83
I’m working alone today which means I get to show up whenever I want. I think I’ll leave in an hour and, for once in recent times, sit down to enjoy a properly brewed cup of tea this morning. Sipping on this Cat Cave black brewed western style in a handy ceramic cup with a steeper basket and lid. Mom gifted it to me for my birthday several months ago. It’s so much easier than brewing in a mason jar then filtering into another jar.

Today the brew tastes mostly of a clean and malty vegetable broth with a good squeeze of lemon. The aftertaste is light and creamy-fruity and the liquor leaves a light waxy coating in the mouth.

In other news, I visited my friend further up north over the weekend. In this tiny town of Talmage across Highway 101 from its larger sister town Ukiah, is a buddhist monastery and university that occupies the rundown grounds and buildings of a former mental hospital. It’s creepy and the grounds are littered with, I saw, upward of 50 peacocks. Nestled on the property is a Chinese vegan restaurant that was popping on a Sunday afternoon. The restaurant prepares the food without allium plants (garlic, onion, etc), eggs or MSG. We bought 8? plates of food for under $40. I have never once stuffed my face so much only to walk out feeling like a radiant being. What a strange gem.

Preparation
205 °F / 96 °C 3 min, 0 sec 2 tsp 8 OZ / 236 ML
gmathis

Interesting destination!

derk

I am so in love with this tea for the price and the quality. Almost done with another bag of it.

derk

Well dang, I upped the rating to 93!

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Comments

gmathis

Interesting destination!

derk

I am so in love with this tea for the price and the quality. Almost done with another bag of it.

derk

Well dang, I upped the rating to 93!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

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Location

California, USA

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