Sunday, September 2, 2007

Southern California Heat Wave

Hot! The weather has been sizzling these past few days, managing to reach 110˚F / 43˚C in San Fernando Valley where I live. So yesterday we spent the whole afternoon at the beach in Santa Monica, where it was around 80˚F and lightly breezy. Sweet! Our Sophia had a great time playing in the sand and water.


The heat practically melted any desire to brew heavier teas. So I opted for last year's qingxiang tieguanyin oolong that I purchased from a tea store in Guangzhou back in March of 2006. The leaves are light green (very low oxidation) and unroasted. When I purchased 300gr of this tea, the sales lady was more than willing to separate the leaves to thirty 10gr batches and placed each in a small vacuum-sealed pack. A pack is enough for a single gongfu brewing session.

I lost interest in this tea and greener oolong's in general a few months after getting it. So I kept it in the fridge and it's been there ever since. Yesterday, I took one small pack out and placed it on the kitchen counter for an hour or so until it reached room temperature before ripping it open. The tea is still fresh looking and tasted fine, too. No sign of staleness.


It's refreshingly floral and grassy -- just great for the weather and my mood. The leaves are quite choppy on the edges, which makes me think that they were not hand-harvested...or that the processing of the leaves caused damage to the edges. If I remember correctly, I think I paid around $75 for the 300gr.

8 comments:

小 約翰 said...

Tieguanyin, most enjoyable on a hot afernoon .. my family are in Laguna Hills, and I'm sure they empathize with you on the heat scale. US $75/300gms seems high. Good quality leaf sells arround 160-200 RMB for 250gms. Guangzhou (province capital)prices tend to be higher and tough to negotiate with.

~ Phyll said...

Yes, I also think it's rather too expensive. It's from one of those teashops inside the megamall on Tian He Road, across from the Fitness Center / Stadium.

Steph said...

Hello! I've just discovered your blog from Tea Guy Speaks. I also love oolongs and find myself drawn to the greener ones in the summer months. Stop by my blog and say hello. :-) I look forward to checking back.

Wes Crosswhite said...

PHYLL. Did you die or something man? Shoot me a message, I need to buy that kyuusu off you. ;)

Tom said...

I miss this blog. Got anything new and interesting to say?

toki said...

Phyll- I am getting worry by the year....
Hope all is well and Happy New Year! -Toki

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Anonymous said...

The heat wave certainly adds new meaning to this song:

Melt with You
Dr. BLT re-make of Modern English song
http://www.drblt.net/music/Melt.mp3