Comments on: Tea Digest - an overview of tea in the news http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/ News from the Teahouse, about tea and more Tue, 07 Sep 2010 20:59:33 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.4 by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-558 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 19:12:16 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-558 Mike, I see what you mean and must admit that I had those exact worries myself a while back. I feared that the world of mega-marts would completely dominate our consumption behaviour and push those little specialised, dedicated and well informed businesses into bankruptcy. Today, I believe that this won't happen and that the demand in those businesses (or the goods that they sell) is growing. The power of mega-marts is clearly convenience (having everything in one store, hence fast shopping) and cheap prices. Their inherent problem: run-of-the-mill quality and virtually no product advice. I think the pendulum is swinging back and we're gonna see an increasing number of people requesting more than the average or below average quality of mass-produced items. People are are becoming particular about the quality of the products they're spending their money on. They want guidance and often, they want a dialogue. This is what small specialised stores can offer. They usually know their products very well and can cater to the personal preferences of their clients. You clearly understood the true nature of tea when you speak of it as a slow drink. In our fast world, that IS 'fringe' and an almost alien experience. But it is also a welcome change for many people and they savour it. We see it everyday at the teahouse when people come in with an unspoken expectation of a "quick cup of tea". Well, let me tell you that not few of them end up staying for 2 hours or more! I think we all cherish slowness and the peace that comes with it but most of us have forgotten how it feels. I personally think that tea (together with its rituals) has the power to bring back that slowness into our lives - be it just for half an hour a day. But once you have experienced it, you won't want to miss it. I'm not saying that tea (as we see it at our teahouse) will ever become a real mainstream product. Some teas sold in supermarkets probably will, but they'll most likely be a compromise between the 'real thing' and something more suited for our current habits. But I'm optimistic that tea in its true form will attract more and more people, partly because it's something different than coffee (and the old teabags) and partly because of its culture and rituals. I'll better go now and celebrate my own ritual (a pot of first flush Darjeeling, first thing every morning). Jo Mike,
I see what you mean and must admit that I had those exact worries myself a while back. I feared that the world of mega-marts would completely dominate our consumption behaviour and push those little specialised, dedicated and well informed businesses into bankruptcy.
Today, I believe that this won’t happen and that the demand in those businesses (or the goods that they sell) is growing.
The power of mega-marts is clearly convenience (having everything in one store, hence fast shopping) and cheap prices. Their inherent problem: run-of-the-mill quality and virtually no product advice.
I think the pendulum is swinging back and we’re gonna see an increasing number of people requesting more than the average or below average quality of mass-produced items. People are are becoming particular about the quality of the products they’re spending their money on. They want guidance and often, they want a dialogue. This is what small specialised stores can offer. They usually know their products very well and can cater to the personal preferences of their clients.

You clearly understood the true nature of tea when you speak of it as a slow drink. In our fast world, that IS ‘fringe’ and an almost alien experience. But it is also a welcome change for many people and they savour it. We see it everyday at the teahouse when people come in with an unspoken expectation of a “quick cup of tea”. Well, let me tell you that not few of them end up staying for 2 hours or more!
I think we all cherish slowness and the peace that comes with it but most of us have forgotten how it feels. I personally think that tea (together with its rituals) has the power to bring back that slowness into our lives - be it just for half an hour a day. But once you have experienced it, you won’t want to miss it.

I’m not saying that tea (as we see it at our teahouse) will ever become a real mainstream product. Some teas sold in supermarkets probably will, but they’ll most likely be a compromise between the ‘real thing’ and something more suited for our current habits. But I’m optimistic that tea in its true form will attract more and more people, partly because it’s something different than coffee (and the old teabags) and partly because of its culture and rituals.

I’ll better go now and celebrate my own ritual (a pot of first flush Darjeeling, first thing every morning).
Jo

]]> by: Mike http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-554 Sun, 28 Jan 2007 02:18:29 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-554 I agree with all the points above. However, although tea may have been receiving a bit of attention in the media as of late, as it is a practice in 'slowness' of sorts, isn't the practice and culture of tea likely to always be considered as 'fringe' in a society that celebrates pace and convenience? If so, isn't tea likely to always take a back-seat to more hastily consumed beverages? The reason I ask this is because sometimes I worry that today's 'fast-food' approach to life is too firmly embedded for alternative approaches to living and consuming to really take hold. Regards, Mike I agree with all the points above. However, although tea may have been receiving a bit of attention in the media as of late, as it is a practice in ’slowness’ of sorts, isn’t the practice and culture of tea likely to always be considered as ‘fringe’ in a society that celebrates pace and convenience? If so, isn’t tea likely to always take a back-seat to more hastily consumed beverages? The reason I ask this is because sometimes I worry that today’s ‘fast-food’ approach to life is too firmly embedded for alternative approaches to living and consuming to really take hold.

Regards,
Mike

]]> by: Jo http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-530 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 05:27:12 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-530 Dear Rachel, thank you very much for pointing out this very important aspect of tea. As you know, this is one of the most important objectives of our teahouse. We are providing a place for exactly the kind of social interaction that you describe. A place where you're not rushed or stressed, where you can just sit and talk (or dream) your time away. It is great to see that people like you take it up, realize that tea is a "slow" drink and deserves to be celebrated! As to ordering our tea by mail, that's not a problem. We're planning to add an online-order facility to our website soon, but in the meantime, I'll send you some of the Silver Needle! Hope to see you down here in ChCh some time again, Jo Dear Rachel,
thank you very much for pointing out this very important aspect of tea.
As you know, this is one of the most important objectives of our teahouse. We are providing a place for exactly the kind of social interaction that you describe. A place where you’re not rushed or stressed, where you can just sit and talk (or dream) your time away. It is great to see that people like you take it up, realize that tea is a “slow” drink and deserves to be celebrated!
As to ordering our tea by mail, that’s not a problem. We’re planning to add an online-order facility to our website soon, but in the meantime, I’ll send you some of the Silver Needle!

Hope to see you down here in ChCh some time again,
Jo

]]> by: Rachel Baker http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-527 Fri, 26 Jan 2007 01:44:50 +0000 http://blog.yayateahouse.co.nz/2007/01/23/tea-digest-an-overview-of-tea-in-the-news/#comment-527 Hi! Another aspect to tea which was perhaps missed is how tea can be social in a totally refreshing and new way. This is off course in contrast to the supossedly ultimate social companion; coffee. The main difference is perhaps in the way one drinks tea. The essential nature of coffee is one of speed, it is a quick fix and althoughmany people meet for coffee the main conversation is done after the coffee is finished. The caffine has hit it's mark and then this is when the revolutionists made their plans. Coffee is supposedly the drink of revolutionist interestingly that is why coffee shops were closed in frugal England which made way for what the english love; a cup of tea. However drinking tea is quite a different event. I think of it as a slow ritual. The times I have visited your tea house I have spent a good afternoon there something that I rarely do over coffee. I love coffe yet am intrigued by the effect of tea on myself and the people I am with .The converstaions have always been relaxed as the tea is shareded over time till the tea can be strained no more. I could never make myself gulp tea it lends itself to sipping. I supose this sums up tea for me it is not a quick hit on my way to a lecture it is something that creates time ,opens conversations and can structure a whole afternoon. I some how believe that is why me and my friends as a joke started our tea society not just because we liked tea but because it was an excuse to simply interact and go talk. We are all students and discovered tea to be the ultimate procrasternator for afternoons of leasure. We have not just visited Ya ya but have spent afternoons lying in the sun drinking tea in a park or crammed into a small room for a cosy tea party. Over summer with my new best friend" Tea thermos" I was able to share tea with all my cousins on the side of a river while on a break from canoeing down stream or at the beach with little grits of sand at the bottom. So I suppose that is all I have to say about tea for the moment apart from asking if I could possibly ask a favour. I fell in love with your silver needle white tea and was wondering if you do orders of tea as I now live in Hawkesbay rather than Christchurch SOB!! If I was to send a cheque for postage and the tea would you be able to mail me some???. I have been looking for that tea but cannot find it. Kind regards Rachel Baker rachbaker@hotmail.com Hi! Another aspect to tea which was perhaps missed is how tea can be social in a totally refreshing and new way. This is off course in contrast to the supossedly ultimate social companion; coffee. The main difference is perhaps in the way one drinks tea.

The essential nature of coffee is one of speed, it is a quick fix and althoughmany people meet for coffee the main conversation is done after the coffee is finished. The caffine has hit it’s mark and then this is when the revolutionists made their plans. Coffee is supposedly the drink of revolutionist interestingly that is why coffee shops were closed in frugal England which made way for what the english love; a cup of tea.

However drinking tea is quite a different event. I think of it as a slow ritual. The times I have visited your tea house I have spent a good afternoon there something that I rarely do over coffee. I love coffe yet am intrigued by the effect of tea on myself and the people I am with .The converstaions have always been relaxed as the tea is shareded over time till the tea can be strained no more. I could never make myself gulp tea it lends itself to sipping. I supose this sums up tea for me it is not a quick hit on my way to a lecture it is something that creates time ,opens conversations and can structure a whole afternoon.

I some how believe that is why me and my friends as a joke started our tea society not just because we liked tea but because it was an excuse to simply interact and go talk. We are all students and discovered tea to be the ultimate procrasternator for afternoons of leasure. We have not just visited Ya ya but have spent afternoons lying in the sun drinking tea in a park or crammed into a small room for a cosy tea party. Over summer with my new best friend” Tea thermos” I was able to share tea with all my cousins on the side of a river while on a break from canoeing down stream or at the beach with little grits of sand at the bottom.

So I suppose that is all I have to say about tea for the moment apart from asking if I could possibly ask a favour. I fell in love with your silver needle white tea and was wondering if you do orders of tea as I now live in Hawkesbay rather than Christchurch SOB!!
If I was to send a cheque for postage and the tea would you be able to mail me some???. I have been looking for that tea but cannot find it.

Kind regards
Rachel Baker
rachbaker@hotmail.com

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