Featuring
@inpursuitoftea’s Oriental Beauty
Summer 2016 Harvest
Hsinchu County, Taiwan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
203°F (95°C) | 100ml porcelain gaiwan | 3g | 30-second steeps x 6
_____________
Medium + orange liquor with hints of medium gold and pale + yellow. Light + body with mild salivation. Short + finish and aftertaste and mild sweetness. Notes of dried lilac, honeycomb, and dried rose. Subtle notes of quince and dried magnolia.
_____________
Flowers in photo: Common Lilac (Syringa vulgaris)
—————————————————————————————
A haze enters my chest as you stand there.
Warmth escapes my lungs as you speak,
As my heart strains to release this excitement.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@inpursuitoftea’s Thunder Dragon Green
Summer 2017 Harvest
Samcholing, Trongsa District, Bhutan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
175°F (80°C) | 100ml porcelain gaiwan | 5g | 20+ second infusions x 5
_____________
Light + green-gold liquor with hints of pale yellow and green. Medium - to medium body with mild sweetness and mild + bitterness. Slight drying effect. Short finish and aftertaste. Notes of cooked green pepper , dried tarragon, and steamed bok choy. Subtle notes of dried oregano, fresh coriander seeds, and dried lemon zest
_____________
Plant in photo: White Wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
—————————————————————————————
We will meet eventually,
As time only pushes us together.
Each year the same flowers grow,
And signal that time has, in fact, passed.
You change to only be brought back here,
Where I will pass you again.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@jhentea’s Jade Mountain
Winter 2018 Harvest
Nantou County, Taiwan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
195°F (90°C) | 100ml Taiwanese purple clay teapot | 3g | 25-second infusions x 8
_____________
Pale + to medium - yellow-green liquor with hints of pale green and pale gold. Light body with a mild + sweetness. Short finish and aftertaste. Mild + salivation. Notes of dried peony, lilac, and dried ginger. Subtle notes of crystallized ginger and dried lemon peel.
_____________
Flowers (top to bottom) in photo: White peony (Paeonia ‘La Lorraine’) and American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
—————————————————————————————
I have always followed you
Along the edge of this path.
I tripped and realized how wide the path really is.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@yannokotea’s Matcha Suzume
Spring 2018 Harvest
Uji, Kyoto, Japan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
175°F (80°C) | 60ml chawan | 1.5g tea | whisk
_____________
Medium green liquor with hints of medium + green. Medium body with mild salivation. Slight drying effect. Medium finish and aftertaste with mild - bitterness and mild + sweetness. Notes of steamed spinach, cooked green beans, and nori. Subtle note of snap peas and cooked peas.
_____________
Plant in photo: Full Moon Japanese maple (Acer shirasawanum ‘Aureum’)
—————————————————————————————
Your breath warms the space between us.
Thoughts race through my mind,
As I try to find ways to see you.
Days go by,
Yet the warmth you left remains.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@ippodoteausa’s Shincha
Spring 2019 Harvest
Uji, Kyoto, Japan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
175°F (80°C) | 80ml porcelain shiboridashi | 5g | 20-15-10-second infusions
_____________
Pale + green-yellow liquor with hints of medium - green and pale - yellow. Medium - body with a mild sweetness. Mild - bitterness, if any. Short finish and aftertaste. Notes of artichoke, asparagus, and water chestnut. Subtle notes of persimmon and bean sprout.
_____________
Flowers in photo: Astilbe ‘Bridal Veil’ (Astilbe arendsii) and Astilbe ‘Rheinland’ (Astilbe japonica)
—————————————————————————————
The wind moved and so did you.
I held my breath to extend my reach
For you.
We were parted again by the wind,
Only to be brought back here next season.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@floatingleavestea’s GABA
Spring 2018 Harvest
Lugu Township, Nantou County, Taiwan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
212°F (100°C) | 226ml porcelain teapot | 5g | 1- to 2-minute infusions x 5
_____________
Over the five infusions:
Medium orange liquor with hints of yellow and dark gold. Medium body with a mild + sweetness. Very little astringency, if any. Medium - finish and aftertaste. Notes of nutmeg, cinnamon stick, and pumpkin seeds. Subtle notes of vanilla paste, steamed acorn squash, dried clover honey.
_____________
Plant in photo: Fern-leaf Japanese maple (Acer japonicum ‘Acontifolium’)
—————————————————————————————
The way in which you meet the sky
Amazes me and gives me guidance;
To see the end of your gaze and find my way.
You move as I do.
We change together through the seasons and even years
Only to see each other in passing.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@inpursuitoftea‘s Spring Fortune
Spring 2014 Harvest
Taoyuan County, Taiwan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
203°F (95°C) | 100ml porcelain gaiwan | 5g | 20+ second infusions x 8
_____________
Light + green liquor with hints of pale gold and pale + yellow. Light + to medium body with mild sweetness and mild + salivation. Medium - finish and aftertaste. Notes of dried gala apple, wildflower honey, and pineapple. Subtle notes of buttercups (Ranunculus) and honeysuckle
_____________
Flowers in photo: Japanese stewartia (Stewartia pseudocamellia)
—————————————————————————————
Did we miss our chance,
As I travel farther
From the place where we were?
So close —
One moment ago.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@inpursuitoftea’s Darjeeling 2nd Flush Rohini Estate
Summer 2018 Harvest
West Bengal, India
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
195°F (90°C) | 226ml porcelain teapot | 2.5g | 4-minute steep
_____________
Medium brown liquor with hints of medium orange and medium gold. Medium + body with mild salivation. Slight drying effect. Medium finish and aftertaste with mild - astringency and mild + sweetness. Notes of dried apricot, brown butter, toasted wheat. Subtle notes of dried rose and oats.
_____________
Flower in photo: Sweet Autumn Clematis (Clematis paniculata)
—————————————————————————————
The breath of this creature lingers next to mine.
Shared silence consumes the air,
Only to be filled with a faint warmth.
Forms appear, and
Manifest themselves
In the slivers of light between us.
—————————————————————————————
Featuring
@debbie_cys’s Small Leaves White
Spring 2018 Harvest
Nantou County, Taiwan
_____________
Steeping Parameters:
212°F (100°C) | 100ml porcelain gaiwan | 2.5g | 25-second infusions x 4
_____________
Medium yellow-green liquor with hints of pale + yellow and pale gold. Medium - body with a mild sweetness. Medium - finish and aftertaste. Mild + salivation. Notes of dried magnolia, dried honeysuckle, and lily of the valley. Subtle notes of zucchini and dried lemon peel.
_____________
Flowers in photo: Honeysuckle (Lonicera) and Slender Deutzia (Deutzia gracilis)
—————————————————————————————
As I stand here,
Locked out;
Bound within this moment —
Thoughts clouded by what is coming.
I seek the eyes of one who understands
How to ease my nervous hands.
—————————————————————————————