Berkeley Potters Guild

Keeping up appearances in downtown Berkeley is the Berkeley Potters Guild exhibition in the window of the now defunct Shoe Pavilion. My favorite pottery? A teapot and cup.

Tea cupping

My tea wish list is growing: a good loose leaf green, a Jing Tea-iere, and now, a tea cupping set. The Jasmine Pearl Tea Merchants have produced a video demonstrating tea cupping (to inspect the leaves and liquor of a particular batch of tea).

Unexpected results

Update, 03/28/2009: When steeped in my metal Yongquan stainless steel thermos, the Thai Bold Leaf green was full-bodied. A generous amount of leaves was used. Redemption!

Several steeps including the most recent which was done by the letter - 2-3 teaspoons, 180 degree water, and 3 minute steep - produced disappointing results from the Thai Bold Leaf Green tea (from Upton Tea Imports). The color is the boldest thing about this tea. The flavor is too subtle for my taste. Also, I was put off by the amount of twigs but was assured that "the twigs are quite normal for that particular standard of tea." I would not recommend this tea. Am seeking a new green tea.

Tea time in Napa

Mighty Leaf Hojicha Green Tea drunk at Ubuntu. Mighty Leaf's tasting notes:

Roasted green tea from Japan, Hojicha green tea is made of Japanese bancha tea, a mixture of pan-fired and slow roasted green tea leaves that yield a rich, nutty brew. Escape and find your retreat overlooking a glistening Lake Motosuko in the Japanese Alps with this green tea. Within the green tea category, Hojicha contains lower levels of caffeine.