors Yunnan.

So far, I haven't run into a single bad tea from East India Company. I can't say that about too many tea importers or blenders.

Anyway, back to Chah and their cooked Pu-Erh instead of green Pu-Erh.
I received today a reply. Probably the most astounding reply, I ever received in my life as a result of a complaint.
[SPOILER]Dear Axxx,....

This is amazing! It brings honesty in customer service to a new level!

It left me speechless for a while.
I always appreciate honesty, but receiving such a "candid" reply from a Director? Well done Chah....to a certain degree?

Can we give them Karma? I'm going to look at their site. Any company that deals with its customers so honestly deserves to stay in business!

Time for one more cup of the Prince, then out to look at more guitars. My wife found her keyboard yesterday and bought it. I found dozens of very good guitars in perfect condition, but couldn't make a choice. We'll go to a few more shops today and look around. Do I want a Fender 'Stratocaster', or a Gibson "Les Paul?' So many decisions...

Stitchawl

[aceflor]

Good Morning everyone

astra, I liked the answer of Chah but for this :

Imagine 9 out of 10 customers call a sparkling Californian white wine a “champagne”. In order to successfully sell your sparkling wine, you would have to call it champagne too, knowing it wasn’t totally accurate

"it wasn't totally acurate" is not it. In the UK, "illegal" would be it. I don't know much about a lot of things, but I know about wines and champagne. A crémant stays a crémant, it may or may not taste the same sometimes as champagne, but it still not is, and is not allowed to be called so. The name "champagne" is originated from the region where the champagne is produced, which is called The Champagne (as The Normandie and so on) and is an AOC (Appellation d'Origine Controlée). Everywhere in the world you are not allowed to use it if the wine has not been produced first with the methode champenoise and second in the Champagne Region. The US are the exception, it is tolerated but only for local use (sales of wine produced in the US and sold and consumed in the US), under the condition that the place of production is indicated immediately after the name of the wine. Under these restrictions, many californian producers have decided to stop calling their wine champagne and will stick to either "methode champenoise" or just "sparkling wine".

I wish they would the same for cheese, because sincerely the "camemberts" I have had to taste outside of France were in 99% of the case no camemberts at all.

Back to Champagne: If you want that in your cup (which is abso-F-lutely deliciously decadent in the morning, but oh so nice), and want to be sure to impress the lady with your remarkable choice, get a Veuve Cliquot. Expensive, but available everywhere and never, never disappointing. And to be sure, make it a jeroboam (3l) and keep it coming

Café con leche it is for me this morning, without camembert . I will go swimming (I think any physical activity should count. some are easier to measure than others ), and then I am allowed to eat (personal rule, or I will never move my behind).

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

...which leads me to wonder if I just grew an unpleasant tasting Aloe way back when?!? I have two growing right now. As my last taste test was many years ago, I will make two cups this afternoon and try again.

They suggest drink 30ml twice a day. They also suggest to mix it with a glass of water or juice because its flavour is unpleasant? When I tried it first time I was prepared for something but it was OK My OH agrees with me. Then again, she is probably very fit for any unpleasant flavour onslaught after consuming tisane made of Chinese medicine roots,herbs, tree bark etc for 3 months

Originally Posted by aceflor

"it wasn't totally acurate" is not it. In the UK, "illegal" would be it.

I guess it is "a bit illegal". Hence my

I decided not to dwell on misleading description of the tea

I have chosen to let it go and appreciate the honesty.
Re: champagne
I assumed it was an example of "just for argument sake" sort. Hypothetical one, to help to get his point across
Maybe I am too naive



Anyway, this morning has been started with Assam Mohokutie

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by astra

They suggest drink 30ml twice a day. They also suggest to mix it with a glass of water or juice because its flavour is unpleasant?

O.K. I tried it again. Twice. Aloe from two different plants. Vile stuff... I'll keep it as 'external use only' medicines...

I guess it is "a bit illegal".

Is that like 'a little bit pregnant?'

Anyway, this morning has been started with Assam Mohokutie

If that is the Fortnum & Mason brew, I'll bet you enjoyed it! I'm having a mug of Highcountry Uva right now and loving it!

Stitchawl

[aceflor]

Tea right now, but simple tetley green tea I'm afraid. Building a Venator Class Starcruiser ship, also called Lego Star Wars Rip Off :-)

[astra]

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

Is that like 'a little bit pregnant?'

You got it right

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

If that is the Fortnum & Mason brew, I'll bet you enjoyed it! I'm having a mug of Highcountry Uva right now and loving it!

Yesss! I love it



I am afraid I have got a problem. The dearest one went for her Sunday Zumba & hips, bums and tums classes.
She asked me whether it is going to rain (brolly or not brolly, that was the question). I assured her that it is going to be absolutely dry, with hint of a rain till 16.00....
Guess what? It is pouring right now *ducks*
I can only hope it will stop by 11.30....and switch on mobile phone in case she calls me (from her mobile phone that she left at home as usual) to meet her with a couple of brollies. One against the rain, another to use as punishment on me poor head.


Re: Aloe Vera
It is not a pleasant drink, but it is supposed to be healthy?

Ingredients: 100% Natural Aloe Vera Juice, Herbal Formula (F.O.S. (pre-biotic), Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Liquorice) 0.3%, Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid.



Directions for Use: As a liquid food supplement, take 25ml twice daily, direct or mixed with water or fruit juice. Avoid use whilst pregnant or breast-feeding. Not suitable for infants. Shake well before use. Refrigerate after opening and consume within two months.

It looks similar to this bottle

DH bought the real plant too. It sits in the conservatory now.

[aceflor]

Originally Posted by astra

I am afraid I have got a problem. The dearest one went for her Sunday Zumba & hips, bums and tums classes.
She asked me whether it is going to rain (brolly or not brolly, that was the question). I assured her that it is going to be absolutely dry, with hint of a rain till 16.00....
Guess what? It is pouring right now *ducks*
I can only hope it will stop by 11.30....and switch on mobile phone in case she calls me (from her mobile phone that she left at home as usual) to meet her with a couple of brollies. One against the rain, another to use as punishment on me poor head.

Yes, you're in deep s... I'd say....

Originally Posted by astra

Re: Aloe Vera
Directions for Use: As a liquid food supplement, take 25ml twice daily, direct or mixed with water or fruit juice. Avoid use whilst pregnant or breast-feeding. Not suitable for infants. Shake well before use. Refrigerate after opening and consume within two months.

Tired me thought I had just read "avoid pregnancies" . Had to re-read it to make sure .
I use pure aloe gel for many things, it does wonder (but not as a contraceptive ), not sure I'd want to drink it though, but they sell it as a juice at the health shop nearby.

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by astra

Re: Aloe Vera
It is not a pleasant drink, but it is supposed to be healthy?

Ingredients: 100% Natural Aloe Vera Juice, Herbal Formula (F.O.S. (pre-biotic), Milk Thistle, Dandelion, Liquorice) 0.3%, Preservatives: Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate, Citric Acid, Ascorbic Acid.

I prefer these:
Ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals, in order to gain flavour and aroma.

The bottle looks like this.

It IS a pleasant drink, and supposed to be healthy.

DH bought the real plant too. It sits in the conservatory now.

I have two pots of it growing on the veranda. I started them both from single 'pups' and now both pots are waaaay overcrowded with plants big and small! Must be at least 25 in each pot! I just don't get burned enough to use them up!

Beef curry for dinner tonight so I think I'm going to make mango lassi to go along with it!


Stitchawl

[VydorScope]

RE: Aloe

Interesting, I have heard of its use topically, esply for burns.. but have never hear anyone ingest it. What is the claim that it does internally?

[Stitchawl]

Originally Posted by VydorScope

RE: Aloe

Interesting, I have heard of its use topically, esply for burns.. but have never hear anyone ingest it. What is the claim that it does internally?

It's a good source of Vit E. I use it only for burns or other skin irritation because of that fact, although I could just as easily use a capsule of Vit E oil... Aloe doesn't feel greasy though, which is why I prefer it. Also, it's difficult to grow Vit E capsules. It's easy to grow Aloe.


Stitchawl

[astra]

Originally Posted by aceflor

Yes, you're in deep s... I'd say....

It has cleared!

Originally Posted by aceflor

I use pure aloe gel for many things, it does wonder (but not as a contraceptive ), not sure I'd want to drink it though, but they sell it as a juice at the health shop nearby.

Maybe it is just another short lived craze like Latest detox craze? Cactus juice I drunk a lot in Mexico but this one was definitely yummy
or Health Benefits of Liquid Chlorophyll they had in front of gym

We also used aloe vera cream a a after sun cream. supposedly it rejuvenates skin.

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I prefer these:
Ingredients: almond, lemon peel, liquorice, juniper berries, orris root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeb, and grains of paradise. The spirit is triple distilled using a carterhead still, and the alcohol vapours are passed through a mesh/basket containing the ten botanicals, in order to gain flavour and aroma.

I knew, I knew where you were heading...

Originally Posted by Stitchawl

I have two pots of it growing on the veranda. I started them both from single 'pups' and now both pots are waaaay overcrowded with plants big and small! Must be at least 25 in each pot! I just don't get burned enough to use them up!

Ours is very small, looks like the one on the picture.


The last cup of The East India Company's Emperors Yunnan