You people have created a MONSTER!
I started out with a mild interest in tea a few weeks ago. I watched some youtube stuff, found some interesting things on the internet with my research, went to Teavana and tasted some samples and really liked what I had. I thought that this was all there was to it and that it was going to be a passing fad for me and I would grow tired and weary.
Then I found Steepster.
I went from a person with a passing fancy, to chatting with members of this forum. Then reading your blogs. Next I graduated to reading reviews of teas that you guys have had and now I want to try. Some of you guys replied to my stupid questions and even made me feel quite at home here even though I didn’t know a Pu’ehr from a matcha. You guys answered my questions, gave me suggestions and filled my head with thoughts that I might have found a life’s calling.
In such a short time, I have learned from reading your posts and your answers to my questions. Today I have received a variable temp Bonavita kettle that I ordered yesterday so that I can control my temps and brew better tea. I bought some Scottish caramel Pu’ehr from Zen Tea after trying it there and falling in love with it. I purchased 2 ounces of Matcha, a Matcha Bowl (Chawan) and a bamboo whisk (Chasen).
I have also spoken with and bought some teas from some of you! I am waiting on those items to get to me, and I am SO excited to get them. So you see, this has become a PASSION for me in SUCH a short time! And I blame every one of YOU!
Im driving my wife crazy! Im seeing tea things that I want to buy and she cant keep up. Im fueled by a desire to acquire and caffeine! I want to try and experience every kind of tea!
I blame YOU Steepster! It’s your fault! There is treachery afoot. You have sucked me in to your world and have created a MAJOR MONSTER! It is YOUR fault! And I want to thank every single one of you for it!
And suddenly you have over 100 teas in your cupboard… and you browse aliexpress to feed your teaware lust!
I joined Steepster two years ago and I’m still wondering when I will stop buying so much. Yes, just this week-end I had a major blow out on Aliexpress. Things sat in my cart for MONTHS but just recently I finally placed an order.
And don’t worry about the stupid questions. I’m still asking stupid questions two years later!!! ;-)
All teaware from 4 different merchants – yixing (supposedly, but it doesn’t matter to me how true that is, it’s cute) pot and a couple pieces of celadon. I was trying to buy one of the curio display shelves for my gaiwans and tasting cups but it ended up being out of stock. That was the only thing I went there looking for…
Like you, I had made orders before and never went through with them. I was and still am leery of committing credit card info to them, but after finding out that the payments process in the UK, I am a bit more settled about it. I tend to not place orders anywhere, even domestically, without Paypal.
I got a mix of tea and teaware. Even though the tea is cheap on Aliexpress, don’t be fooled. I’ve had some really amazing teas at super cheap prices. I’d love to see pics of your stuff when it comes in.
I’ve had nothing but good experiences with my aliexpress shopping. I really like the guarantee they provide. For instance, one of my teacups arrived broken (the shipper packed it well, but sometimes you just can’t guarantee that porcelain will arrive all the way from China unharmed) and I got my money back with no fuss at all.
It’s a journey the whole time. You will always learn more. The teas you first fall in love with, you may be downsizing in a year as your tastes may change. Enjoy the ride and being in the TRY. ALL. THE. TEAS. stage. :)
Why do you suppose our tastes change so much? There are teas that I thought I would love for life— bought a lot, newbie mistake— and now I can’t bear the thought of them. I was especially excited about dessert-flavored teas… now most are cloying.
I know. I loved the flavored teas when I started. Now I hardly ever reach for any of them unless I have a guest who is not a huge tea person. If I were to hazard a guess I’d say that our palates become more nuanced. Either that, or as obsessive personality types, we obsess over whatever is currently grabbing our fancy. :)
Steepster does that. I do recommend you slow down though. I once did the same and bought tea and teaware I never use. For example, I hate matcha. A chasen and whisk were a terrible waste of money. You may have the disposable income I didn’t but I do suggest slowing down and really getting to know your preferences so you can acquire only things you truly love. :)
I agree…the wife is reigning me in a bit. LOL. However, I DO like everything that I have. I didn’t think I would like Matcha, but we both love it. And Im definitely not gonna go spending 100’s of dollars on tea ware. Im not out of pocket that much money so far and if I wake up tomorrow and decide I hate tea, my bank isn’t broken from it. I do, however, tend to get excited about things like this. :-/
I was being concise (typing on phone) and perhaps it came off more critical than I intended. Obviously only you know what you and your family like and can afford. I just know many of us have later regretted going all out as inevitably there are large quantities of tea that we don’t like. But that’s usually not a bank breaker, as you say. Samples can be your friend is more what I mean. Tastes change a lot over time. No point denying yourself what you want but maybe don’t buy a pound of vanilla comoro because it’s cheaper that way. Trust me on that one. ;)
Yeah, ^ this. Have totally had a pound of vanilla comoro and it does eventually lose flavor. :)
I didn’t take your post the wrong way or as being mean spirited at all. I understand exactly what you are saying. I really havemt sent but about 100 dollars including the 59.00 for the tea kettle. Im getting small amounts of different teas from people here and trying different things at tea houses like ZenTea before I buy anything. I understand what you are saying and I know my tastes will change, which is why I’m not buy g major quantities of anything. The Matcha, I already KNOW that I like and wanted mohave that here.
“And Im definitely not gonna go spending 100’s of dollars on tea ware.”
Let’s talk again in a few months. =)
We all started out the way you did. And we’re not evil, we just have a disease (tea-itis? tea-wantit?)
Hehe, I consider it my civic duty to share the obsession with wanting to learn tea things. Here is my (not entirely up to date, need to add stuff and remove some dead links) list of tea articles https://www.facebook.com/notes/tea-drinkers/tea-article-collection-for-all-your-reading-needs/543535942409150
And welcome to the obsession, it is a delightfully tasty path to be on, and steepster is such a wonderful community.
Is there any tea you really really want to try?
Oh wow… I wish I’d known about this group when I started! Happy to have found it now. Thanks!
You are welcome! I love collecting tea knowledge, it is a hobby of mine :D
Hi Amanda! I want to try them ALL, but I really want to get into pu’ehr and Oolongs at the moment. I also want to try some greens. I love what I have had of Matcha and am really into that. But really want to try the more delicate green teas as well…
Hehe, the Pokemon approach to tea, I totally get that! Shoot me your address and I can send you a couple samples :)
(I totally just saw from your profile you are located very close to where I grew up, awesome!)
I declared a tea buying moratorium until Black Friday sales, and then realized I used the last of my bourbon puerh this morning to make a pot. Now I am re-thinking… maybe just one more order, then I can stop, right?
Funniest post I’ve read in days! Thanks for the chuckle! (It’s rare to find spouses who are evenly matched in tea passion…mine dabbles occasionally, but he’s a great enabler!)
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