How are the IPOT Samplers? I'm particularly interested in the White and Oolong. Would this be in general a step up from SpecialTeas? Seems a bit more expensive.. Also looking at their 15 oz ceramic teapot. Anyone have this? seems rather convenient for work, where we have an old percolator that heats water... I think that temp would be about right for most oolongs..
Steve
Steve Hayq_zmd.6799$m36.5499@trnddc0211/16/04
22: snipped-for-privacy@hay.steve
Steve,
In my opinion, it would indeed be a step up. And, the IPOT owners know each and every one of their teas quite well and can speak intelligently about them. This cannot be said of Specialteas. As for the teapot, seems a bit big for oolongs, but why not?
Michael
Steve,
I'd be careful about that old percolator for heating water. That is, if you can smell any coffee residue in it. Wouldn't work well for tea.
As for the samplers, as Michael said, I think they'd all be good. Depends on what individual tastes you're looking for.
What kinds of oolong do you drink? On the IPOT website, the oolong sampler lists Nantou, Phoenix and Bai Hao.
For the Whites, there's Yinzhen Silver Needles and Drum Mountain.
If you're not familiar with these, I could post something about their characteristics.
Most of the above are pretty distinctive in their flavor profiles. Note that there's not a typical dark oolong or a Bai Mu Dan white in the list.
Joe Kubera
Joseph,
I've tended to lean to the green side of Oolong, although I admit I also liked the Bai Mu Dan I tried. Good point about the percolator.. I will run a test tomorrow on it. People use it for tea (cheap tea) at work though, so there is hope for it. Then again the work coffee machine is a wreck.
My goal with this purchase of tea is to try something maybe a bit better than the special teas I've been drinking, and focus in on some areas I liked, namely Oolongs and Whites.. The samplers looked like they would be a nice way for me to get some tea without the danger of making too terrible of a mistake. (The only one I've made so far is SpecialTea's Pu Erh Tuo Cha. It tasted somewhere between a tire and dirt.) I'm also thinking of asking the owners if I could somehow sample their $80 White Pu Erh brick. Might throw in some Chai too.
Steve
Joseph Kubera wrote:
Sadly, their email appears to be over quota, and it wouldn't deliver. I'll have to give them a call during the day tomorrow, I guess. I want to see if I can get a sample of that Silver Needle Pu-Erh they have. I've heard good things about it. Probably very different from the specialteas.com Tuo Cha.
Steve
Yes, indeed, it's a big favorite 'round here with my NYC drinkin' buddies. However I doubt you could get a sample from them as it's a whole cake that they then couldn't sell -- unless they keep one cut up for samples. However, no harm in calling them up and asking.
If you like, let me know and I can send you a bit of what's left of mine. Not as fresh-tasting as at first (I don't think my storage is the best) but you could get an idea.
Yes, very different from any tuo cha I've had.
Joe Kubera
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