Went with a group to Ching Ching Cha today… tried a number of their teas. Nice place – standard tables with chairs and low tables with floor pillows to sit on. Good selection of attractive but pricey cast iron teapots. They’re good about refilling the hot water.
So the Orchid Oolong was pretty good. Kind of a stargazer lilly spice fragrance and taste, though a much milder version. Green and fairly light, but buttery. Table mates liked it, including one who only likes sweetened teas.
Strong preference for exploring teas au naturel, and unflavored (except for unprocessed ingredients, e.g., cocoa shells/nibs, vanilla beans, flowers, fruits…). Favorites lean in the direction of rich caramelly, malty blacks, any puerh, fresh floral oolongs and whites that have some dimension.
I am always up for swaps.
Beyond the experience of tea, I’m interested in exploring its medicinal aspects. Other interests … yoga, creative veggie cooking, environmental issues, animal welfare, music/guitar, lefty politics, preventive health/nutrition, biking, swimming, foosball, photography.
Here’s how I rate ’em:
95+: euphoria-inducing, le petite mort
91-94: extraordinary, exhilarating
85-90: delicious
81-84: definitely enjoyable
75-80: good, solid stuff
65-74: I’ll drink it, but without enthusiasm
45-64: something redeeming about it, but not much
31-44: just barely drinkable
< 30: tidy stream into the spit bucket
Metro DC
