Steepster as marketing site.

I am not a giant flavored tea drinker, but I do like:
Den’s Sakura Sencha
Ten Ren’s Ginsing Oolong (King’s Tea)
Light of Day Organics Sunday Morning and Creamy Earl Grey
I had a Pomello Oolong which was awesome and a Pomello Pu.
I do hate all things Jasmine.
But that is the beauty of Steepsters focus, no one is right or wrong about what they enjoy drinking. It is meant to be a community that accepts all things tea, but all opinions should be accepted as opinions too.

There are different levels of noticeable tea flavor in flavored teas. But being objective about your focus is an important part of respecting all.

Thanks for the suggestions Spot52.

So then follow those people and don’t tell other people what they should or should not be drinking. I agree, the shameless plugging of a company’s or person’s products often times make me want to vomit and ratings by a company used to be a problem (I think it was blown out of proportion in the beginning in a few circumstances and is much more in control- maybe even more than it needs to be in my opinion), but people being forceful and rude about their opinions and how Steepster should be catered to them makes me just as sick.

Oh, and by the way, Cofftea, your profile reveals that you have some pretty rigid views about tea. Sweeteners “dumb down” the flavor of the tea? What about all those sensitive tea lovers who sweeten their tea? Might they feel just a bit slighted?

I can appreciate both your points, Triumph, and basically am repeating Snob’s post:

1 is dishonest in my opinion and definitely unwanted

2 is understandable if you expected this to be more a pure-teas site, but it’s an “everything tea and tisane” site so might as well embrace it for what it is, as it’s a great reference even for those that aren’t into the great many flavored and tisane drinks here (and personally, an Earl Grey or Jasmine flavored/scented tea is the same thing as Pancake Breakfast… just because one’s been around longer or is more mainstream doesn’t change, IMO, that it’s not an unflavored tea).

Personally, I too feel that flavored teas and tisanes are much different from unflavored teas. I tend to be a MUCH larger fan of unflavored, but am currently on a flavored/tisane binge due to curiosity and a night of mad sample buying. I mostly use Steepster as a way to get info/ratings on unflavored teas, but I don’t shun the other side. As I said, it’s an “everything related” site, so it’s worth making the most of!

And for the record, Triumph, I don’t think you’ve been rude, telling others what to drink, or any of the other things you’ve been accused of for simply stating a surprise at what the site is used largely for.

While you have your own opinion you’ve not be unpleasant to any of the posters that have replied to you… even when they have been, themselves.

Thanks. I’m really a pretty open, laid-back guy who has plenty of non-elitist tastes, I assure you.

Triumph, I will say that I might have misinterpreted your intent by your tone and the connotations of some of the words you used. First impressions are not always correct, and I am willing to admit I might have been a little to quick to rush to judgement myself. I hope you are willing to give this site a chance, because we are all passionate about tea (albeit in more forms than you were expecting). I know that I am missing that commonality in the scope of my real life, and have greatly appreciated this site. It has even challenged me to push my own boundaries a little, and I think I am the better for it.

Again, Welcome!

Thanks Jen W. I guess I can get a little high and mighty about things that I’m passionate about, but I meant nothing to be taken personally.

Wow. Really? On a site about tea? Someone put a little vitriol in your cups this morning? I haven’t seen such venom towards such a benign post in a long time. For what it’s worth, I find the anti-elitists to be much more off putting in this case. The original post was pretty tepid and the non-purists decide to go all vigilante on it. It’s part of why I didn’t sign up for a long time. I don’t need another forum where the single malt scotch crowd spit on the cocktail folk nor where the cocktail folk have lynch parties for the scotch crowd. There’s even a third tier here with the tea baggie crowd. Poor baggie lovers lol…

I appreciate the passion but it’s possible to express it without the hissing and spitting. It’s off-putting and equally unappealing from either side. Make tea. Not venom laced posts.

@Triumph – You’ll also notice a plethora of reviews on Tazo and Stash baggies. The site seems pretty representative of American culture exploring tea imo. First we start crawling with the baggies from the grocery store, then we start walking by Teavana and try our first loose-leaf, and then we start running and venture online into the big world of better teas. There appear to be many more reviews on the more “accessible” teas. If you’re looking for some non-baggie/non-flavored reviewers do a search for a tea you like and check out the people who reviewed it. I’ve found that to be helpful so far. You could also start a post on whatever tea you want to discuss or share information on. I’m kinda curious myself about where they’re all hiding.