I have two friends, MS and SK, that I occasionally drink tea with. If I’m at a 9 or 10 (out of 10) as far as tea fanaticism, they’d both be around a 5 or 6. They drink daily, but have a more normal (healthy) appreciation of camellia sinensis. MS’ tea of choice is usually Yancha or occasionally a Dancong. SK is a little more broad but is similar, usually opting for darker, roasty oolongs (Yancha, Dancong, Taiwanese). Neither one has particularly gaudy/expensive tastes and they both pay similar amounts on rent, food, and living. Both also got introduced to tea around the same time and are willing to spend some spare money on acquiring reasonable quality loose-leaf tea.. That’s where the similarities end.. SK just graduated from nursing school where she accumulated student debt and has just started to work it off. MS graduated with a technical engineering degree five years ago and has had consistent, decent-paying engineering jobs since. (more…)
Author: James
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2015 White2Tea Last Thoughts — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #46
White2Tea’s top dog of 2015, the Last Thoughts.
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2002 White2Tea’s White Whale [Episode 122]
The infamous brick! This is Denny’s first try with the white label brick sold by White2Tea.
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YS Phoenix Village Shui Xian & W2T Clover Patch Oolong — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #45
Meet joins James for inbetweenisode 45, a comparison between the White2Tea Clover Patch Oolong and Yunnan Sourcing’s Phoenix Village Shui Xian.
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Tea Urchin’s Old Bush Zhi Lan Xiang [Episode 121]
A blind session with a sample of Tea Urchin’s Old Bush Zhi Lan Xiang kindly provided by Richard.
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![Loving the Crane is Hard to Do. Tuition/Xiaguan Report Log for the Newb [August 2015 Drinking Report]](https://teadb.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/ripe-puerh3-940x198.jpg)
Loving the Crane is Hard to Do. Tuition/Xiaguan Report Log for the Newb [August 2015 Drinking Report]
After such wonderful raw pu’erhs in previous months, why subject yourself to lowly factory tea. Believe me. I asked these questions many times. So why do it? (a) I really need to do a stash check and determine how these teas really are. (b) I’ve made alot of mistakes in buying pu’erh, wasting both space and money. Many of these were my tuition, and I think it can be an illuminating exercise to look back and reflect. If you’re only interested in my opinion on young or old premium tea you can probably stop reading and come back when the younger Menghai County report comes out in a few weeks. (more…)
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2005 Xiaguan 8653 via Taobao — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #44
2005 Xiaguan 8653 acquired directly from Taobao. A good way to get inexpensive slightly-aged factory productions.
https://www.taobaoring.com/
https://mx-tea.world.taobao.com/ -
2014 Yunnan Sourcing Autumn Daqing Gushu [Episode 120]
A very good autumn tea from Yunnan Sourcing and a good value buy.
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2006 Old Bear vs. 2006 XG FT Purple Box — TeaDB James InBetweenIsode Episode #43
Battle of the fang. A comparison between White2Tea’s Old Bear and a Guangdong-stored 2006 Xiaguan Feitai production (picked up via Taobao).
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Guranese White via Linda Louie (Bana Tea) [Episode 119]
A Nepalese white tea kindly sent over by Linda Louie of Bana Tea.