Hi all,

After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
of the others offered by Upton, in particular!

Many thanks,

sally

p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
- but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

Sally,

Might I suggest a Bao Zhong as an "almost" green, which you could try on
your way to Oolongs, where you ought to stop for a Tie Guan Yin. If I
remember correctly from a couple years ago Upton had some passable ones. Try
small quantities of several. That's my opnion.

In the red tea department, I'm partial to Keemuns, which never fail, and
Yunnans, good ones of which are hard to come by, IMHO.

Michael





Sally 3/2/04


> Hi all,
>
> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> sally
>
> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

On 2004-03-02, Sally P. > wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> sally
>
> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?


--
Try some South Indian teas, your taste seems to be for strong flavours.

JB


--------
Abelha não faz mal. Faz mel.

I would agree with the teas Michael suggested. Since you mentioned Upton
Tea, you should note that Bao Zhong will be listed as Pouchong on their
website.

Blues

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Sally,
>
> Might I suggest a Bao Zhong as an "almost" green, which you could try on
> your way to Oolongs, where you ought to stop for a Tie Guan Yin. If I
> remember correctly from a couple years ago Upton had some passable ones.
Try
> small quantities of several. That's my opnion.
>
> In the red tea department, I'm partial to Keemuns, which never fail, and
> Yunnans, good ones of which are hard to come by, IMHO.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
>
>
> Sally 3/2/04
>
>
> > Hi all,
> >
> > After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> > experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> > the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> > what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> > of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
> >
> > Many thanks,
> >
> > sally
> >
> > p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> > - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?
>

"Sally P." wrote:

> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

Upton's Finest Russian Caravan is very nice and a staple at our house.

I'm really an Oolong fan, and Upton has some good ones, although
I don't go in for the really expensive stuff (which is probably
superb). In the moderate price area, I like the Tie-Guan-Yin Oolong
Imperial (ZO84) which they just began re-stocking after an absence,
and the Formosa Amber Oolong (TT55). The Oolong Finest Grade (TT17)
is also pretty good for a decent price.

There are so many good black teas carried by Upton it is difficult
to zero in on a few. Lately I've been getting more into
Yunnans for breakfast. Their basic Yunnan GFOP (ZY40) has a very
good reputation at a low price, but I haven't tried it yet (some is
on its way to me right now). Yunnan Jing Mao Hou (ZY488) - same
comment. The Yunnan Rare Grade (ZY83) is *excellent* but getting up
into the more pricey area.

Upton has a large selection of Darjeelings, but I'll let the
recommending up to others there as I have limited experience
with them.

Experimenting with new teas is fun - enjoy!


Randy

Sally P. wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
>

(Not Upton, but also very tasty) I have been recently trying some
African teas (Kenya, Burundi). They are very fruity. I like to drink
them just after lunch.

(Sally P.) writes:

> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!

Don't know about Upton, but you should try Darjeeling. If you can
afford it, get a first flush. Don't get anything less than a second.

Also try Puerh (almost any variety), since it's a unique class of its
own.

> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

Russian Caravan is a blend and varies greatly from vendor to vendor,
in my experience. The amount of Lapsang Souchong, in particular. I
suspect some I've had didn't have any.

Cheers,

- Joel

"Sally P." > wrote in message
m...
> Hi all,
>
> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> sally
>
> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

Sally, I'm a big fan of Darjeeling, and I can recommend the Margaret's Hope
FTGFOP1 Muscatel, DJ-293 (TD34) and Lingia Estate FTGFOP1, DJ-98 (TD72).
Other estates to try are Puttabong and Makaibari.

I've had a few Darjeelings from Upton recently that seemed to have a
musty/moldy smell and taste, but the ones I suggested above were excellent.

Regards,
Dean

"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Sally,
>
> Might I suggest a Bao Zhong as an "almost" green, which you could try on
> your way to Oolongs, where you ought to stop for a Tie Guan Yin. If I
> remember correctly from a couple years ago Upton had some passable ones.
Try
> small quantities of several. That's my opnion.
>
> In the red tea department, I'm partial to Keemuns, which never fail, and
> Yunnans, good ones of which are hard to come by, IMHO.
>
> Michael
>
Michael, I was in San Francisco last week and stopped in at the Imperial Tea
Court. I tried their Imperial Wen Shan Bao Zhong, from the new winter
harvest. They served it gungfu style, and it was excellent. I drank 3
infusions worth before I had to go. Each one was different, and the second
showed the delicate peach flavor I sometimes get from good Taiwanese
oolongs. A very rewarding experience.

I also picked up a sample of their Monkey Picked Tieguanyin, which I have
yet to try.

Dean

/3/04

>
> "Michael Plant" > wrote in message
> ...
>> Sally,
>>
>> Might I suggest a Bao Zhong as an "almost" green, which you could try on
>> your way to Oolongs, where you ought to stop for a Tie Guan Yin. If I
>> remember correctly from a couple years ago Upton had some passable ones.
>> Try small quantities of several. That's my opnion.
>>
>> In the red tea department, I'm partial to Keemuns, which never fail, and
>> Yunnans, good ones of which are hard to come by, IMHO.
>>
>> Michael
>>
> Michael, I was in San Francisco last week and stopped in at the Imperial Tea
> Court. I tried their Imperial Wen Shan Bao Zhong, from the new winter
> harvest. They served it gungfu style, and it was excellent. I drank 3
> infusions worth before I had to go. Each one was different, and the second
> showed the delicate peach flavor I sometimes get from good Taiwanese
> oolongs. A very rewarding experience.
>
> I also picked up a sample of their Monkey Picked Tieguanyin, which I have
> yet to try.

Dean,

I almost envy you. Wish I were out there. The Bao Zhong sounds great. I've
been drinking Boluomi and Lanyun -- both Bao Zhong cousins -- from Brian
Wright (Shan Shui Tea). These are both really pleasant. I always find
something akin to Cucumber or melon flower in what I consider a good Bao
Zhong. I associate peach more with Tie Guan Yin or other more oxidized
oolongs like that. But, one person's peach is another's melon flower, I
guess. I've been drinking Brian's TGY too, which is very nice -- and peachy,
I might add. Aftertaste abounds, just the way I like it -- a sine qua non of
greatness. Just my humble (?) opinion.

Michael

(Sally P.) wrote in message om>...
> Hi all,
>
> After drinking green teas for a good long time, I've decided to start
> experimenting. I've moved to laspang souchong (and loved it, esp. in
> the winter time) and assam (*great* to start the day). I'm wondering
> what I should try next - any suggestions? I'd love to hear about some
> of the others offered by Upton, in particular!
>
> Many thanks,
>
> sally
>
> p.s. I did try a Russian Caravan while out at a tea shop the other day
> - but didn't seem to have much flavor - I'm guessing it was old?

Sally:
You better go for blend now. You sounds like strong, flavorful tea. Go
for Supreme Breakfast or Irish Breakfast. You can also make your own
blend. If you like Assam, you can also try Bangladeshi tea.


Ripon
(Vienna,VA)