#cha dao

[apoostrotea]

Since I’m not too active right now I figured I’d post this half educational half autobio comic I did for an assignment last year! A lot has changed since then; I know a lot more about tea now and my drinking habits are completely different.

[oriarmcha]

The lid for the sky, the bottom for the earth, and the body for the person.

Take your Gaiwan and have a cup of tea.

Landscape Ceramic Gaiwan

Material: Ceramic Origin:Jingdezhen, China Capacity:150ml

[theapiarist]

Breaking my silence with a picdump! I’ve been focusing mostly on posting on Insta these days and you can follow me there (at)tsaa.ny. These days have been challenging, but more and more I see the importance of bonding over tea and taking time out to appreciate this most magnificent plant.

[spectreofthewoods]

With it’s clear bright froth and fragrance,

It was like the nectar of Immortals

The first bowl washed the cobwebs of my mind -

The whole world seemed to sparkle.

A second cleansed my spirit

Like purifying showers of rain,

A third and I was one of the Immortals -

What need now for austerities

To purge our human sorrows?

Worldly people, by going in for wine,

Sadly deceive themselves.

For now I know the Way of Tea is real.

-Chio Jen

[bohemianbug]

Zen Glass Pumpkin by BlackUniGryphon

[apoostrotea]

They Mad!!! | White2Tea | Raw Puerh

I am very silly, and bought this mini because the reference on the wrapper made me laugh. I love Documentary Now. Maybe I’ll ramble about it over on instagram later, but for now I will talk about the tea itself. The description of this tea that W2T gives is interesting; they note the tea is made of some older material they were waiting to press. Once again, we are all left to ponder what this material exactly “is”, which W2T always leaves a mystery. Aroma hit me as punchy, at first. I was worried about the bitterness as the aroma seemed young and green. But, it also smells sweet, sugary, and fruity. It smells a lot like Yiwu, but I’m uncertain as W2T is a strange mysterious wizard with its sources. Liquor is gold, crisp, soft. Cloudier and thicker than some young sheng I’ve had recently. This tea is a treat for sweeter young puerh drinkers. It’s quite a special tea. Notes of jasmine, wood, and fresh fruit. Leaning a tad on the floral side rather than the fruity. Give this mini a try if it sounds good for you. Maybe snag a cake if you’re feeling ballsy. It’s a good one.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

[apoostrotea]

2011 70th Anniversary Xiaguan | Liquid Proust | Raw Puerh

This tea is coming off of an iron pressed cake with Taiwanese storage. I haven’t had much experience with Taiwanese storage except for some of the teas I’ve tried from LP. So, which one of these flavors is reminiscent of Taiwanese storage? I’m unsure! Immediately, the ripe fruit aroma coming off the wet leaves is very apparent. It smells like over ripened bananas. To me, this scent-note is important for the sweetest sheng. The tea brews clean, a nice clear gold soup. Later brews steep deeper into that gold. Flavor-wise is very smooth and sweet. The fruit flavors are all there, with some hints of honey. Fresh sweet leaves. Some good energy too with longevity. This tea lasted me many more steeps than just the first session. If you enjoy your sweet and fruity sheng puerh, you might enjoy this one. Steep it harder if you crave a bit more bitterness, but it’s a perfect sheng otherwise.

★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

[apoostrotea]

1985 8592 Broad Leaf Menghai Ripe | Yee on Tea

This one was surprising to me! Of all the teas I’ve tried from Yeeon, I had assumed this would be a favorite. I’m surprised that I did not like this shou as much as their other’s. Aroma is very wet and slightly dank — wet wood smells. Flavor to me was uninteresting… Warm and smooth, yes. But, lands rather flat and not strong. This tea doesn’t brew as dark nor for as long as I want it to. Especially at the price point, I expected a bit more “bang”. There are some positives here; the tea is smooth in the mouth, like oil. It has that warm ripe feeling. Yet, if you want a good shou from Yee on, I’m more likely to recommend the purple mark cake or the best taste shou. Those are far cheaper and (imo) far better. Such a bummer ! But I only bought 10 grams so it’s okay haha.

I’m going to try to be more active here on tumblr, so if you’d like to see some of my art and stuff it’s @apoostrophe for my art side blog !

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆