One for the tea-totallers.

Ric · #1 28-10-2007, 11:46 PM

For those who are into their teas I had a real treat and managed to get hold of one of the rarest teas on the market "Jun Shan" or "Silver needles".

According to tradition it is picked at dawn on only 2 days of the year with white gloves and gold scissors and only the fine silvery tips are taken then allowed to air dry to make a fine white tea. It was only drunk by the Chinese emperors on special occasions.

I bought 30 grams for $60, enough for 3 pots or for the buyers of bulk around $2000 per kilo.

Definitely not your English breakfast tea.

Dennis · #2 28-10-2007, 11:58 PM

Wow! And I thought I was lashing out big bucks on my Twinings Speciality Aromatic Tea - Earl Grey Tea leaf tea at $4.75 a packet!

Cheers

Dennis

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #3 29-10-2007, 12:13 AM

I totally understand Ric.
One day we'd like to splash out and buy 100gms or so of Kopi Luwak beans.
Just so we can say we've tried it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kopi_Luwak

Hmmm, the processes involved in making this coffee isn't as romantic as the picking of your tea.

Ric · #4 29-10-2007, 12:31 AM

Yep, life is too short not to enjoy some little luxurys. I also enjoy a fine coffee as well Jeanette. I think its because of an English mother and an Italian Father.

Cheers

acropolite (Phil) · #5 29-10-2007, 08:29 AM

Sounds interesting, I'm glad it didn't come in Tea bags...HRH & I are both Tea drinkers, but it has to come out of a pot to have any real flavour.

middy · #6 29-10-2007, 08:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ric

I bought 30 grams for $60, enough for 3 pots or for the buyers of bulk around $2000 per kilo.

Definitely not your English breakfast tea.

Eeeek, that's out of my league. By the time I have added milk and sugar though I probably wouldn't be able to taste any difference to my gourmet Tetley's.

Quote:

Originally Posted by acropolite

... but it has to come out of a pot to have any real flavour.

What if you put the teabags in the pot??

casstony · #7 29-10-2007, 08:47 AM

So is this an invite to come over for a cuppa Ric?

GrahamL · #8 29-10-2007, 09:34 AM

Thats the one they pick up the poop of a critter and dig the beans
out of it jeanette ?..pass

..I'll stick to the dilmah i think

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #9 29-10-2007, 09:41 AM

LOLOL
Cat Poo Coffee? Yep, that's the one.

ving (David) · #10 29-10-2007, 11:23 AM

i'll pass on the cat poo coffee too... i dont care how good it tastes, i am not drinking cat poo!

Ric · #11 29-10-2007, 12:31 PM

I agree Phil, pot tea is definitely the way to go for flavour.

No milk and sugar in this tea Middy, the subtle flavours would be completely masked.

Hey Vingo, variety is the spice of life.

Cheers

leon · #12 29-10-2007, 12:46 PM

Hey Ric, are you sure that is Tea you bought at that price....

Leon

Ric · #13 29-10-2007, 12:51 PM

Hi Leon, I think the other stuff is probably cheaper.

Cheers

teatoter · #14 29-10-2007, 04:32 PM

Being a confessed tea totaller myself... this post caught my eye. I am a sucker for the rooibus flavoured tea. I usually throw a bit of honey on there also. Reminds me of a tea ad being run at the mo by called tea on ice featuring a whole bunch of actors being cast as various flavours of ice tea. I wish they didnt try and fit into such tight 80s style outfits.

jjjnettie (Jeanette) · #15 29-10-2007, 05:58 PM

What's your favourite brand of tea for everyday drinking?

JimmyH155 · #16 29-10-2007, 06:10 PM

It used to be Nerada, then Mildura (all loose of course. Anyone bringing a tea bag into the house gets shot) but nowadays that stuff is watered down by imported stuff probably from London and maybe 5 or more years old..Now when we can find loose tea, it's Dilma - I got hooked on the writing on the packet as to how they look after all their pickers. There is a shop in Brissie selling great teas and there was a magnificent one from the land of the Zulus in South Africa. Colour fabulous. Breakfast tea. YUM YUM

But we ran out ages ago....

Dooghan (Dooghan) · #17 29-10-2007, 06:48 PM

$60 tea and cat poo coffee!!!!!! I'll pass. I love my Dilmah. Can't get enough of it. I remember one time the wife brought home some Bushells blended tea as it was cheaper then Dilmah. I had a mouth full and the rest went down the sink. It was the most vile stuff I've ever tasted.

GrahamL · #18 29-10-2007, 08:14 PM

We have been dilmah devotees since they first came on the market
many years back .. I guess there are other fine teas around to
but is nice tea for the price and we drink a LOT of it.

I read a great piece 20 years back on tea .. which said 2 buyers
supply most of the leaf for our domestic market .. and all of it is
pretty much floor sweepings no matter what brand they stick on it .
Seems like nothings changed much dooghan

The local ones ? ... the couple i have tried seemed to be mechanicaly harvested and were full of stem??
Has that changed much over time ? .. as I'm happy to buy local if its good

Glenhuon (Bill) · #19 29-10-2007, 08:17 PM

Not really a tea drinker but if I do...
"Tea, Earl Grey, Hot"

Captain Jean Luc Glenhuon

middy · #20 29-10-2007, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jjjnettie

What's your favourite brand of tea for everyday drinking?

Whatever is on special at the time of purchase.