Travelling Tea Box - The Great Canadian Edition (Round 1: Sept 2013) - SUCCESSFULLY completed!
So I decided to start a Canadian version of a travelling tea box. Even if it is just a small group, we can keep circulating the box through like a constant swap.
The box was sent out on August 31/13. The order is:
Dexter 3657 MB Received Sept.5/13
Sil ON Received Sept.14/13
BenTea ON Received Sept.20/13
Calla ON Received Oct.1/13
Janelle SK Received Oct. 22/13
ashleyef BC Received Nov. 10/13
Lala SK Received Nov. 26/13
I have not heard back from Helen11 or wiicked, if they get back to me, I will slot them in the order.
Here’s how it works:
You get the box in the mail.
Drink as much or as little of the tea as you like. You can take out tea and keep for later to sample.
Replace the amount of tea that you took.
Send it on to the next person.
Once it makes it back to me, we can send it out again on another round.
Here are some rules that were pilfered from other travelling tea box threads:
-This is a Canadian travelling box but we could send internationally if there were people who are specifically willing to ship internationally
-You will be required to pay for postage when you send the box out. It is not mandatory, but would be beneficial to send the travelling box with a tracking number in case it gets lost.
-Please try to replace what you took out, considering quality, price, weight.
-Try not to keep the box for too long. Please keep the thread updated when you receive the box and when you are sending it out.
-Follow the people who are before and after you in the list so you can PM about addresses and such.
-Please label all the teas with the name and where is came from. If you can add recommended steeping parameters, that would be great.
-Please make sure to package teas appropriately so that strongly scented teas do not contaminate the other teas, and so that no teas escape and wander the box while in the mail.
- Please replace the box if it becomes damaged.
So far myself, Sil, Helen11, Dexter3657, and wiicked have showed interest in participating. Would everyone please confirm if they are still interested in participating.
Also if there is anyone else interested in participating, just let me know.
Roughly how much is shipping?
It really depends on how big and heavy the box is. If it is a small group, we can do a smaller box. Based on some numbers plugged into the Canada Post website. A box with dimensions of 14cm x 14cm x 14 cm containing approximately 10 oz of tea would cost about $12 for me to send to BC. Based on some of the other travelling tea boxes, I think it would be accurate to say it will cost anywhere between $10 and $15 to send the box.
Ok so I have Calla, Janelle, Dexter 3657 and myself on the list. I would like to get this started ASAP. I think because there is a small group of us, we can do a small box that just keeps rotating through. What do you think?
Oh, is it too late for me to join in? I’m new to everything tea, but I’d enjoy contributing/tasting as well!
So this is what I am thinking. I would be able to send the box out this weekend if everything goes as planned.
The order would be:
Lala SK
Calla ON
Sil ON
Keychange ON
Dexter3657 MB
Janelle SK
And then back to me (Lala)
I am still waiting for wiicked and Helen11 to confirm if they want to participate. If so I will add them in the list.
If it looks like you are in a spot that doesn’t work for you because you may be away, or maybe you freq swap with the person in front of or behind you on the list, then I can change the order. Just let me know.
I am thinking of getting the small 14×14×14cm box from Canada post to use for shipping.
Thanks for organizing this Lala. I’m just happy to get the chance to participate in one of these. Your list makes sense geographically, but if you need to switch anything around, you can slot me in anywhere.
Thanks for organizing this! I’m happy to be slotted in anywhere though I may have to convince dexter to do a swap sometime :) also if anyone after me wants a specific tea, let me know :)
Sil – I can’t imagine what I have that you haven’t tried. If there IS something that I have that you would like to try, just let me know. I’m open to sending out requests.
Dexter- so many teas I haven’t tried yet! I’m sure there’s stuff :) plus part of the fun is sharing!
Yes, thank you, Lala! And I’m also open to requests as well if anyone wants something specific from me, just pm me :) I apologize that I don’t have much variety of different companies at the moment but I hope this tea box will help to change that!
Sil and Dexter – do you want me to put you closer together in the swap, one after the other?
Sil – I would absolutely be up for a swap outside of this. I know you are busy, doesn’t have to be right now. If you want to set something up, just let me know. (I could live in your cupboard for a month without coming up for air – I’m not sure mine is as fun :)) )
Lala – I’m ok with setting something up with Sil outside of this, but whatever she prefers is ok with me.
Yup, looks good!
Is there going to be one sheet of paper in the box detailing how each tea should be prepared? when we add in new tea, how do we indicate prep instructions—just write up a separate sheet?
/questions from a nube!
Also, would it be possible to have the prep instructions in our thread somewhere? I’m blind, and so it’s harder for me to read printed instructions, but if they’re available electronically (which is how we’d be generating a piece of paper anyway), that’d be awesome!
Usually what happens is that each tea in the box is labelled with the kind of tea and, if available steeping parameters. I usually just tape a sticky note to the package of tea with the recommendations. But really steeping parameters are up to you. Ie. if it is a black tea, make it how you like to make it. I usually drink my black teas with 2 min steep, boiling water, no cream, no sugar, regardless of recommendations. That’s just how I like it. I am assuming most of the teas in the box will also be on steepster so you can look them up here as well. But I think we can try to make sure there are steeping guidelines somewhere for you and everyone else.
Login or sign up to leave a comment.