Photos

Recent photos I’ve posted to Instagram.

chacrusade

A beautiful 2018 #rawpuer included in the @teaangl

A beautiful 2018 #rawpuer included in the @teaangle tea club (TDC issue 5) from the Bingdao region (Nuowu village).
Somehow both gentle and powerful, a solid bitterness immediately giving way to caramel sweetness. It also had impressive longevity, sticking with me through an entire work day.
It definitely gives me an appreciation for why Bingdao has the reputation it does!
#teaangle #teadiscoveryclub

Another visit to Rushi Tea House, enjoying some of

Another visit to Rushi Tea House, enjoying some of their dahongpao with snacks.

Small #bitterleafteas group-buy amongst work colle

Small #bitterleafteas group-buy amongst work colleagues.
After being impressed with the value of the "Year of the Tiger" Yiwu #rawpuer from 2022, drinking through most of it over the last couple of years, I couldn't resist picking up this year's one! And I grabbed my usual lucky-dip sampler, which I really enjoy slowly drinking through over the year.
I also managed to accrue enough "tea miles" to qualify for the "members only" #rawpuer cake. I'm not sure how I'm going to stop this recognition of my purchasing eliteness going to my head, so I will just apologise in advance now.

Today I was finally able to visit a new tea house

Today I was finally able to visit a new tea house that opened recently near me!
Rushi Tea House (如是茶舍 Rúshì chá shè) is a sit-down tea house for small groups that serves a wide variety of teas in a traditional setting. While tea is the focus, you can also get some accompanying snacks (like nuts, dried fruit, 瓜子), or shop for tea and teaware.
Their tea range is quite broad, including different types of pu'er, oolongs, (including multiple types of yancha, dancong and Taiwanese high mountain), white and red (black) teas.
I tried their songzhong dancong (one of about half a dozen dancongs on offer) and was quite happy with it.
I hope to be able to go back again soon and spend more time there!

Excited to try "a bit" of @vietsuntea.

Excited to try "a bit" of @vietsuntea.

Nothing hits quite like fresh greens. This is 2024

Nothing hits quite like fresh greens. This is 2024 Cloud Mist Green from #white2tea.

A long time between sessions but this 2019 "White

A long time between sessions but this 2019 "White Mountain" Taiwanese camellia formosensis white tea from #mountainstreamteas seems to be getting better with age.

The most unique tea spot in Adelaide that I visite

The most unique tea spot in Adelaide that I visited was @kappys_tea_coffee. They have an enormous range of different teas (150+); mostly blends but still have a decent number of pure teas like this Qimen I tried.
Having it served in a large plunger pot was interesting, and turned out to be very convenient. It was more than enough for two people to share.
The space itself is great: unassuming from the outside down a quiet pretty alley in the CBD (near the Central Market) but expansive on the inside, like a small warehouse.
There's lots of seating (including couches), free wifi (just ask for the password) and a huge old coffee machine from 1951 that apparently still runs (on Fridays and Saturdays).
Not being a coffee drinker I can't comment on how it is but it seems to be well-reviewed by others. The "babyccino" we ordered to keep our toddler occupied was even complimentary.
This is one of those great "third spaces" that is clearly a labour of love. Highly recommend!

Continuing my tea highlights from Adelaide, I mana

Continuing my tea highlights from Adelaide, I managed to swing a quick visit to @tlifeadelaide. From the searching I did, this seems to be *the* shop to go for gongfu cha (both tea and teaware) in South Australia. They're not in the CBD itself but a short drive east in Norwood.
They have beautiful displays and a table set up for tasting. I didn't have a chance to try anything but enjoyed browsing the displays. Be sure to check them out if you're in the area!

I recently returned from a trip to Adelaide where

I recently returned from a trip to Adelaide where I tried to squeeze in as many tea places as time allowed. One of the most impressive was @matchahouse who have a large selection of different Japanese teas, along with various desserts.
I had a Fukamushi Kukicha, which I enjoyed a lot. They do one free refill of your pot. You can also purchase tea to take home and brew yourself, either in person or via their online store.
The traditional seating area (low tables, sitting on cushions) is also a nice touch, but they have normal seating too.
I will definitely try to stop by here again next time I'm in town!

Before I knew it, the @teaangle #teadiscoveryclub

Before I knew it, the @teaangle #teadiscoveryclub (TDC) box 4 arrived! Unlike the first three boxes, this only contained one tea: a 100g cake of a 2017 báimǔdān (white peony) #whitetea from the famous Fúdǐng region of Fújiàn, China, renowned for their white teas.
This was enjoyably thick, with flavours ranging from higher straw/hay notes down to dark stone fruits. Flaunting the brewing guide, I pushed this with boiling water the whole time and it held up really well. Even if you want to be cautious, I recommend using higher water temperatures after the first few steeps to bring out the flavours more.
This is the kind of tea I reach for when I'm not sure what I feel like drinking, and it always seems to hit the spot!

Trying "Biscuits" from the @teaangle Tea Discovery

Trying "Biscuits" from the @teaangle Tea Discovery Club (TDC) box 3, which is a #yellowtea exploration.
I've always been curious about this tiny tea category, since the handful of yellow teas I've tried haven't made a huge impression on me. The info sheet included in the box discusses this – is yellow tea legitimately deserving of its own category? Or is it barely more than "off" green tea?
I found "Biscuits" to be quite pleasant, with nice mouth activity and prolonged aftertaste following its delicate straw/hay and mung bean flavour. Notably this one wasn't nutty, which I missed because this is something I've enjoyed in yellow teas I've tried previously, but its convenient pressed shape was cool.
I'm looking forward to trying the other types included in the box!
Special thanks to the #teaangle folks for delaying sending out my box while I was overseas so that it didn't sit on my porch roasting for several weeks 😂
#teaangle #teadiscoveryclub

Bringing some waffles to yum cha. #white2tea #ripe

Bringing some waffles to yum cha. #white2tea #ripepuer

2023 "Plum Beauty" from #bitterleafteas. Definitel

2023 "Plum Beauty" from #bitterleafteas. Definitely lives up to its name!
Looking forward to ordering another "Treat Yourself" sample jar when their 2024 #rawpuer teas arrive.

Wrote up some thoughts on the #white2tea annual gr

Wrote up some thoughts on the #white2tea annual green tea sale (link in bio) as I try to recruit some colleagues into a group-buy for it before the window closes 😂
Keen to hear people's personal strategies for how you store your greens tea to extend their freshness. This 2021 "Cloud Mist Green" I found lost in my stash is still delicate and crisp but of course no longer has that beautiful freshness that made it so special.

Gifted a huge box of 小青柑 stuffed with ripe p

Gifted a huge box of 小青柑 stuffed with ripe pu'er while I was in China! I really enjoy the medicinal taste that the chenpi gives to the tea.

I've enjoyed a few sessions with this Yingde hongc

I've enjoyed a few sessions with this Yingde hongcha now. It's powerful enough to be a breakfast tea, able to cut through the taste of food, but also elegant and complex enough to be engaging in a stand-alone gongfu session. Prolonged aftertaste and great longevity through steeps 👍
#英德红茶 #英红九号

A quick stop at a local tea shop to pick up some Y

A quick stop at a local tea shop to pick up some Yīngdé red tea (英德红茶) also known as Yinghong number 9 (英红九号).
Apparently this is a pretty famous red tea, but I only learnt of it relatively recently so have been keen to try it out. It's grown in the region of the same name in Guangdong, about 100km or so north of Guangzhou.
I had a quick taste of it today before grabbing a box but will try it out properly soon!

Enjoying yum cha at one of many (40+) Dim Dou Duk

Enjoying yum cha at one of many (40+) Dim Dou Duk (点都德) yum cha chain restaurants here in Guangzhou. The Chaozhou-style gongfu set is standard at every table.
It's quite a sight for me to see 100+ people enjoying their tea here all at the same time in this way! And of course the food is great too 😋

Ripe pu'er the standard choice for yumcha in Guang

Ripe pu'er the standard choice for yumcha in Guangzhou.
Apparently this place opens from 7am every day for locals to get their fix.

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