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Welcome to THE TEA MAN’S TEA TALK, a remote learning center for TEA. As promised to those of you who have asked, I have attempted to provide this factually reliable site as a source of information about TEA, and this web site has been designed and pledged to that end. From time to time I may review individual teas for your information but only TEAS that I consider to be superb, and only those that I have personally cupped and recommend will be introduced to you here.

The vision I and the staff of THE TEA MAN’S TEA TALK jointly hold is that it will be updated on a weekly basis featuring events of interest to you (the advanced tea drinker) as they unfold throughout the year. For example: a special “Spring Pick” section will describe new Darjeeling TEAS (both FIRST and SECOND flush) and other varieties plucked during the long-awaited first harvest after the winter dormancy. Following sections will celebrate consequent harvests—the mid-summer flush and the autumnal.

We are also considering a version which will be much more in-depth but which will be available by subscription only. Your input into this endeavor would be greatly appreciated as to whether or not it would be of interest to you.

Other topics will include TEA throughout history, botanical research, a tour of a TEA estate, the politics of TEA, medical findings (although medical findings should not be construed to be medical advice), TEA preparation, TEA rituals from around the world, TEA manufacturing or processing, transportation of TEA, the economics of TEA, reservation lists for rare TEAS, how we “taste” TEA—well, you get the idea. We plan on covering dozens of TEA-related topics. The world of TEA is a diverse and fascinating world, occasionally mysterious. It is a world which lives within its own cycles and, sometimes, its own intrigues. It is our personal intent to open the door of that world to you.

Your input into this endeavor is critical and all of us here at THE TEA MAN’S TEA TALK “remote learning center” welcome and solicit your comments.

Just to whet your appetite: Gun Powder China Green. This is simply a process. Why are some Gun Powders more expensive than others? The following is a list of quality grades, each of which commands a different price in the market: Special Gun Powder, Gun Powder Grade 1, Gun Powder Grade 2, Gun Powder Grade 3, Gun Powder Grade 4, Gun Powder Grade 5, Gun Powder (no grade number but there are 3, each a quality grade lower than the other), Extra Gun Powder (no grade number but there is 1, lower than the above), Gun Powder (no grade number but there are 4, each a quality grade lower than the other). On a vertical list the Gun Powder style looks like this:

These are all legitimate names and therefore very difficult for you, the consumer, to know exactly what it is that you are buying. This problem, and it is a problem, is what this web site will attempt to clear up for you. AND it does not just apply to Gun Powder. Darjeeling, for example, may have the same estate name and flush and leaf designation in two different sales establishments and yet be two different prices. Well, ask the sales person what the “lot” number on that tea is. Different lot numbers command different prices because of the quality of each particular lot. This site will provide you with a list of lot numbers and a review of each lot number—now you will have a tool to use in your selections of tea.

The Tea Man

January 25, 1997

TeaTalk info@teatalk.com

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Copyright © January 1997