May

29

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Name: Bob Lajes

What do you do? I take pictures.

Why Tea?
The feeling, the taste, the objects, the ritual…

How did you get into it?
I’ve enjoyed tea for a while, but it was my wife Kim’s enthusiasm that really got me interested. When we met, she had several Yixing teapots. It became a habit…and a shared passion.

How did you discover Halcyon Tea?
Mike at Type G introduced me.

Which teas have you been into lately?
Kim and I really enjoy oolongs together, and lately I’ve been enjoying a bit of Big Red Robe

Do you have a favorite tea scenario?
Tea is perfect any time. Ideally though, getting lost with my wife and our little travel Yixing anywhere in Taiwan.

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Thanks, Bob. And just to give you all a heads up, Bob has created a very cool project he’s calling Tea Habit. He wants to document the tea-drinking rituals of others via photography. In his words: I’d like potential participants to know that it will be informal, casual, and documentary style. It will take place in their own environments, whether it be work, home, a backyard, a park, etc. It will be more a documentary of the details, the actions, the accouterments more than a portrait of a person, although I do believe that whether or not a person’s face is included, I am still creating a portrait of a person. I understand people may be intimidated by the notion of a stranger coming into their private places and taking pictures of them, so my goal is to make a participant comfortable by not including formal/traditional portraits of them if they do not wish.

I’m in! We are very excited to see this project develop. Interested in participating? Bob has left a sign-up list at our shop, or you can contact him via his website.

Beautiful day here in San Diego. A Dragonwell type of day for me. We hope you all are well and we appreciate you checking in. Thanks for reading!

- James

 

Apr

25

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Name: Andrew Trecha

What do you do? Web developer, designer.

Why tea?
I was a coffee drinker for a long time and, at some point, I started to grow increasingly sensitive to the effects of coffee so I decided to try something different.  I’m a creature of habit and I like my rituals and getting the day started with a hot beverage is one of them. Tea is a great substitute. I started with robust teas like English and Irish breakfast - teas that take milk and a bit of sugar well, as that is how I took my coffee. Irish breakfast is now my morning staple.

How did you get into it?
I started with black teas - teas in coffee shops, or things I would come across when grocery shopping, most of which were okay but nothing really knocked my socks off. I geeked out and started doing a bit of research online to learn more about tea and the things to look for and the things to avoid. A co-worker noticed I had taken an interest in tea and he recommended that I check out Halcyon.

Which teas you have been into lately?
My wife and I have discovered Moroccan Mint. Organic White Monkey and other greens. Irish Breakfast is still a staple and I love it. Picked up some organic Chamomile recently and it’s very nice.

Do you have a perfect tea scenario?
Tea on the patio on a sunny warm afternoon with my wife and friends with cookies and biscuits.

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Thanks, Andrew! Tea with my wife is one my favorite things too. Speaking of wives, Andrew’s wife Cristina broadcasts the amazing Guitar and Other Machines podcast on Radio 23. I’m listening to the most recent show right now. This is stuff you are just not going to hear anywhere else. Check it out!

New tea and teaware shipments on their way, so stay tuned! Thanks so much for checking in.

- James

Jan

26

Regulars No. 5

January 26, 2010 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Laura Namey

What do you do? Mom and musician

Why tea?
Besides the health benefits of tea, I like the calming ritual of preparing it. The perfect cup of tea helps me to slow down, to steal back a few moments from the craziness. I also love the fact that there seems to be a variety to suit any mood I happen to be in.

How did you get into it?
I grew up drinking bagged tea from time to time but in the last few years, there’s seemed to be more information floating around about how good tea is for you in so many ways. Or, maybe I’ve just been paying more attention. A couple of years ago, I made the switch to high quality loose teas and learned how to prepare them.

Which teas you have been into lately?
I usually start my day with Tung Ting Formosa Oolong. Mid-day, I often switch to something fun like Earl Grey or Vanilla Black. I was recently given some Dragon Pearl Jasmine Supreme and it’s now a new favorite. That one is such a delicate, refined tea that I make sure to sit down and enjoy it, using my finest tea ware. I’m also hooked on Rooibos Chai and usually brew a pot for my husband and I every evening.

Do you have a perfect tea scenario?
That’s easy—a quiet house, big leather club chair, the latest download on my Kindle and a cup of whatever suits me that day along with a couple of Lyons Rich Tea Biscuits (thanks, James, for getting me totally addicted to those…) Usually, my Miniature Schnauzer puppy is happy to join the party and beg for whatever he can get. But I don’t share.

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Thanks, Laura! We really appreciate you taking the time to share a slice of your tea life with us.

Getting quite a bit cooler here after a couple days of sunshine. This pot of Assam is going down quite well right now.

Hope you all are well, and thanks for checking in!

- James

Jan

12

Regulars No. 4

January 12, 2010 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Justine Zafran Aguilera

What do you do? Zoo Keeper, Mammals

Why tea? It is an affordable and constant comfort, never filling, always gratifying.

How did you get into it? My mother is a black tea drinker, British style. I grew up with it. But once I left home, I discovered green tea. I grew to love the clean, fresh feel of my mouth after drinking it, not like after tea with sugar and cream. Since I hated to drink water (pre-bottled era), tea was a perfect solution for all day sipping and hydration. As with wine, my tastes refined and I have finally begun to pull away from the flavored greens and whites in favor of the subtleties of the teas themselves.

Which teas you have been into lately? Huang Shan Mao Feng and Silver Peony Fujian White are my current favorites, and have been for months now. I religiously start my day with these two choices. But if I still crave a flavored tea, I reach for the Dragon Pearl Jasmine Green. Mmmmmmmmmm.

Do you have a perfect tea scenario? A drizzly Pacific Northwest afternoon, a fire in the hearth, Orcas visible in the Sound from the window of my study, and my man and son at home. (Though, sharing a morning cup with my favorite gorilla Vila DOES have its appeal!)

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Thanks so much, Justine. We really appreciate you taking the time to tell us about your tea life. Not too many people have the option of sharing tea with their favorite gorilla.

I said it before, and I’ll say it again—we have the best customers ever.

Thanks very much for checking in!

- James

Dec

17

Regulars No. 3

December 17, 2009 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Robert Crespin

What do you do? Configuration Management Analyst

Why tea? Because it is delicious and great for your mind and spirit

How did you get into it? When I purchased my first Chinese tea pot

Which teas you have been into lately? Kemun is my favorite for black tea. Trying the Japanese greens now

Do you have a perfect tea scenario? In a Tao garden drinking Jade green oolong out of a yixing teapot

Okay, short and sweet; thanks, Robert! (Robert was one of our earliest regulars, and we really appreciate that)

Stay tuned for the upcoming 4 o’clock Friday featured tea selection!

We hope all is well with all of you. Thanks for checking in.

- James

Nov

9

Regulars No. 2

November 9, 2009 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Mike Schumacher
What do you do? Software Librarian and Developer at Symitar

Why tea?
What I find exciting about tea is that the different varieties and
types allow for a lot of exploration in flavors and aromas. Tea is
very approachable in this respect, as I’ve seen people who rarely
drink tea find a couple types they really like. It’s similar to wine
varietals, except there isn’t alcohol involved.

How did you get into it?
Every summer in my childhood was marked by the availability of my
mother’s sweetened iced tea. I started drinking herbal teas once I
was in college to assist in falling asleep. I’d pick up a few boxes
of various teas for work as a change of pace. Just a few months ago I
found a couple of dedicated tea shops where I’ve travelled and tried
out a few kinds of tea. It wasn’t until I was getting jittery and
anxious after a cup of decaf coffee recently that I made a switch to
full-time tea drinking, and I’ve enjoyed it ever since.

Which teas you have been into lately?
Kenya Supreme is my first cup in the morning, and I really enjoy the
Dragon Pearl Jasmine Superior. However, I cannot seem to get enough
Tung Ting these days. It’s the only tea where I’ve been upset when I
ran out of it!

Do you have a perfect tea scenario?
There isn’t anything better than a cup of warm tea on a cool morning
while watching the sun rise and the earth wake up.

Thanks for making my tea transformation possible.
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Thank YOU, Mike! And, thanks to all of you for checking in.

- James

Oct

24

Regulars No. 1

October 24, 2009 | Leave a Comment

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Name: Iain Baker
What do you do? Manager at Hostelling International.

Why tea?
I enjoy the wide variety and availability. As a traveler, it’s nice to know that I can probably find something fun wherever I go!
How did you get into it?
As a true Scotsman should, I have always enjoyed it. But it wasn’t until I decided to move away from drinking coffee and switching to tea that I really grew a liking for it. After spending a little time learning about the different types of tea and variations in preparation, I really fell in love with the process itself, not just the end result.
Which teas you have been into lately?
Most recently I’ve been drinking a lot of Jade Tikuanyin and Yunnan Gold Silk.
Do you have a perfect tea scenario?
On my couch in the morning, wearing sweatpants and watching cartoons.

Thanks, Iain!

And thank you all for checking in.

- James