Well I was gonna keep it a secret but since I got MY order in (ruthless
aren't I? ) I thought I'd tell y'all..Teaspring is showing a couple of
2005 Spring Long Jings on it's site, as well as anotehr spring green that
I've not heard of but that is described as standing straight up in the water
which reminds me of the tea Mydnight was talking aobut so long
ago...(Quingshan lushu he called it, which isn't the same name as the tea on
Teaspring). I got some and when it gets in (in 7-14 days ) I will post on my
observations.

Does anyone happen to know if Dave Hoffman has any new ones in then?

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout

In article >,
"Melinda" > wrote:

> Well I was gonna keep it a secret but since I got MY order in (ruthless
> aren't I? ) I thought I'd tell y'all..Teaspring is showing a couple of
> 2005 Spring Long Jings on it's site, as well as anotehr spring green that
> I've not heard of but that is described as standing straight up in the water
> which reminds me of the tea Mydnight was talking aobut so long
> ago...(Quingshan lushu he called it, which isn't the same name as the tea on
> Teaspring). I got some and when it gets in (in 7-14 days ) I will post on my
> observations.
>
> Does anyone happen to know if Dave Hoffman has any new ones in then?
>
> Melinda

thanks for posting this!

p

In article >,
"Melinda" > wrote:

> Well I was gonna keep it a secret but since I got MY order in (ruthless
> aren't I? ) I thought I'd tell y'all..Teaspring is showing a couple of
> 2005 Spring Long Jings on it's site, as well as anotehr spring green that
> I've not heard of but that is described as standing straight up in the water
> which reminds me of the tea Mydnight was talking aobut so long
> ago...(Quingshan lushu he called it, which isn't the same name as the tea on
> Teaspring). I got some and when it gets in (in 7-14 days ) I will post on my
> observations.
>
> Does anyone happen to know if Dave Hoffman has any new ones in then?
>
> Melinda

thanks for posting this!

p

In article >,
"Melinda" > wrote:

> Well I was gonna keep it a secret but since I got MY order in (ruthless
> aren't I? ) I thought I'd tell y'all..Teaspring is showing a couple of
> 2005 Spring Long Jings on it's site, as well as anotehr spring green that
> I've not heard of but that is described as standing straight up in the water
> which reminds me of the tea Mydnight was talking aobut so long
> ago...(Quingshan lushu he called it, which isn't the same name as the tea on
> Teaspring). I got some and when it gets in (in 7-14 days ) I will post on my
> observations.
>
> Does anyone happen to know if Dave Hoffman has any new ones in then?
>
> Melinda

thanks for posting this!

p

Hi Melinda,

Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
more would not be available till March 30th.

For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/

Hi Melinda,

Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
more would not be available till March 30th.

For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/

Today IS March 30th...?? At least where I am. Are you saying that Teaspring
is misrepresenting their product? They state that the Meijiawu Long JIng
they are selling comes from Meijiawu Zhejiang province.

Comments from others? I really hate this...when I buy something I want to
buy as advertised, that's why I go through a retailer and don't fly over
there and watch them make my tea myself to make sure it's what they say it
is...

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"TeaHub" > wrote in message
lkaboutdrinks.com...
> Hi Melinda,
>
> Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
> Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
> of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
> 200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
> more would not be available till March 30th.
>
> For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
> http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/
>
>
>

Today IS March 30th...?? At least where I am. Are you saying that Teaspring
is misrepresenting their product? They state that the Meijiawu Long JIng
they are selling comes from Meijiawu Zhejiang province.

Comments from others? I really hate this...when I buy something I want to
buy as advertised, that's why I go through a retailer and don't fly over
there and watch them make my tea myself to make sure it's what they say it
is...

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"TeaHub" > wrote in message
lkaboutdrinks.com...
> Hi Melinda,
>
> Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
> Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
> of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
> 200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
> more would not be available till March 30th.
>
> For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
> http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/
>
>
>

Hi Melinda,

I heard the same thing that teahub. I saw the interview on tv of the
guy that produced the 200gr of long jing from the long jing village.
This 200gr of long jing cost him more than 2000rmb to produce them!!!
Don't think you can get your hands on that one, the guy keeps the 200gr
for himself.

about the 5kg, buyers won't be able to buy them from the tea makers
before the 30th. It is the 31st here, we just called our long jing
supplier and asked him about first harvest long jing, and she said:
nothing available for now on the market for the long jing from west
lake or Mei Jia Wu.

What is available now is the Long Jing #43 from the outside areas of
the west lake and Mei Jia Wu.

The good ones are scheduled to arrived in Guangzhou on the 4th of
April.

Jing

Can you please clarify for me what the difference is between what you refer
to as the good stuff and the stuff that's available right now..(I need to
get me a map). So there are better and worse long jings from the three (I
think) main regions of the traditional long jing production area..? How in
heaven's name is one supposed to know? Besides cost I mean?

Are the ones available now not the earliest ones to be picked?

I am literally in a position that I don't even really know the right
questions to ask, wow.....:/ I feel a bit lost. I've read various messages
on this newsgroups about the LJ production but I still don't get it. I know
there is "real" LJ made in the traditional area that is divided into three
kinds, Meijiawu, Shifeng and Xihu.Then there are LJ-type teas that are also
being called LJ but are from outside areas.

I have heard that there are 11 grades of LJ, so I'm not sure what is meant
by LJ # 43.

Then Ripon at one point in another list said something about three different
types called "1) Quing (natural) 2)Lu Dou (green nut) and 3) Huang Dou
(yellow nut)" He also said the Imperial LJ was the best to his taste and the
Teaspring site calls some of theirs Emporer LJ, not sure if it's supposed to
be the same thing.
Can someone please help me out? Pretty please?

Melinda, sincerely learning.

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"SEb" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Melinda,
>
> I heard the same thing that teahub. I saw the interview on tv of the
> guy that produced the 200gr of long jing from the long jing village.
> This 200gr of long jing cost him more than 2000rmb to produce them!!!
> Don't think you can get your hands on that one, the guy keeps the 200gr
> for himself.
>
> about the 5kg, buyers won't be able to buy them from the tea makers
> before the 30th. It is the 31st here, we just called our long jing
> supplier and asked him about first harvest long jing, and she said:
> nothing available for now on the market for the long jing from west
> lake or Mei Jia Wu.
>
> What is available now is the Long Jing #43 from the outside areas of
> the west lake and Mei Jia Wu.
>
> The good ones are scheduled to arrived in Guangzhou on the 4th of
> April.
>
> Jing
>

Can you please clarify for me what the difference is between what you refer
to as the good stuff and the stuff that's available right now..(I need to
get me a map). So there are better and worse long jings from the three (I
think) main regions of the traditional long jing production area..? How in
heaven's name is one supposed to know? Besides cost I mean?

Are the ones available now not the earliest ones to be picked?

I am literally in a position that I don't even really know the right
questions to ask, wow.....:/ I feel a bit lost. I've read various messages
on this newsgroups about the LJ production but I still don't get it. I know
there is "real" LJ made in the traditional area that is divided into three
kinds, Meijiawu, Shifeng and Xihu.Then there are LJ-type teas that are also
being called LJ but are from outside areas.

I have heard that there are 11 grades of LJ, so I'm not sure what is meant
by LJ # 43.

Then Ripon at one point in another list said something about three different
types called "1) Quing (natural) 2)Lu Dou (green nut) and 3) Huang Dou
(yellow nut)" He also said the Imperial LJ was the best to his taste and the
Teaspring site calls some of theirs Emporer LJ, not sure if it's supposed to
be the same thing.
Can someone please help me out? Pretty please?

Melinda, sincerely learning.

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"SEb" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Melinda,
>
> I heard the same thing that teahub. I saw the interview on tv of the
> guy that produced the 200gr of long jing from the long jing village.
> This 200gr of long jing cost him more than 2000rmb to produce them!!!
> Don't think you can get your hands on that one, the guy keeps the 200gr
> for himself.
>
> about the 5kg, buyers won't be able to buy them from the tea makers
> before the 30th. It is the 31st here, we just called our long jing
> supplier and asked him about first harvest long jing, and she said:
> nothing available for now on the market for the long jing from west
> lake or Mei Jia Wu.
>
> What is available now is the Long Jing #43 from the outside areas of
> the west lake and Mei Jia Wu.
>
> The good ones are scheduled to arrived in Guangzhou on the 4th of
> April.
>
> Jing
>

Ya, qing shan lv shui is kuding cha...sorta bitter at first taste, but
has a damn nice sweet aftertaste. The tea itself is beautiful in
appearance; it makes the water a light green and I definitely recommend
using the glass brewing method for this one.

Longjing 2005? I called some people the other day in Hangzhou and they
said it would be the end of this week before their first pics. I'm not
sure about all of the plantations, but I know that most won't begin
until a little bit later. Be wary about anybody advertising their
Longjing as Xihu (West Lake) yet.

Ya, qing shan lv shui is kuding cha...sorta bitter at first taste, but
has a damn nice sweet aftertaste. The tea itself is beautiful in
appearance; it makes the water a light green and I definitely recommend
using the glass brewing method for this one.

Longjing 2005? I called some people the other day in Hangzhou and they
said it would be the end of this week before their first pics. I'm not
sure about all of the plantations, but I know that most won't begin
until a little bit later. Be wary about anybody advertising their
Longjing as Xihu (West Lake) yet.

I'm going to Hangzhou next weekend to try my damnedest to get some of
the good quality stuff. By the time it gets to GZ the markup is
stupidly horrendous.

I'm going to Hangzhou next weekend to try my damnedest to get some of
the good quality stuff. By the time it gets to GZ the markup is
stupidly horrendous.

I'm relatively sure that xihu is considered the best. It's all down to
leaf quality and the other typical measures to tell a better tea from a
worse tea. With longjing it's 1 stem, 1 leaf and the smaller the
leaves the better. The color is also important...I'm sure jing can
elaborate on it more.

Jing: you run a teashop in GZ? I'm going to gz this weekend, and I
could stop by.

I'm relatively sure that xihu is considered the best. It's all down to
leaf quality and the other typical measures to tell a better tea from a
worse tea. With longjing it's 1 stem, 1 leaf and the smaller the
leaves the better. The color is also important...I'm sure jing can
elaborate on it more.

Jing: you run a teashop in GZ? I'm going to gz this weekend, and I
could stop by.

i guess it is the end of the week....man the days run together when
you're a teacher. heh.

i guess it is the end of the week....man the days run together when
you're a teacher. heh.

i guess it is the end of the week....man the days run together when
you're a teacher. heh.

Teasping which is also located in China says that the first picking started
on March 24th and because they have close relations with their suppliers
they got it quickly. I have no reason to doubt them. ::shrug:: I have never
bought from them before but they've come recommended at times from people
whose opinions I respect. I guess the proof to some extent will be in the
tasting, though obviously I'm a long way from expert.

What do you think about that Mydnight? They say it's from Zhejiang. That's
correct, right? I'm getting a map tomorrow to try to understand exactly
where these places are...

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Mydnight" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Ya, qing shan lv shui is kuding cha...sorta bitter at first taste, but
> has a damn nice sweet aftertaste. The tea itself is beautiful in
> appearance; it makes the water a light green and I definitely recommend
> using the glass brewing method for this one.
>
> Longjing 2005? I called some people the other day in Hangzhou and they
> said it would be the end of this week before their first pics. I'm not
> sure about all of the plantations, but I know that most won't begin
> until a little bit later. Be wary about anybody advertising their
> Longjing as Xihu (West Lake) yet.
>

[Michael]
Well, I think that it hinges on the word "real" as Linda uses it. I'm sure
that the teas available now on the TeaSpring site are 2005, and good.
However, like neighborhoods here in Brooklyn, their borders depend on which
real estate agent you talk to. In other words, the definition of "Long Jing"
spreads outward into other varietals and territories as demand demands.
Doesn't mean that the teas are not good.

Having said this, I'm frustrated by it all too.

[Melinda]
> Today IS March 30th...?? At least where I am. Are you saying that Teaspring
> is misrepresenting their product? They state that the Meijiawu Long JIng
> they are selling comes from Meijiawu Zhejiang province.
>
> Comments from others? I really hate this...when I buy something I want to
> buy as advertised, that's why I go through a retailer and don't fly over
> there and watch them make my tea myself to make sure it's what they say it
> is...

[Linda]
> Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
> Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
> of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
> 200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
> more would not be available till March 30th.
>
> For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
> http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/
>
>
>





Hi,

For

[Michael]
Well, I think that it hinges on the word "real" as Linda uses it. I'm sure
that the teas available now on the TeaSpring site are 2005, and good.
However, like neighborhoods here in Brooklyn, their borders depend on which
real estate agent you talk to. In other words, the definition of "Long Jing"
spreads outward into other varietals and territories as demand demands.
Doesn't mean that the teas are not good.

Having said this, I'm frustrated by it all too.

[Melinda]
> Today IS March 30th...?? At least where I am. Are you saying that Teaspring
> is misrepresenting their product? They state that the Meijiawu Long JIng
> they are selling comes from Meijiawu Zhejiang province.
>
> Comments from others? I really hate this...when I buy something I want to
> buy as advertised, that's why I go through a retailer and don't fly over
> there and watch them make my tea myself to make sure it's what they say it
> is...

[Linda]
> Do not want to disappoint you. However, the real West Lake (including Shi
> Feng and Mei Jia Wu) Long Jing just started harvest recently. As a matter
> of fact, according to recent news from Hong Zhou Daily, the first batch of
> 200g West Lake Long Jing was produced on March 26. Production of 5kg or
> more would not be available till March 30th.
>
> For more info on this year's new tea production please read our blog at
> http://teatalk101.blogspot.com/
>
>
>





Hi,

For

Melinda,

Seriously, it should be mentioned that a lesser grade of Long Jing that is
super new and super fresh is going to be wonderful. A great grade that is
not fresh is not going to be a great drinking experience no matter what.
Freshness counts for a lot. (I say in defense of TeaSpring.)

In answer to your other questions, a proper Long Jing leaf will be exactly
8.3579 mm in length, and, when placed in water, will float as a ruddered
boat for exactly 7.9278 seconds before gracefully drifting downward.
Anything else is imitation. Hope this helps.

Michael



3/31/05

> Can you please clarify for me what the difference is between what you refer
> to as the good stuff and the stuff that's available right now..(I need to
> get me a map). So there are better and worse long jings from the three (I
> think) main regions of the traditional long jing production area..? How in
> heaven's name is one supposed to know? Besides cost I mean?
>
> Are the ones available now not the earliest ones to be picked?
>
> I am literally in a position that I don't even really know the right
> questions to ask, wow.....:/ I feel a bit lost. I've read various messages
> on this newsgroups about the LJ production but I still don't get it. I know
> there is "real" LJ made in the traditional area that is divided into three
> kinds, Meijiawu, Shifeng and Xihu.Then there are LJ-type teas that are also
> being called LJ but are from outside areas.
>
> I have heard that there are 11 grades of LJ, so I'm not sure what is meant
> by LJ # 43.
>
> Then Ripon at one point in another list said something about three different
> types called "1) Quing (natural) 2)Lu Dou (green nut) and 3) Huang Dou
> (yellow nut)" He also said the Imperial LJ was the best to his taste and the
> Teaspring site calls some of theirs Emporer LJ, not sure if it's supposed to
> be the same thing.
> Can someone please help me out? Pretty please?
>
> Melinda, sincerely learning.

Melinda,

Seriously, it should be mentioned that a lesser grade of Long Jing that is
super new and super fresh is going to be wonderful. A great grade that is
not fresh is not going to be a great drinking experience no matter what.
Freshness counts for a lot. (I say in defense of TeaSpring.)

In answer to your other questions, a proper Long Jing leaf will be exactly
8.3579 mm in length, and, when placed in water, will float as a ruddered
boat for exactly 7.9278 seconds before gracefully drifting downward.
Anything else is imitation. Hope this helps.

Michael



3/31/05

> Can you please clarify for me what the difference is between what you refer
> to as the good stuff and the stuff that's available right now..(I need to
> get me a map). So there are better and worse long jings from the three (I
> think) main regions of the traditional long jing production area..? How in
> heaven's name is one supposed to know? Besides cost I mean?
>
> Are the ones available now not the earliest ones to be picked?
>
> I am literally in a position that I don't even really know the right
> questions to ask, wow.....:/ I feel a bit lost. I've read various messages
> on this newsgroups about the LJ production but I still don't get it. I know
> there is "real" LJ made in the traditional area that is divided into three
> kinds, Meijiawu, Shifeng and Xihu.Then there are LJ-type teas that are also
> being called LJ but are from outside areas.
>
> I have heard that there are 11 grades of LJ, so I'm not sure what is meant
> by LJ # 43.
>
> Then Ripon at one point in another list said something about three different
> types called "1) Quing (natural) 2)Lu Dou (green nut) and 3) Huang Dou
> (yellow nut)" He also said the Imperial LJ was the best to his taste and the
> Teaspring site calls some of theirs Emporer LJ, not sure if it's supposed to
> be the same thing.
> Can someone please help me out? Pretty please?
>
> Melinda, sincerely learning.

Shanghai is in Zhejiang but it is not a part of Zhejiang, if that
helps. Hangzhou is like 3 hours south of Shanghai.

As for the first pick thing, I really don't know what to say about it.
I've heard from some people that some plantations have already picked
and some are waiting...I was told that the end of March was the best
time.

Beats me.

Shanghai is in Zhejiang but it is not a part of Zhejiang, if that
helps. Hangzhou is like 3 hours south of Shanghai.

As for the first pick thing, I really don't know what to say about it.
I've heard from some people that some plantations have already picked
and some are waiting...I was told that the end of March was the best
time.

Beats me.

Hi Melinda:

I don't know how much help I can do but I can copy two of my recent
post from teamail and RFDT to clear it up a little more. The tea world
is very confusing. Yes, the Long Jing(LG) from Teaspring was the best
one when I tried that one but then one of my Chinese friend send me
another LG and it was even better. I still believe Teaspring's LG will
be very good. It takes long time to realize which tea is the best. when
you start trying tea from different sources, you start realizing- there
is no end of quality. All you need some time to try tea from different
sources.

We have some very knowledgable tea vendors like Seb(Jingtea),
Daniel(TeaSpring), Linda(teahub) etc. etc. Tea is such a wonderful
thing- once you start buying tea from the vendors again and again then
you also start feeling a friendship and bond with some vendors. Seb,
Daniel became my good friends. Linda also indulged me so many times
with her valuable tea information. I am in a point right now, where
most of my tea comes from Chinese vendors. I buy few little tea from US
vendors now a days though I am still a big fan of Imperial tea court.
Your tea taste and knowledge grow with tea vendors if they are more
open, friendly and honest with you. Through this relationship, you also
start enjoy better quality tea. When customer and vendor both work
together, the result is much better. Some vendors don't try to
understand this and at the end they loose valuable customers. I was
burned many times with Long Jing but now I am in a point where I get a
standard quality LG. You can be fool once or twice but not forever.
All you need time and obserbation.

I am pasting one of my recent post , I have blended from teamail and
RFDT:-

I will add one more
Chinese way classification of LongJin. Will also talk about how to
check the
quality of Superior LongJin tea and the season to buy this tea.

Before posting this thread, I steeped ShiFeng, Meijia and Xihu LongJin.
All
of them are good but the shifeng is the best one(mine is
Qiqiang<Flagged
Spear> types)

All of this three types has smooth, delicate, chestnut aroma/flavor,
mouth
full buttery taste but the difference come during multiple steeping.
Shifeng
contain and release the aroma, flavor much longer then the other
two(Meijia
and Xi Hu). The tea leaves has also different appearances.

In China, they also differentiate LG three different way:

-Quing(natural)
-Lu Dou(green nut)
-Huang Dou(yellow nut)

The real Shifeng LonJig is Quing type.

I have also got this two high grade ShiFeng LongJin. My Chinese
supplier
gave me this two description(according to his description):

-First sample(Qiqiang|Flagged Spear|): The Finest grade of ShiFeng,
only one
bud and one leaf. The interesting part was, when I steeped this tea in
a
tall transparent glass- really it was one bud and one leaf. The bud was
floating in the water with the leaf pointing upright, just like a
spear.

-Second sample(Queshe|Sparrow's toung): This was also an excellent one
but
after the Qiqiang one with one bud and two leaves.

Above both LG were Shifeng LG but two different fine categories. You
see,
their is no end of tea grade.

Of course many LongJin teas are fake, I believe it. Processing high
grade LG
green tea needs very skilled hand. I will talk a little about the
complex
processing-

During pan frying the leaves requires match the temperature to the
tenderness of the leaves which only certain tea masters know how. For a
pound of high grade LG, Tea processor need 25,000-30,000 bud and leaf
sets.
The skilled hand snipped off individually. It is not easy to produce
high
grade LG by mass production system. It is a full hand made process.

--------------------------------------

Your concern is very much practical about pricing of good teas.
Example, Long Jing or Lung Ching(Dragonwell green tea) has many
verities and the price comes by quality and different tea processing
plant. There are many confusing information about the quality-
Imperial Shi Feng Long jing and regular Long Jin has far difference in
taste- their in China, they classified LJ in three different
categories-


1.Quing(natural)
2.Lu Dou(green nut)
3.Huang Dou(yellow nut)


I got more information about the quality but after drinking more then
ten different LJ- I found out Imperial Shi Feng Long Jin was the
best(It is my personal experience). Right now, I am also drinking
another kind of LJ- Named Xi Hu Long Jin, also a good one but far
thinner then Imperial Shi Feng Lon Jin. I don't know, how they price
this teas.


Melinda, sorry I can't provide you a straight forward answer because I
am not a tea master. I like to drink tea, maintain tasting note,
collect tea information from around the world and compare different
teas from different sources. I can tell you one thing- there is no
absolute answer for tea because tea processing methods are always
changing so do the vendors. We just need few good man to help us to
choose high quality tea with fair price. Don't just order tea from here
and there- ask for sample, ask them many questions. Soon you will
realize, who can full fill your quality tea with fair price. Believe
me, there are only few vendors who offers good tea with fair price.
After all very high grade tea production are limited, rest are lower
quality tea only when you are familiar about quality tea. In my case, I
have found some. I consider them as my friend not as a tea vendors
anymore. I believe one thing, they try their best to find good tea for
me.

Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique

Lol, point taken Michael. I got worried for two reasons: First, It's going
to be a lot of money for me at once (around$80-90) for tea and second, I've
been having a really horrible terrible awful time getting some tea from
another overseas vendor in another country who I also spent $80-90 with. One
very very important thing with Teaspring which I can't tell you how much I
appreciate is that they answered my E-mails rapidly and with authority,
there wasn't any fishiness or uncertainty about whether they would
communicate with me, which I have experienced with this other tea place
continually since I've tried to do business with them. It's an awful feeling
for me when I've ordered something online and don't get so much as an E-mail
receipt for final cost or even acknowledgement that they got the
order...when I have to pester and pester them and don't get any kind of
response for weeks on end. That's how bad it's been. If I didn't like the
tea so much I wouldn't go through this, I guarentee you, and if I get more
I'm going through a business collegue of a friend to just buy it off the
damn shelf over there and ship it to me. I'll do the blasted FDA paperwork,
it's easier than this. ::fume::




So I was already primed, so to speak, for feeling like I was taking a risk
ordering directly from overseas because of my experiences with this other
place.

As far as the long jing goes, like I said I look forward to tasting it. It's
weird (to me at least...probably not to others)...I'll not feel as
uncomfortable spending, say, $15-$20 a quarter pound on a good green or
oolong, but I look twice at a black tea for that much. It's because I get
multiple steeps from my greens etc. I get a lot more (and pleasant) mileage
out of them.

Melinda



--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Michael Plant" > wrote in message
...
> Melinda,
>
> Seriously, it should be mentioned that a lesser grade of Long Jing that is
> super new and super fresh is going to be wonderful. A great grade that is
> not fresh is not going to be a great drinking experience no matter what.
> Freshness counts for a lot. (I say in defense of TeaSpring.)
>
> In answer to your other questions, a proper Long Jing leaf will be exactly
> 8.3579 mm in length, and, when placed in water, will float as a ruddered
> boat for exactly 7.9278 seconds before gracefully drifting downward.
> Anything else is imitation. Hope this helps.
>
> Michael
>
>
>
> 3/31/05
>
>> Can you please clarify for me what the difference is between what you
>> refer
>> to as the good stuff and the stuff that's available right now..(I need to
>> get me a map). So there are better and worse long jings from the three (I
>> think) main regions of the traditional long jing production area..? How
>> in
>> heaven's name is one supposed to know? Besides cost I mean?
>>
>> Are the ones available now not the earliest ones to be picked?
>>
>> I am literally in a position that I don't even really know the right
>> questions to ask, wow.....:/ I feel a bit lost. I've read various
>> messages
>> on this newsgroups about the LJ production but I still don't get it. I
>> know
>> there is "real" LJ made in the traditional area that is divided into
>> three
>> kinds, Meijiawu, Shifeng and Xihu.Then there are LJ-type teas that are
>> also
>> being called LJ but are from outside areas.
>>
>> I have heard that there are 11 grades of LJ, so I'm not sure what is
>> meant
>> by LJ # 43.
>>
>> Then Ripon at one point in another list said something about three
>> different
>> types called "1) Quing (natural) 2)Lu Dou (green nut) and 3) Huang Dou
>> (yellow nut)" He also said the Imperial LJ was the best to his taste and
>> the
>> Teaspring site calls some of theirs Emporer LJ, not sure if it's supposed
>> to
>> be the same thing.
>> Can someone please help me out? Pretty please?
>>
>> Melinda, sincerely learning.
>

I thank you Ripon, I knew that you had some other things to say and I do
keep copies of important information about particular issues and teas so I
can refer to them again and again. I knew that you had bought from Teaspring
which is why I considered them, and I also know the other companies of which
you speak and though I have not bought from them I haven't heard anything
bad necessarily. It really does boil down to trusting one's retailer I
think...or rather, finding a retailer that one gets good results with pretty
much consistently. I haven't had previous experience with Teaspring and as I
mentioned to Michael above, I am already primed at the moment for expecting
a bad or questionable experience because of the really rotten time I'm
having with another tea company in a totally different country with a
totally different kind of tea...the difference in communication between the
two sellers though has been night and day. So that's encouraging.

I will look carefully at the Long Jing I get though and try to be
more...observant I guess...of it's characteristics. Thank-you again.

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Ripon" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Melinda:
>
> I don't know how much help I can do but I can copy two of my recent
> post from teamail and RFDT to clear it up a little more. The tea world
> is very confusing. Yes, the Long Jing(LG) from Teaspring was the best
> one when I tried that one but then one of my Chinese friend send me
> another LG and it was even better. I still believe Teaspring's LG will
> be very good. It takes long time to realize which tea is the best. when
> you start trying tea from different sources, you start realizing- there
> is no end of quality. All you need some time to try tea from different
> sources.
>
> We have some very knowledgable tea vendors like Seb(Jingtea),
> Daniel(TeaSpring), Linda(teahub) etc. etc. Tea is such a wonderful
> thing- once you start buying tea from the vendors again and again then
> you also start feeling a friendship and bond with some vendors. Seb,
> Daniel became my good friends. Linda also indulged me so many times
> with her valuable tea information. I am in a point right now, where
> most of my tea comes from Chinese vendors. I buy few little tea from US
> vendors now a days though I am still a big fan of Imperial tea court.
> Your tea taste and knowledge grow with tea vendors if they are more
> open, friendly and honest with you. Through this relationship, you also
> start enjoy better quality tea. When customer and vendor both work
> together, the result is much better. Some vendors don't try to
> understand this and at the end they loose valuable customers. I was
> burned many times with Long Jing but now I am in a point where I get a
> standard quality LG. You can be fool once or twice but not forever.
> All you need time and obserbation.
>
> I am pasting one of my recent post , I have blended from teamail and
> RFDT:-
>
> I will add one more
> Chinese way classification of LongJin. Will also talk about how to
> check the
> quality of Superior LongJin tea and the season to buy this tea.
>
> Before posting this thread, I steeped ShiFeng, Meijia and Xihu LongJin.
> All
> of them are good but the shifeng is the best one(mine is
> Qiqiang<Flagged
> Spear> types)
>
> All of this three types has smooth, delicate, chestnut aroma/flavor,
> mouth
> full buttery taste but the difference come during multiple steeping.
> Shifeng
> contain and release the aroma, flavor much longer then the other
> two(Meijia
> and Xi Hu). The tea leaves has also different appearances.
>
> In China, they also differentiate LG three different way:
>
> -Quing(natural)
> -Lu Dou(green nut)
> -Huang Dou(yellow nut)
>
> The real Shifeng LonJig is Quing type.
>
> I have also got this two high grade ShiFeng LongJin. My Chinese
> supplier
> gave me this two description(according to his description):
>
> -First sample(Qiqiang|Flagged Spear|): The Finest grade of ShiFeng,
> only one
> bud and one leaf. The interesting part was, when I steeped this tea in
> a
> tall transparent glass- really it was one bud and one leaf. The bud was
> floating in the water with the leaf pointing upright, just like a
> spear.
>
> -Second sample(Queshe|Sparrow's toung): This was also an excellent one
> but
> after the Qiqiang one with one bud and two leaves.
>
> Above both LG were Shifeng LG but two different fine categories. You
> see,
> their is no end of tea grade.
>
> Of course many LongJin teas are fake, I believe it. Processing high
> grade LG
> green tea needs very skilled hand. I will talk a little about the
> complex
> processing-
>
> During pan frying the leaves requires match the temperature to the
> tenderness of the leaves which only certain tea masters know how. For a
> pound of high grade LG, Tea processor need 25,000-30,000 bud and leaf
> sets.
> The skilled hand snipped off individually. It is not easy to produce
> high
> grade LG by mass production system. It is a full hand made process.
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> Your concern is very much practical about pricing of good teas.
> Example, Long Jing or Lung Ching(Dragonwell green tea) has many
> verities and the price comes by quality and different tea processing
> plant. There are many confusing information about the quality-
> Imperial Shi Feng Long jing and regular Long Jin has far difference in
> taste- their in China, they classified LJ in three different
> categories-
>
>
> 1.Quing(natural)
> 2.Lu Dou(green nut)
> 3.Huang Dou(yellow nut)
>
>
> I got more information about the quality but after drinking more then
> ten different LJ- I found out Imperial Shi Feng Long Jin was the
> best(It is my personal experience). Right now, I am also drinking
> another kind of LJ- Named Xi Hu Long Jin, also a good one but far
> thinner then Imperial Shi Feng Lon Jin. I don't know, how they price
> this teas.
>
>
> Melinda, sorry I can't provide you a straight forward answer because I
> am not a tea master. I like to drink tea, maintain tasting note,
> collect tea information from around the world and compare different
> teas from different sources. I can tell you one thing- there is no
> absolute answer for tea because tea processing methods are always
> changing so do the vendors. We just need few good man to help us to
> choose high quality tea with fair price. Don't just order tea from here
> and there- ask for sample, ask them many questions. Soon you will
> realize, who can full fill your quality tea with fair price. Believe
> me, there are only few vendors who offers good tea with fair price.
> After all very high grade tea production are limited, rest are lower
> quality tea only when you are familiar about quality tea. In my case, I
> have found some. I consider them as my friend not as a tea vendors
> anymore. I believe one thing, they try their best to find good tea for
> me.
>
> Ripon
> Maputo, Mozambique
>

I thank you Ripon, I knew that you had some other things to say and I do
keep copies of important information about particular issues and teas so I
can refer to them again and again. I knew that you had bought from Teaspring
which is why I considered them, and I also know the other companies of which
you speak and though I have not bought from them I haven't heard anything
bad necessarily. It really does boil down to trusting one's retailer I
think...or rather, finding a retailer that one gets good results with pretty
much consistently. I haven't had previous experience with Teaspring and as I
mentioned to Michael above, I am already primed at the moment for expecting
a bad or questionable experience because of the really rotten time I'm
having with another tea company in a totally different country with a
totally different kind of tea...the difference in communication between the
two sellers though has been night and day. So that's encouraging.

I will look carefully at the Long Jing I get though and try to be
more...observant I guess...of it's characteristics. Thank-you again.

Melinda

--
"The country has entered an era in which
questions are not asked, for questions are
daughters of disquiet or arrogance, both
fruits of temptation and the food of sacrilege." Djaout
"Ripon" > wrote in message
oups.com...
> Hi Melinda:
>
> I don't know how much help I can do but I can copy two of my recent
> post from teamail and RFDT to clear it up a little more. The tea world
> is very confusing. Yes, the Long Jing(LG) from Teaspring was the best
> one when I tried that one but then one of my Chinese friend send me
> another LG and it was even better. I still believe Teaspring's LG will
> be very good. It takes long time to realize which tea is the best. when
> you start trying tea from different sources, you start realizing- there
> is no end of quality. All you need some time to try tea from different
> sources.
>
> We have some very knowledgable tea vendors like Seb(Jingtea),
> Daniel(TeaSpring), Linda(teahub) etc. etc. Tea is such a wonderful
> thing- once you start buying tea from the vendors again and again then
> you also start feeling a friendship and bond with some vendors. Seb,
> Daniel became my good friends. Linda also indulged me so many times
> with her valuable tea information. I am in a point right now, where
> most of my tea comes from Chinese vendors. I buy few little tea from US
> vendors now a days though I am still a big fan of Imperial tea court.
> Your tea taste and knowledge grow with tea vendors if they are more
> open, friendly and honest with you. Through this relationship, you also
> start enjoy better quality tea. When customer and vendor both work
> together, the result is much better. Some vendors don't try to
> understand this and at the end they loose valuable customers. I was
> burned many times with Long Jing but now I am in a point where I get a
> standard quality LG. You can be fool once or twice but not forever.
> All you need time and obserbation.
>
> I am pasting one of my recent post , I have blended from teamail and
> RFDT:-
>
> I will add one more
> Chinese way classification of LongJin. Will also talk about how to
> check the
> quality of Superior LongJin tea and the season to buy this tea.
>
> Before posting this thread, I steeped ShiFeng, Meijia and Xihu LongJin.
> All
> of them are good but the shifeng is the best one(mine is
> Qiqiang<Flagged
> Spear> types)
>
> All of this three types has smooth, delicate, chestnut aroma/flavor,
> mouth
> full buttery taste but the difference come during multiple steeping.
> Shifeng
> contain and release the aroma, flavor much longer then the other
> two(Meijia
> and Xi Hu). The tea leaves has also different appearances.
>
> In China, they also differentiate LG three different way:
>
> -Quing(natural)
> -Lu Dou(green nut)
> -Huang Dou(yellow nut)
>
> The real Shifeng LonJig is Quing type.
>
> I have also got this two high grade ShiFeng LongJin. My Chinese
> supplier
> gave me this two description(according to his description):
>
> -First sample(Qiqiang|Flagged Spear|): The Finest grade of ShiFeng,
> only one
> bud and one leaf. The interesting part was, when I steeped this tea in
> a
> tall transparent glass- really it was one bud and one leaf. The bud was
> floating in the water with the leaf pointing upright, just like a
> spear.
>
> -Second sample(Queshe|Sparrow's toung): This was also an excellent one
> but
> after the Qiqiang one with one bud and two leaves.
>
> Above both LG were Shifeng LG but two different fine categories. You
> see,
> their is no end of tea grade.
>
> Of course many LongJin teas are fake, I believe it. Processing high
> grade LG
> green tea needs very skilled hand. I will talk a little about the
> complex
> processing-
>
> During pan frying the leaves requires match the temperature to the
> tenderness of the leaves which only certain tea masters know how. For a
> pound of high grade LG, Tea processor need 25,000-30,000 bud and leaf
> sets.
> The skilled hand snipped off individually. It is not easy to produce
> high
> grade LG by mass production system. It is a full hand made process.
>
> --------------------------------------
>
> Your concern is very much practical about pricing of good teas.
> Example, Long Jing or Lung Ching(Dragonwell green tea) has many
> verities and the price comes by quality and different tea processing
> plant. There are many confusing information about the quality-
> Imperial Shi Feng Long jing and regular Long Jin has far difference in
> taste- their in China, they classified LJ in three different
> categories-
>
>
> 1.Quing(natural)
> 2.Lu Dou(green nut)
> 3.Huang Dou(yellow nut)
>
>
> I got more information about the quality but after drinking more then
> ten different LJ- I found out Imperial Shi Feng Long Jin was the
> best(It is my personal experience). Right now, I am also drinking
> another kind of LJ- Named Xi Hu Long Jin, also a good one but far
> thinner then Imperial Shi Feng Lon Jin. I don't know, how they price
> this teas.
>
>
> Melinda, sorry I can't provide you a straight forward answer because I
> am not a tea master. I like to drink tea, maintain tasting note,
> collect tea information from around the world and compare different
> teas from different sources. I can tell you one thing- there is no
> absolute answer for tea because tea processing methods are always
> changing so do the vendors. We just need few good man to help us to
> choose high quality tea with fair price. Don't just order tea from here
> and there- ask for sample, ask them many questions. Soon you will
> realize, who can full fill your quality tea with fair price. Believe
> me, there are only few vendors who offers good tea with fair price.
> After all very high grade tea production are limited, rest are lower
> quality tea only when you are familiar about quality tea. In my case, I
> have found some. I consider them as my friend not as a tea vendors
> anymore. I believe one thing, they try their best to find good tea for
> me.
>
> Ripon
> Maputo, Mozambique
>

Melinda:

Do you mind to send me a off-line message about the foreign vendor who
your are having awful experience. I am just curious. You can send the
mail at Thanks.

Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique

"Melinda" > wrote in message
...
>I thank you Ripon, I knew that you had some other things to say and I do
>keep copies of important information about particular issues and teas so I
>can refer to them again and again. I knew that you had bought from
>Teaspring which is why I considered them, and I also know the other
>companies of which you speak and though I have not bought from them I
>haven't heard anything bad necessarily. It really does boil down to
>trusting one's retailer I think...or rather, finding a retailer that one
>gets good results with pretty much consistently. I haven't had previous
>experience with Teaspring and as I mentioned to Michael above, I am already
>primed at the moment for expecting a bad or questionable experience because
>of the really rotten time I'm having with another tea company in a totally
>different country with a totally different kind of tea...the difference in
>communication between the two sellers though has been night and day. So
>that's encouraging.
>
> I will look carefully at the Long Jing I get though and try to be
> more...observant I guess...of it's characteristics. Thank-you again.
>
> Melinda
>

I've had no problems with ordering from Teaspring, and the teas have been
very good. The only problem is my credit card company thinks my card has
been stolen everytime I order from them becuase the charge to the card comes
from Malaysia. No big deal.

Blues

"Melinda" > wrote in message
...
>I thank you Ripon, I knew that you had some other things to say and I do
>keep copies of important information about particular issues and teas so I
>can refer to them again and again. I knew that you had bought from
>Teaspring which is why I considered them, and I also know the other
>companies of which you speak and though I have not bought from them I
>haven't heard anything bad necessarily. It really does boil down to
>trusting one's retailer I think...or rather, finding a retailer that one
>gets good results with pretty much consistently. I haven't had previous
>experience with Teaspring and as I mentioned to Michael above, I am already
>primed at the moment for expecting a bad or questionable experience because
>of the really rotten time I'm having with another tea company in a totally
>different country with a totally different kind of tea...the difference in
>communication between the two sellers though has been night and day. So
>that's encouraging.
>
> I will look carefully at the Long Jing I get though and try to be
> more...observant I guess...of it's characteristics. Thank-you again.
>
> Melinda
>

I've had no problems with ordering from Teaspring, and the teas have been
very good. The only problem is my credit card company thinks my card has
been stolen everytime I order from them becuase the charge to the card comes
from Malaysia. No big deal.

Blues

Blues Lyne:

Interesting. I face the same problem but not anymore. I always travel
and once in while my bank lock my credit card. This time when I came to
Mozambique, I had to charge my credit card in Holland, South Africa
then Mozambique with a week. Same thing happened when I went to
Thailand and Indonesia in the same time. My bank came forward with a
solution, I think you can do the same if you want. Every time I go in a
foreign country, I just send them an email and let them know that I
will be in this or that country. I also gave them Teaspring name and my
bank know that I trust them so no problem anymore. Very simple solution
and working pretty well.

Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique

Blues Lyne:

Interesting. I face the same problem but not anymore. I always travel
and once in while my bank lock my credit card. This time when I came to
Mozambique, I had to charge my credit card in Holland, South Africa
then Mozambique with a week. Same thing happened when I went to
Thailand and Indonesia in the same time. My bank came forward with a
solution, I think you can do the same if you want. Every time I go in a
foreign country, I just send them an email and let them know that I
will be in this or that country. I also gave them Teaspring name and my
bank know that I trust them so no problem anymore. Very simple solution
and working pretty well.

Ripon
Maputo, Mozambique

Your point about answering posts is on the money. I won't deal with vendors
who don't respond. BTW, you can get some excellent LJ for much lower prices
if you are willing to take leaf that has not been that has been machine cut
and looks a bit raggedy. There is nothing wrong with this tea. I don't know
what quantities you're buying, but Long Jing does go a long way. I recommend
smaller amounts. At least, that's what I do.

Michael


4/1/05

> Lol, point taken Michael. I got worried for two reasons: First, It's going
> to be a lot of money for me at once (around$80-90) for tea and second, I've
> been having a really horrible terrible awful time getting some tea from
> another overseas vendor in another country who I also spent $80-90 with. One
> very very important thing with Teaspring which I can't tell you how much I
> appreciate is that they answered my E-mails rapidly and with authority,
> there wasn't any fishiness or uncertainty about whether they would
> communicate with me, which I have experienced with this other tea place
> continually since I've tried to do business with them. It's an awful feeling
> for me when I've ordered something online and don't get so much as an E-mail
> receipt for final cost or even acknowledgement that they got the
> order...when I have to pester and pester them and don't get any kind of
> response for weeks on end. That's how bad it's been. If I didn't like the
> tea so much I wouldn't go through this, I guarentee you, and if I get more
> I'm going through a business collegue of a friend to just buy it off the
> damn shelf over there and ship it to me. I'll do the blasted FDA paperwork,
> it's easier than this. ::fume::
>
>
>
>
> So I was already primed, so to speak, for feeling like I was taking a risk
> ordering directly from overseas because of my experiences with this other
> place.
>
> As far as the long jing goes, like I said I look forward to tasting it. It's
> weird (to me at least...probably not to others)...I'll not feel as
> uncomfortable spending, say, $15-$20 a quarter pound on a good green or
> oolong, but I look twice at a black tea for that much. It's because I get
> multiple steeps from my greens etc. I get a lot more (and pleasant) mileage
> out of them.
>
> Melinda
>
>

Your point about answering posts is on the money. I won't deal with vendors
who don't respond. BTW, you can get some excellent LJ for much lower prices
if you are willing to take leaf that has not been that has been machine cut
and looks a bit raggedy. There is nothing wrong with this tea. I don't know
what quantities you're buying, but Long Jing does go a long way. I recommend
smaller amounts. At least, that's what I do.

Michael


4/1/05

> Lol, point taken Michael. I got worried for two reasons: First, It's going
> to be a lot of money for me at once (around$80-90) for tea and second, I've
> been having a really horrible terrible awful time getting some tea from
> another overseas vendor in another country who I also spent $80-90 with. One
> very very important thing with Teaspring which I can't tell you how much I
> appreciate is that they answered my E-mails rapidly and with authority,
> there wasn't any fishiness or uncertainty about whether they would
> communicate with me, which I have experienced with this other tea place
> continually since I've tried to do business with them. It's an awful feeling
> for me when I've ordered something online and don't get so much as an E-mail
> receipt for final cost or even acknowledgement that they got the
> order...when I have to pester and pester them and don't get any kind of
> response for weeks on end. That's how bad it's been. If I didn't like the
> tea so much I wouldn't go through this, I guarentee you, and if I get more
> I'm going through a business collegue of a friend to just buy it off the
> damn shelf over there and ship it to me. I'll do the blasted FDA paperwork,
> it's easier than this. ::fume::
>
>
>
>
> So I was already primed, so to speak, for feeling like I was taking a risk
> ordering directly from overseas because of my experiences with this other
> place.
>
> As far as the long jing goes, like I said I look forward to tasting it. It's
> weird (to me at least...probably not to others)...I'll not feel as
> uncomfortable spending, say, $15-$20 a quarter pound on a good green or
> oolong, but I look twice at a black tea for that much. It's because I get
> multiple steeps from my greens etc. I get a lot more (and pleasant) mileage
> out of them.
>
> Melinda
>
>

4/1/05


> Melinda:
>
> Do you mind to send me a off-line message about the foreign vendor who
> your are having awful experience. I am just curious. You can send the
> mail at Thanks.
>
> Ripon
> Maputo, Mozambique
>


I think TeaSpring service and TeaSpring offerings are both high quality. I
also think that we have a responsibility to relate whatever bad experiences
we have and to name the vendors who perpetrate those experiences. After all,
if you don't tell us who that vendor is, Melinda, we'll each of us fall prey
to him eventually. In addition, maybe we know said vendor and can give you
advice on dealing with him.

Ripon, thanks for your detailed reposting on LJ's.

Michael

Hmm dejavu all over again. reminiscent of another recent thread
elsewhere.

I agree, the only way to raise the bar on the customer service,
quality, and prices, we receive is to share our negative experiences
with each other and demand more for our hard earned dollars.

A lot of blind faith is involved when ordering from Internet vendors
in particular, many vendors take advantage of that, if we share our
experiences they might be a little more careful with our faith.

Mike
http://www.pu-erh.net



On Fri, 01 Apr 2005 12:03:06 GMT, Michael Plant >
wrote:

roups.com4/1/05

>
>> Melinda:
>>
>> Do you mind to send me a off-line message about the foreign vendor who
>> your are having awful experience. I am just curious. You can send the
>> mail at Thanks.
>>
>> Ripon
>> Maputo, Mozambique
>>
>
>
>I think TeaSpring service and TeaSpring offerings are both high quality. I
>also think that we have a responsibility to relate whatever bad experiences
>we have and to name the vendors who perpetrate those experiences. After all,
>if you don't tell us who that vendor is, Melinda, we'll each of us fall prey
>to him eventually. In addition, maybe we know said vendor and can give you
>advice on dealing with him.
>
>Ripon, thanks for your detailed reposting on LJ's.
>
>Michael