Discussion
The "tea tools" thing is getting out of hand.
Now there is a rack. So ... I do know what most of these are.
You have (from left to right)
spout cleaner
cup lifter
squeegee?
tea scoop
tea tongs (to hold lid and many other things)
pot brush
I think the scissors are to open tea packets?
Where are the cake pliers?
One of the things I love about many "tea people" is they really are just all about the tea. If you are there for tea and into tea they are very welcoming.
I could see your "tea tools" being a fun selection of people from very different walks of life but all there just for the tea.
@futurebird I'm not breaking those out for my guests, they are reserved for my prisoners
"Igor! get the cake pliers!"
@futurebird bring me the brush, today we shall tickle his toes!
@futurebird the squeegee is for cleaning the little window on the side of the kettle
@futurebird I was picturing Victorian British style, like with a strainer and sugar nippers
@futurebird Do you have cute little bronze animal mascots to pour water and tea on?
@futurebird Are packets allowed in actual tea culture? Seems like it should be straight up illegal to use tea bags instead of proper loose leaf.
This is the kind of "packet" many "Mountain Teas" which are often oolongs that people don't like to age come it little bags like this. But it's still loose leaf. Tea bags are for "floor sweepings" which is the insulting phrase I've heard used without irony for bag UK and US style teas.
@futurebird @nazokiyoubinbou The Taiwanese locals that I see regularly for a recurring conference take their oolong selection and preparations seriously, but also go through a lot of jasmine tea in bags in the office. I guess once there is a lot of flavorings, using the floor sweepings to kind of get a tea:ish body to the jasmine [etc] taste is fine.
Jasmine tea smells pretty but it always reminds me of cough drops and of being sick for some reason. Like it's medicine.
In the US (and I think maybe much of the UK and Europe too?) most people seem much more familiar with the "Japanese Tea Ceremony" than with tea culture more generally.
This is sad: the particular tea ceremony is just for matcha, and very rigid with a million rules. That's kind of the point of that particular way of tea. It's about making tea with the exact same motions as a meditation. It's really interesting... but it's just one way of tea in a panoply of diversity and fun.
The rigidity of a tea culture and the kind of tea you make and how varies as much as the teawares and the ideas about what makes good tea.
I fell in love with all of the little teahouses in Hong Kong where you can walk in on a cool day and the windows will be misted up because they are just brewing so much tea.
"try this!"
"now try this!"
"Tell him which one is more fragrant."
Shouting ensues since you've been looped in to settle a bet. It's more like that.
@futurebird @nazokiyoubinbou Tea bags are perfect for people who don't give a heck and don't know or can't taste any better! Use every bit of the animal, er, plant. With flavourings on top there's not a whole lot about the actual tea leaf taste in them. Leaves the nice tea leaves for the rest of us who do care... 😸
@futurebird are we sure this isnt alchemy
Scone grinder, to ensure a properly flat surface to apply your butter.
The main purpose of tea tools is to baffle and impress guests as you serve them tea while pouring water all over the the place like one of those water play tables but with drinks.
There is a real purpose to the method, you can sample a wide range of teas and talk about them and compare them by using little teapots and even smaller cups.
Everyone gets and identical brew for "fairness" and then the main activity is discussing the aroma and 'qi' of the teas. It's a lot of fun.
It can be a bit like a wine tasting, but I think less snooty in atmosphere, but that could just be the nature of my own tea friends.
This photo proves that #picaTheCat **DOES ** have unnaturally large ears for her head.
"Are you tasting or drinking?"
He did not respond but instead held his glass out to be refilled again. He never said "when"
You don't really need that many tools IMO. Unless you maybe run a tea bar?
Although the cup holder is really fun to use, you can do tricks with it.
@futurebird I see no dish for the teabags...
I'm being over-dramatic. I like southern sweet tea (for example) as much as anyone, but it's kind of a whole different world of tea than this Chinese tea culture style tea.
@futurebird okay but now I want that, like as a parent with young kids, imagining what I could get them to drink if I served it in a Rube Goldberg water table setup
Traditions and rituals are comforting especially during tough times.
For example i f you haven't yet, you might want to check out a Japenese tea ceremony
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@futurebird Tea Tools is the name of my Cheers-esque tea bar sitcom