The Black Lotus

Yay! I love (LOVE) Sherlock. I hadn’t caught that connection, but that’s even more reason to try this tea.

It was in season 1, episode 2. :)

I’m too excited for new teas….

Sil-Yay for new teas! :)

Which other teas are being moved out? Not Golden Lion Assam?!?

Tea Sipper-Unfortunately, we will run out of the Hattialli Golden Lion Assam. Not by choice though. I didn’t anticipate how much we would need for the year correctly. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to acquire more until the next harvest.

Sherlock is a lot of fun! I’m so sad to see BC go and never got a chance to try your EG (I was just thinking about it today because I was trying a bunch and realized I never think to grab your more traditional sounding blends just because you have so many things nobody else does I want to try first), but I appreciate how dynamic and truly innovative the company is, so I can understand. Looking forward to new things!

I’m a little sad about the BC too because I thought that one was a winner but maybe the white tea version will be even more awesome! Also, we will be working on another Earl Grey. I’m debating between going with a really good base tea and staying traditional or doing funky Earl Grey blend. Thanks for the kind words! :)

Glad that you are doing better. That sounds like a crazy couple of weeks.

send them all to terri and meeeee hahahaha

Sorry to hear you’ve been sick! Luckily, at least you had excellent teas to drink, right?

Regarding the ‘problem’, I totally understand! :D
That’s why I print out a list every month, & check the teas off as I drink them (with cute little symbols, this week it’s a little flower). Theoretically, I only drink each tea once a month, but I’m allowed to cheat occasionally (whenever I want), & there are many teas that I never get around to drinking. I’m trying to remedy that, but I have way too many teas to drink in a month, & many of them require gongfu sessions to really be appreciated…sigh…the problems of being a tea lover…

Yikes, that’s awful!

And Terri – I love that you print off your list and add stickers. :D Sounds like fun!

I have the same first world problem! Never thought to make a chart though. Something to consider!!

Hope you are feeling better!

Not really stickers, cavo, just me drawing little tiny symbols with a colored pen :)

I hope your household is feeling much better!
I think most of us on this board have the same “first world prob” lol

Everything always seems to happen at once. Glad to hear that things are getting better.

Life is too short to drink tea that is meh. At home I end up making tea I don’t want for my husband since he is pretty much a tea garbage disposal that will drink anything or I end up tossing it. At work, there is a much bigger problem. We have boxes and boxes full of samples. Every now and then I try to make it through the samples but usually they end up in the garbage. I’m hoping to find a place I can donate samples to but since they are already open, probably not.

stacy… cough i like opened samples LOL

Hahaha. Maybe I should do an educational traveling box or something. Like putting a bunch of Darjeelings together or Assams together or something.

OH.MY.GOD.YES! Seriously… that would be awesome

Only issue is, we wouldn’t have them labeled. So, it would be like Assam 1 through 15 or something but it would give a good idea of what makes an Assam an Assam.

Stacy, I do that to Husband too! Or rather, I used to do it. He’s beginning to learn to tell me if I’ve given him one he doesn’t like and he’s lost interest in most flavoured things. Otherwise though he’s after effect rather than taste when drinking tea. If you give him a cup he’s never had before and ask him what he thought immediately after he finished it, more often than not he doesn’t know. He’s learning to pay attention without being told though. I think he’s realised that it’s in his own interest to do so.

Angrboda-I get the I don’t know from my husband too. Hahaha. Or I get ‘tastes like every other green tea I’ve ever had’. Um, ok hun but that’s a white tea. Flavored teas are ones he enjoys more. I bring all of the samples of teas I’m working on for him. I worked on an espresso cupcake with strawberry cream flavor for my friend and brought the 8 different attempts home for him. He liked them all, even the gross ones.

Thanks everyone for the well wishes! Seems like we’re all on the mend and the puppy has kept us quite entertained and busy :-)

Stacy & Angriboda -Ha ha! I do the same thing my husband too, and my mom! They enjoy tea and my worst tea is better than anything they’ve ever had so everyone wins!

Terri- I like your system but I don’t think I’m disciplined enough to only let myself drink my favorites only a few times a month. I should create a favorites list that I can pick from every day and then make a list of the others and start working through them. If I find a meh one, then I’ll throw it my donate box.
Sil — I’d send you all my spares, but i’m pretty sure you’ve had ALL OF THEM! I don’t think I have many teas that you haven’t tried at this point.

And Stacy — I’d be sooooooooo into a traveling open samples box! Not that I need any more tea in my life right now. I was actually happy that hello sweetie was sold out so it would keep me from ordering. It just sounds so good (minus the banana, but I think I can get over that)

stacy – that would still be awesome.

TastyBrew-Glad your mom & hubby can help with that. On the plus side with an educational box, you could sit and taste the teas you want in a sitting and send the rest on without adding any to your collection. Sorry for hijacking your note.

Sil-I think I will do it. I’ll put something together and see if I can solicit a curator who can take care of all the logistics.

Stacy, I’m totally open for the samples as well. Why don’t you divide them up, & sell a Spring Sampler Box. When those are all gone, or when you have enough for another round, do a Summer Sampler Box, etc. Supplies will be limited, so they will sellout fast, you could price them to include the postage plus a few bucks for your efforts, & it would be lots of fun! Put me down for one, please. I don’t want to miss out. :)

Terri-I initially thought about doing something like that but then thought the amount of work involved wouldn’t be worth it plus I don’t know how old all of these teas are so I would feel bad if someone got a lot that isn’t great. I did start the box though (sort of): http://steepster.com/discuss/7310-traveling-butiki-educational-box

Put me on the list, please!!

James, thanks for sharing poetry tonight. At this point it reminds me of Marquez ( or the English translator of, I’ve only read one of his books in Spanish) lyrical and beautiful.

i was published for poetry a long time ago…. under very special circumstances i make a return trip. you have made me blush… thank you for your kindness.

Yay! I am thrilled you enjoyed it so much you wrote a beautiful review like this. It is a great feeling to share a favorite tea, one that moves me, and discover the person you send it to understands and shares that feeling. Thank you so much for that, I treasure it. Swaps are the best. :D

they are indeed…. i am going to start nagging about whether mine has arrived yet, lol. so… has it?

not yet, but i don’t see how it could’ve given the holiday weekend and all that (if it passed into the US around then that is). i like being excited knowing it’s coming soon. :D

i could call customs…. start leaving messages and whatnot. =0)

is my number for them right? 1-800-is-it-there-yet?

Happy Steepster birthday – to many more!

Hah, I saw this and then checked my Steepster birthday – also three years today! Cheers to us and all the rest!

Happy steepster birthday to you both! :-)

Happy Steepster birthday!

Yay, happy Steepster birthday to you!

Happy steepster-versary! :)

woot! happy anniversary you two!

Happy Steepster birthday!

this tea is better than any cake for a celebration IMO. =0)

@Thanks guys!
@ Uniquity – awesome- happy steepster birthday to you too! Steepster twins!

The green leaves are from the Giddapahar Darjeeling. It is a more greenish First Flush black tea.

I need to try this one!

aw, i’m glad you don’t hate this one! i knew i was taking a big chance/leap of faith, and i’m touched you didn’t mind trying one you must’ve figured you wouldn’t like.

i am dying to log more of the teas you sent, crossing my fingers i FINALLY can tonight after dinner. you are speedy!

ifjuly – I’m just home and have some things to do – but I am having issues with a different one you sent me – if you don’t mind – I’m going to PM you with some questions.
I’m game to try almost anything, but I was surprised how much I liked this one….

i still need to try this…and couldn’t even tell you if i ordered it this time around…i think i did.. lol

yeah, sure Dex. curious!

Oh! I think I ordered some! :O I know I added it to my shopping list after seeing a few enthusiastic reviews.

Doesn’t May start in a week?

You are still ahead of me in sipdowns :(

Really?? Variatea…but I have a billion to add to my cupboard!
Lariel – yes may starts next week, but If I can’t achieve my goal, then I’m not allowed to buy more tea until I hit the next months goal….at least until July rolls around – I’m trying to get down to 100 pretty seriously :) so I make up rules as I go to keep me honest.

137 is practically 100!

I’ve gotten used to using your tea count as a benchmark for what counts as “too much tea”, but right now my count is far far higher… d’oh! Clearly I need a new benchmark :)

Honestly, do mediocre Butiki teas exist?

No. No they do not :)

Right. Well I’ve emailed away my first order because I just can’t take these glowing reviews any longer.

Yay! I’ll be very surprised if you’re disappointed.

Memily – I don’t think you’ll be disappointed
Marzipan – I’ve jumped from 134 to 226 in a day hahaha
Kaylee – I’ll be back up after July, just trying to get my cupboard to a 6 month is my oldest tea level before I let is climb back again.

(just sitting in the corner, with my cup of tea, smirking)
;)

Terri…just think of what I can add to your box now that I’ve got new teas you haven’t tried! Lol

Holy moly, Sil! How did you jump almost 100 teas in a day?!

Hahahah. I love these sipdown wars. Don’t worry Sil – I’ve only got 14 samples for you; that box is only half full!

Also, I’m with Kaylee. I’ve been using Sil as my benchmark too and now I am 40 teas too high. Apparently. :|

Sil, you are evil. I love you, but you are my sipdown nemesis. I’m going to form an alliance with Cavo, Kaylee, Memily, Marzipan, Varietea, Tea Fairy, & everyone else on steepster to bury you alive in tea, my dear sister! Just you wait! It will happen when you least expect it…mwahahahahahahah!!!

Cavo & Kaylee, if Sil is your benchmark for too much tea, I should probably be your benchmark for Way to much Tea!!.
:D

Hahah too funny. I have purposely avoided counting my teas because in my head I think “I’m not so bad”, and seeing someone else’s high numbers makes me feel even better about myself. I suspect though,that my count would be higher than I’d care to admit…and my husband must never find out. Counting everything just makes it all real….

Kaylee – I received a bunch of swaps and a purchase all basically in a day lol Terri and I tend to send each other boxes with anywhere from 30-60 teas in he them when we send teas lol

Terri – hahah don’t you dare

Whatshesaid – I really only count my teas because I like playing little games with myself in terms of numbers and volume. The only thing I really care about is does it feel like I have too much tea. If it feels like a chore to be drinking things because I have “too much” then I have to stop….turns out that " too many teas" number for me is about 325. Lol under 150 I don’t feel like I have enough teas….so eventually I think I’ll end up back around 200 ish which gives me room to swap, make impulse purchases without getting near my oh my god aaaah too many teas! Mark

But how can y ever drink all those 200??!! Too funny.

I haven’t done the math for a few weeks, but I have a feeling my cupboard is back above 350, thanks to boxes various friends have sent, plus a few orders I’ve placed.

Interesting conversation – you guys are fun. I’m actually using Sil as my inspiration to get my cupboard down to something reasonable. 350 is too many. 100 isn’t enough. Not sure where I will end up, but if Sil can reduce while people keep sending her lots – then so can I. I just need to focus.

I have this fantasy that the perfect number of teas is 120 – 150. I want to drink a cup of everything in my collection once a month, & I think with a number like that, I could pull it off. However, this wouldn’t count my puerh collection…or maybe it would?

I’m currently at 183 and it feels like way, way too much. I love having such a varied collection, but it’s getting really out of control. Terri – I think you may be right that the perfect number is 120-150. Probably closer to 120 for me. And even that would be an embarrassing number to admit outside of the Steepsterverse.

It also depends on quantity. There is a big difference between 50 – 50g packages and 50 3 tsp swap samples. I sometimes feel overwhelmed by volume rather than number of. I think 150-175 would work for me if 50-75 of those were small samples and the other 100 were more quantity. Dunno – just thinking out loud, but I’m going to be happier if I can get down to 200 ish…

You guys are making me want to count….you all included small one cup or so samples also?

whatshesaid – I cannot speak for anyone else – but I have EVERYTHING I have in the house in my Steepster cupboard. So yes, small samples count – that’s what I was just saying – the number of has to be balanced with quantities of…

Dexter3657 – Fair point about quantity. My teas average an oz. I’ve noticed that when non-tea people gift me loose tea, they tend to get unnecessarily large quantities which I’m then stuck with for what feels like forever. Plus there’s that pound of guayusa I bought to help me get through grad school that I still have half of…

whatshesaid – I don’t keep my Steepster cupboard as up-to-date as I should, but I maintain a list. It includes every tea in my home and office regardless of quantity. That also helps me keep track of who sent me which teas and whether a given tea is in the office or at home.

ONE OF US, ONE OF US. I also bowed to adding every skerrick of tea in my house to steepster… it makes sipdowns more fun ;)

That’s not so bad then, having 2 cups worth of something is way worse than 2 oz of something

Haha I meant the other way around obviously

I’m drunk

I’m not really

no judgment

It’s sort of like, have you ever written something on your todo list just so you could cross it off? I think having the samples in the cupboard ends up like that, I feel like I am getting somewhere because I actually get to remove one.

I like to write tasting notes at least once on every tea I try. If I didn’t put samples in my cupboard, I wouldn’t write tasting notes on them, then I would have no record of what I’ve tried and what I haven’t – I don’t have the fancy spread sheets like some people do. If I go to remove a tea from my cupboard and it says it hasn’t been logged, then I log it. But that’s just how I organize my tea journey.

I’m With dexter and I have a fancy spreadsheet lol mostly just in case steepster takes a dive. Oh to be able to export thoiugh….

I don’t know if I’d call my spread sheet fancy, but I update it once a month, print it out, & then check teas off as I drink them.

I like this spreadsheet idea…. I wonder if I can get an app for my iPad and work on it slowly a bit at a time as the baby permits

It WOULD be satisfying to cross stuff off!

iPad = google docs….at least that’s what I would do if you’re looking to be able to create/maintain here and there….there may be an app but google docs will work if you don’t find something better

I have pages on my iPad (& iPhone & my laptop & desktop…I’m totally Macified), but I’m sure google docs would be better, especially if you want to be able to share it with people.

We are a Mac family also so I will look into both of those suggestions!

pages is a good one as well – i always forget about it since i haven’t been using a mac as long :)

One thing I like about pages is you can save it as a word doc, a PDF, or whatever.

If you are thinking of doing the spreadsheet, the sooner you start, the better! (You don’t want to do it when you have 200 teas to log. ;P)

Some things you might want to track – when you bought it, your steepster rating, how much you have left, if you’d re-order it or not, and who you got it from if it was a swap. Some of those I added later on and I had to go through and do a completely inventory again. But, it’s fun?

I mentioned to my husband that there aren’t any apps out there that are tea logs (or coffee, for that matter). At least, not that I could find. He is a software developer, so maybe…

Thanks for the tips!!

I need to try/order this soooooon! It needs to be November faster lol

i’m insta-obsessed now! it reminds me a little of the qualities i like in Double Knit Blend (that perfect balance of true tea taste and boldness with easydrinking smoothness, and how it automatically picks me up mood-wise), but much more complex (that earthy mushroom note is awesome).

SOLD!
(well, added to shopping list)

I hope you end up loving it too, Cavocorax!

I loved this one too! :) It’s so unique too! I find all English Breakfast teas taste pretty much the same, but this was SO different and so good! :)

yay, good to know it’s not just in my head. (: the second time i made a cup, i was a little nervous it wouldn’t be as amazing because of my expectations, but it was! and it continues to be! definitely one of my favorites now.

Chewy? That made me giggle picturing myself trying to chew my tea. Sorry, I’m in a weird mood!