Extra tea tastings

I've been holding extra tea pourings for the Teacal (the Cal tea class).  This week we had one at Cloyne with a small group.  Madison and Frank started off an then several others joined as well.  We had Root'd Tea's Rock Oolong and a Jasmine Pearl from Samovar.  The oolong, also known as Rou Gui, is a twisted oolong (not rolled) and is dark, roasty, chocolatey, and slightly sweet.

Jasmine Pearl is a classic favorite.  We watched the leaves unroll with each powerful floral infusion, and even ate some at the end.  I like noting how the pearls vary in their buoyancy in the first couple infusions.  Some float, some stay in the middle, and some sink to the bottom of the gaiwan - a sign of high quality leaf.

Madison and Danny

Ryan and his tea cup.

The tea session was accompanied by some Shel Silverstein poems from A Light in the Attic, which I uncovered from the free pile at Cloyne.