Today was the first time I had tasted tea that is not Chamomile. There were tastey ones and not so tastey ones. The White Peach tea did not really have any flavor. The Green tea had a good sweet taste. The Oolong tea, which was my favorite, was also sweet and had the strong taste of Fruit Loops. The Black tea tasted like Chamomile, which to me tastes like leaves, but it also had a little taste of coconut. The Rooibos tea smelled and tasted like butterscotch. Thia McKann gave a lot of interesting information. I learned that Organic tea is better because it has no hazardous chemicals. However, if you put milk in your tea, it takes away all the healthy substances that you can get from the tea, because the milk keeps the body from absorbing the healthy substances from the tea. Also, every tea aims at helping a certain area of your body. White tea prevents cavities and its leaves are usually used in cosmetics because they are great for the skin. Green tea is great for memory, it helps diabetics, because it balances out sugar in the blood, and it prevents stress and Alzheimers disease. Oolong tea is great antidepresants. Black tea is good for the cardiovascular system, it lowers cholesterol, helps blood pleassure, balances blood sugar, and cuts stress hormones. Rooibos tea is a great pain reliever, and is great for arthreitis, the digestivbe system, and also helps relieve stress.
January 4, 2011 Yesterday a tea expert came in and let_let us taste five teas; White Peach Tea, Green tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, and Roobius Tea. Personally I liked the green tea the best. >White Tea: - Has anti-cancer benefits - Not as processed as other teas so it has high levels of antioxidants - DDT is a pesticide that is used in many countries but hasn't been used in over 40 years - Tea is the #1 suspect of DDT
>Green Tea: - Prevents Alzheimer - Cuts stress hormones - Effective for cancer - Good for people with diabetes b/c it cuts sugar levels
>Oolong tea: - Great for your liver - Good for people that are depressed - When bloated drink OOlong tea
>Black Tea (Red tea in Asia): - India produces 70% of the worlds tea - Lowers Cholesterol and blood pressure - When you have the flu drink black tea - Prevents a heart attack
>Rooibus Tea: - Anti-inflammatory - Good for stressed people - Good for people with arthritis
* Caffeine comes out within the first 30 seconds * Only Black tea will stain your teeth * Handles were put on cups so your hands wouldn't burn (Started In England) * If you put milk in tea your body won't get all the "good stuff" * You must drink 3-5 cups of tea for your body to receive all the benefits
How To: - Tap water is not good - Use water with a ph level of 7 or higher - Tea gets bitter b/c it's been brewed too long - Don't microwave the water you're going to use for tea - Boil water in pot until little bubbles appear and let it sit for ~5 min
Today, (well, yesterday) in the Tea IIW we had a guest speaker come in to the class and tell us some interesting things about tea, such as the different kinds of tea, it’s history, and how tea has changed throughout the years. This woman is the only certified Tea Master in the State of Texas, so the class was very lucky to have had the opportunity to have her speak for us. One of the things I found the most interesting was when she told us that an easy way to decaffeinate tea is to pour the water, then let it brew for about 30 seconds, pour that water out, and then pour new water and continue brewing.This is because most of the caffeine in the tea is brought out in about the first thirty seconds of brewing. Another interesting fact is that tea has several health benefits. It serves as an antioxidant, it’s used to treat depression, and it even helps prevent cancer. However, if milk is added to the tea, it cancels out all of the tea’s benefits. The woman also brought several different flavors of tea for the class to try, such as white peach tea, green tea, black tea, oolong tea and rooibos tea. They were all very good, but my favorite was the black tea. I’ve always been fond of black tea because of how often I drank it when I was younger.
Today I researched tea in the United Kingdom. I learned many facts, for example that most people in Great Britain drink black tea, with milk, and sometimes sugar. Since the milk is added, people in Great Britain loose the benefits of drinking the tea, and thus suffer from many cardiovascular diseases. Also, In Britain employers allow their employees tea breaks each day. On average one British person will drink at least six cups of tea a day. Today I also experienced my very first Japanese Tea Ceremony. It was a rather beautiful experience. The procedure was very calm, neat, and quiet. At first the host has to clean the utincils with a cloth, which may seem to be useless but it is actually done to show the guests that everything is prepared extra clean for them and just for them. The guests and hostesses then show respect by passing around the tea and before passing it to the next person they say "excuse me for drinking tea before you". In the United States the sipping noise is considered rude, but in Japan it is actually considered to be good, because it lets the host know that the tea was very good and that they enjoyed it. Overall I think that the tea ceremony was a wonderful experience to have.(220)
The Japanese Tea Ceremony that we attended was very interesting. It seems that tea, and the culture that surrounds it, is taken much more seriously in Japan as opposed to the United States. The ceremony began by the “host” entering the room, along with three volunteers from the class. These people had to enter the “room” through a small, square door. The presenter told us that this was so that everyone felt as though they were equal in the room. Then, all that were in the room bowed to each other to show gratitude. It is ideal for the people in the room to sit with their legs under them, which the presenter told us takes some getting used to. The tea was served, first to the host, then to the next person and so on. In the United States, making a slurping sound while drinking something is considered rude. However, in the Japanese culture, it is considered good manners because it expresses how good the tea tastes and how thankful the person is to be drinking it. While all of this was being done, the room was mostly silent. This is so that the environment in the room stays peaceful and calm. WC: 204
Today I learned that the Korean Tea Ceremony is a lot different from the Japanese Tea Ceremony that we learned about yesterday, but both still have some similarities. For example, they both usually serve Green tea. And for both cultures Green tea was once used as a medicine but later became more common, and was drunk by people in the upper class. Later it was drunk by people in every class. The Japanese Tea Ceremony had the elements of respect, tranquility, purity and harmony, where as the Korean Tea Ceremony had the elements of affection, courtesy, and care. The Japanese Tea Ceremony is used to make those viewing it feel calm and serene, while the Korean Tea Ceremony is used to build friendships among women. Therefore the Korean Tea Ceremony is not quite at all and is actually very sociable, unlike the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The drinking cups are all the same, except for one cup, which is the guest's cup. When serving tea, you first have to pour tea into the guest's cup and then at the end, yours. Before drinking the tea you must look at the color, then you must smell the auroma of the tea. Then you can take a small sip to taste the tea. Finally you can take larger sips to finish the tea. Learning about this ceremony was very interesting. (227 words)
Jazlynn Bernal Jan. 4th 2011 Today is our first day in our Tea IIW class. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the room was a table full of different types of tea pots and cups. It was interesting to see how different regions of the world present their tea. We also had a guest speaker, Thea McCand. She is the only person certified as a master of tea in the state of Texas. She explained the process of gaining her mastery, which made the title seem pretty impressive. Thea shared five different types of teas with us; White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Black tea (also known as red tea in parts of Asia) and Rooibos tea. Before today I’ve really only had one or two types of teas, and I didn’t know anything about them at all. I learned that different tea’s have different healing effects to the body. White tea is good for the skin and prevents strep and staph infections, drinking green tea helps retain knowledge and is used to help with arthritis, Oolong tea produces T-cells that fight cancer cells and is often taken to help depression, Black tea is good for bone density problems and is anti-bacterial, and last rooibos tea is good for the digestive system. All the teas are from the same type of plant except for rooibos, that’s actually from a red bush and is considered to come from the pea family. Thea shared a lot of fun little facts about tea such as the water PH level makes a difference and tea used to be handled as currency. Because it was my first time taking the time to drink the tea, I wasn’t too fond of all the flavors; the only tea I really enjoyed was the rooibos. (295)
The Korean Tea presentation was much different compared to the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The Korean one was different because it was much more casual and a bit more modern. The teas were also different because the Korean Tea wasn’t as thick or strong as the Japanese Tea was. Also, the Korean sometimes use teabags, where in Japan, most of the tea is made from tea powder. I am continuing to work on my part of the group’s Europe Map. The country I chose to look at more in depth was Ireland. I chose this country because it seems like a popular country and I think they have very interesting tea rituals. From my research, I have learned that Ireland is one of the largest tea consumer per capita in the world. I also learned about how families use tea for special occasions. In Ireland, if a member of a family passes away, it is usually expected that the family keep a pot of water boiling all day to make tea for any company that might want to visit. I find this interesting because in our culture, usually people send the grieving family comfort food to make them feel better, but in Ireland, the roles are somewhat reversed. (207)
Today I leanred how tea affects the culture of Iran. Through Mrs. Ranjbaaran's presentation I learned that people from Iran would brew their tea with a samovar. The hot water in the samovar would produce steam that would then heat up the tea pot on top of it, making it brew the tea and water inside it. When serving tea, in Iran people usually serve the tea in a glass cup, because in Iran people like to see the color of the tea. In parties, instead of serving chips and dip like in America, they serve fruits, sweets, and tea. Even when you are just visiting a friend's house, in Iran they don't ask you if you want tea, they just bring it to you. If you do not want the tea then you do not drink it, but you can not refuse the tea, because that is considered rude. We tasted one of the teas usually served in Iran called Cardamom tea. We are also offered cookies and sugar cubes. For me the tea was a little bitter until I put sugar in it and then it tasted much better. In fact it turned out to be my favorite tea I've tasted so far.
Jazlynn Bernal Jan. 5th 2011 I was quite excited when we went to the multipurpose room for the Japanese ceremony. It was the second time I experienced the ritual, the first time being in Japan, and was quite a learning experience. The tea they served me in Japan was WAY better than the tea we tasted in the ceremony here. When we walked in, one of the women greeted us and explained what the ceremony meant to the Japanese. She also went into detail about their New Years ceremony and the importance of the holiday to their country, they even created premade posters with examples of their traditions. It was a bit difficult to understand everything she said, but it was obvious that the ceremony was a sacred ritual. It was very serious and was supposed to be performed in dead silence. First, you must enter the room through a tiny door. The door is so small that you have to basically crawl through it; only, it’s in a precise way. Then, you take a cookie or other form of sweet that the host has to offer, when you do this you say a Japanese phrase that roughly translates into “excuse me for eating this”. The tea drinking itself is an exact process as well. I couldn’t quite see the volunteers drinking it, but from what I heard, they drink from the same bowl, take a few sips, wipe off where they drank, and turned it an exact amount before handing it to the next person. I remember the woman saying that if they slurped the tea during the last sip, it was a sign that the tea was good. I personally didn’t care much for the tea or the refreshments offered, however I was quite intrigued and interested in their kimonos. I tried one on a few summers ago, and it was quite difficult and uncomfortable. It’s very surprising that some Japanese women wear them more often than just special occasions. (307)
Jazlynn Bernal Jan. 6th 2011 Yesterday’s Japanese demonstration was so beautiful and meticulous, but lacked heavily in the tasting area. Today is the other way around. We had visitors that demonstrated South Korean tea ceremonies, and although theirs wasn’t so detail oriented, their presentation was educational and their tea was delicious. South Koreans make/ drink mainly green tea. The woman explained that they try to avoid young tea leaves because they’re not very stable, and have “special” effects when eaten. The green tea leaves are steamed; they’re not fermented or oxidized. This is different than most of East Asia because most tea originating in East Asia are oxidized. During tea leaves earlier years, they were used for food and medicine, but with the development of storage technology it has become a material for drink. Throughout the years, tea has been used as a social gathering between women of the noble classes. Unlike the Japanese ceremony, which is used for more of a ritual and spiritual purpose, South Korean tea ceremonies are used to socialize, meaning they’re encouraged to talk. The woman explained that all five senses are used to drink the tea; tasting, the smell, the color, hearing the steam, and feeling the warmth of the cup. She showed us how they prepare the cups, boiling the water, pouring the water in the cups, pouring the water back in the kettle, adding the tea leaves, then a few minutes later pouring and serving the finished tea. I must say, I really enjoyed the tea, however I was disappointed when they decided to bring chocolate instead of their ceremonial foods, I mean, isn’t IIW about trying new things? (272)
Today, we witnessed a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The tea started of as a powder and when added to hot water becomes a warm green tea with foam. The tea smelled like seaweed and was really powdery, we had a sweet treat to go with our green tea, The treat wasn’t all that flavorful but had plenty of texture.
The tea ceremony is a very silent event, and a very long process. The hostess would clean her utensils to show her guests that they are welcomed and all the tools used are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. Tranquility, Harmony, Respect, and Purity are a major role in the ceremony, Didn’t get to complete much research.
January 5, 2011 (the other post was for the 6th) Today we had a guest speaker come over, she’s the only tea expert in Texas! We learned a lot about the history of tea, tea benefits, what tea is best for you, all the different types of tea and their benefits. We were able to test 5 different teas which were yummy (this is actually continued from my very first post)
January 6, 2011 Today we had a Korean tea ceremony, I actually enjoyed this ceremony more than the Japanese ceremony. This was more of a social event, the Korean tea ceremony has the purpose of having women become closer. So it’s kind like going out for coffee here but coffee is replaced with tea. In the ceremony there is usually a sweet as in a rice cake. I learned a new way to cool the tea which is to pour a little in each cup and come back to pour once again, the tea should not be fill to the rim, it should fill about half way. The cups should rest on your left hand and with your right hand hold it with 3 fingers, your thumb, your index, and middle finger with your other two fingers together and a bit out. I also learned a new way to drain your tea bags, which is to lift the bag just a bit above the tea and let it hang there, let it spin and whatever it wants to do and when its done draining throw it away.
Jazlynn Bernal Jan. 7th 2011 So, I’m fairly sure that today’s tea (without the sugar) was my favorite tea. Ms. Ranjbaaran is from Iran, and she was sweet enough to share her heritage’s outlook on tea with us. Much like the South Korean’s, Persians use tea as a means to socialize. Tea is so customary in Iran; they not only drink it when guests come over, but also first thing in the morning. The country was primarily a coffee country until the 15th century when the main beverage turned into tea. This was due to the geographic advantage of tea, growing closer to Iran than coffee beans. The piece of equipment used to brew the tea is called a samovar. It was a strange looking kettle that boiled water which gave off steam that rose to the top with a hole where the leaves are sitting in a pot brewing. The steam is so hot it boils the little bit of water with the tea leaves in it which creates a strong base, then you just add water from the samovar to weaken the tea. It took a while to completely understand how it worked, but it was so interesting. Persians drink their tea with sugar cubes. I tried it with the sugar cubes and preferred it without. The black tea they drink is good for the teeth, lowering cholesterol, and good for the circulatory system. The tea and refreshments were definitely my favorite. I was surprised that Ms. Ranjbaaran shared her journey to the United States. I enjoyed her company as a host as well as her traditions. (264)
Jazlynn Bernal Jan. 10th 2011 Today was our last day here in our IIW class. We have a fieldtrip to a tearoom, Serenity. When we walked in there were a bunch of little tables with four tea cups and saucers at each table. It was such a cute setting, and everywhere you looked in the shop there were decorations of tea pots or something related to tea. I don’t quite recall all the different types of tea we drank, there was over ten. I enjoyed some more than others for sure, but it was a good experience widening my tea tasting pallet. We were also served scones, I think they were cranberry. It was a cute experience, sitting at a table with three other people carrying on a conversation over tea and scones. The woman who owns Serenity gave us a mini history lesson about where tea comes from how it traveled to different regions to get where it is now. She also taught us the difference between Afternoon Tea, Light Tea, and High Tea. I found it very interesting that one pound of coffee has less caffeine than one pound of tea, but one cup of coffee has more caffeine than one cup of tea. It makes sense because less tea leaves are necessary to make a cup of tea than the amount of coffee beans needed to make a cup of coffee. Also, the type of water and the way it’s prepared is very important. The woman shared a lot about tea. It was quite refreshing. (253)
Jan. 4, 2011 Today when we walked to our class I noticed several different teapots and teacups arranged on a table. Ms. Smith, Ms. Martin, Ms. Harelson explained to us the different countries these things were from and how they were used. We then had Tea Master, Thea McCand, come and talked talk to us about different types of tea and their health benefits. We tasted White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Black tea, and Rooibos tea. My favorite was the Black tea. Tea has several health benefits, but the strange thing is when milk is added to a cup of tea it cancels out all the health benefits, which is funny because that sucks for British people, such as my mother and grandmother. I’m really excited to learn about different types of tea and how different cultures make it. 137 words
Jan. 5, 2011 Today we saw a Japanese tea ceremony. The women were wearing really pretty dresses called kimono’s that looked quite uncomfortable. I volunteered to participate in their ceremony. So first, I took off my shoes and crawled under a tiny door after bowing. All of this happened on a mat. After I took my place, I was passed a plate of cookies, but before I took one I had to excuse myself for eating by saying something in Japanese. After everyone ate I had to bow and they passed around this big cup full of tea. Drinking it is kind of ridiculous, I had to turn in to the left, take three sips slurping during the last sip, wipe where my lips touched, then turn it half way to the right. It was really confusing, and the tea tasted like liquid eel. I think I like green tea the least. The women also talked about their culture and the importance of the tea ceremony. I thought it was weird that they don’t talk at all during the ceremony; it’s more of a ritual thing than a social gathering. 187 words
Jan. 6, 2011 Korean women came to talk to us about how they drink and make their tea. I was a little disappointed that after yesterday’s huge presentation the women were dressed casually and spoke decent English. Instead of drinking tea for spiritual reasons they drink it to socialize. The women use tea to socialize, and they talk about the tea. The way they serve it is kind of strange too, but it’s more practical than the Japanese people’s way of serving. They heat of the water, pour it into each cup, and then pour it back in the tea pot. They do that to warm the tea cup. After the water is put back in the pot they added the tea leaves for 3-5 minutes. They also used a common everyday tea to show us how they prepare it. I’m not going to lie, it was good tea. I was surprised to see the bigger chunks of tea leaves when I drank the tea, but regardless, it was good. The woman said they eat Korean rice cakes with their tea, which sounded like it would go better with the tea than chocolates, but chocolate was fine too. 195 words
Today was the final day in our Tea IIW. To finish off the week we went to the Serenity Tea Room. The room was made up of pastel colors and had several small tables that seated four people. For each person there was a tea cup, saucer, fork, spoon, and knife. We were served ten types of tea and scones to go with them. Most of the teas were really good, others were not. However, it was the best tea I have ever tasted. There were teas I had never heard of, and I was able to learn about different types of tea and how each one tasted. I do not remember the names of the tea, because there were several but I know that they tasted delicious. Meanwhile we tasted the various teas we were able to converse with the people in our table. It was really fun and I was able to have quality time with my friends. Soon after we were almost done with our tea one of the tea owners started to talk to us about the history of tea. Then after we came back to school we were able to present our research on how tea is used in different parts of the world. It was a very informative day.
America Jauregui
ReplyDelete01-04-11
Today was the first time I had tasted tea that is not Chamomile. There were tastey ones and not so tastey ones. The White Peach tea did not really have any flavor. The Green tea had a good sweet taste. The Oolong tea, which was my favorite, was also sweet and had the strong taste of Fruit Loops. The Black tea tasted like Chamomile, which to me tastes like leaves, but it also had a little taste of coconut. The Rooibos tea smelled and tasted like butterscotch. Thia McKann gave a lot of interesting information. I learned that Organic tea is better because it has no hazardous chemicals. However, if you put milk in your tea, it takes away all the healthy substances that you can get from the tea, because the milk keeps the body from absorbing the healthy substances from the tea. Also, every tea aims at helping a certain area of your body. White tea prevents cavities and its leaves are usually used in cosmetics because they are great for the skin. Green tea is great for memory, it helps diabetics, because it balances out sugar in the blood, and it prevents stress and Alzheimers disease. Oolong tea is great antidepresants. Black tea is good for the cardiovascular system, it lowers cholesterol, helps blood pleassure, balances blood sugar, and cuts stress hormones. Rooibos tea is a great pain reliever, and is great for arthreitis, the digestivbe system, and also helps relieve stress.
(245 words)
January 4, 2011
ReplyDeleteYesterday a tea expert came in and let_let us taste five teas; White Peach Tea, Green tea, Oolong Tea, Black Tea, and Roobius Tea. Personally I liked the green tea the best.
>White Tea:
- Has anti-cancer benefits
- Not as processed as other teas so it has high levels of antioxidants
- DDT is a pesticide that is used in many countries but hasn't been used in over 40 years
- Tea is the #1 suspect of DDT
>Green Tea:
- Prevents Alzheimer
- Cuts stress hormones
- Effective for cancer
- Good for people with diabetes b/c it cuts sugar levels
>Oolong tea:
- Great for your liver
- Good for people that are depressed
- When bloated drink OOlong tea
>Black Tea (Red tea in Asia):
- India produces 70% of the worlds tea
- Lowers Cholesterol and blood pressure
- When you have the flu drink black tea
- Prevents a heart attack
>Rooibus Tea:
- Anti-inflammatory
- Good for stressed people
- Good for people with arthritis
* Caffeine comes out within the first 30 seconds
* Only Black tea will stain your teeth
* Handles were put on cups so your hands wouldn't burn (Started In England)
* If you put milk in tea your body won't get all the "good stuff"
* You must drink 3-5 cups of tea for your body to receive all the benefits
How To:
- Tap water is not good
- Use water with a ph level of 7 or higher
- Tea gets bitter b/c it's been brewed too long
- Don't microwave the water you're going to use for tea
- Boil water in pot until little bubbles appear and let it sit for ~5 min
296 words
Brianna Raymond 1/5/11
ReplyDeleteToday, (well, yesterday) in the Tea IIW we had a guest speaker come in to the class and tell us some interesting things about tea, such as the different kinds of tea, it’s history, and how tea has changed throughout the years. This woman is the only certified Tea Master in the State of Texas, so the class was very lucky to have had the opportunity to have her speak for us. One of the things I found the most interesting was when she told us that an easy way to decaffeinate tea is to pour the water, then let it brew for about 30 seconds, pour that water out, and then pour new water and continue brewing.This is because most of the caffeine in the tea is brought out in about the first thirty seconds of brewing. Another interesting fact is that tea has several health benefits. It serves as an antioxidant, it’s used to treat depression, and it even helps prevent cancer. However, if milk is added to the tea, it cancels out all of the tea’s benefits. The woman also brought several different flavors of tea for the class to try, such as white peach tea, green tea, black tea, oolong tea and rooibos tea. They were all very good, but my favorite was the black tea. I’ve always been fond of black tea because of how often I drank it when I was younger.
America Jauregui
ReplyDelete01-05-11
Today I researched tea in the United Kingdom. I learned many facts, for example that most people in Great Britain drink black tea, with milk, and sometimes sugar. Since the milk is added, people in Great Britain loose the benefits of drinking the tea, and thus suffer from many cardiovascular diseases. Also, In Britain employers allow their employees tea breaks each day. On average one British person will drink at least six cups of tea a day. Today I also experienced my very first Japanese Tea Ceremony. It was a rather beautiful experience. The procedure was very calm, neat, and quiet. At first the host has to clean the utincils with a cloth, which may seem to be useless but it is actually done to show the guests that everything is prepared extra clean for them and just for them. The guests and hostesses then show respect by passing around the tea and before passing it to the next person they say "excuse me for drinking tea before you". In the United States the sipping noise is considered rude, but in Japan it is actually considered to be good, because it lets the host know that the tea was very good and that they enjoyed it. Overall I think that the tea ceremony was a wonderful experience to have.(220)
Brianna Raymond 1/6/11
ReplyDeleteThe Japanese Tea Ceremony that we attended was very interesting. It seems that tea, and the culture that surrounds it, is taken much more seriously in Japan as opposed to the United States. The ceremony began by the “host” entering the room, along with three volunteers from the class. These people had to enter the “room” through a small, square door. The presenter told us that this was so that everyone felt as though they were equal in the room. Then, all that were in the room bowed to each other to show gratitude. It is ideal for the people in the room to sit with their legs under them, which the presenter told us takes some getting used to. The tea was served, first to the host, then to the next person and so on. In the United States, making a slurping sound while drinking something is considered rude. However, in the Japanese culture, it is considered good manners because it expresses how good the tea tastes and how thankful the person is to be drinking it. While all of this was being done, the room was mostly silent. This is so that the environment in the room stays peaceful and calm. WC: 204
America Jauregui
ReplyDelete01-06-10
Today I learned that the Korean Tea Ceremony is a lot different from the Japanese Tea Ceremony that we learned about yesterday, but both still have some similarities. For example, they both usually serve Green tea. And for both cultures Green tea was once used as a medicine but later became more common, and was drunk by people in the upper class. Later it was drunk by people in every class. The Japanese Tea Ceremony had the elements of respect, tranquility, purity and harmony, where as the Korean Tea Ceremony had the elements of affection, courtesy, and care. The Japanese Tea Ceremony is used to make those viewing it feel calm and serene, while the Korean Tea Ceremony is used to build friendships among women. Therefore the Korean Tea Ceremony is not quite at all and is actually very sociable, unlike the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The drinking cups are all the same, except for one cup, which is the guest's cup. When serving tea, you first have to pour tea into the guest's cup and then at the end, yours. Before drinking the tea you must look at the color, then you must smell the auroma of the tea. Then you can take a small sip to taste the tea. Finally you can take larger sips to finish the tea. Learning about this ceremony was very interesting.
(227 words)
Jazlynn Bernal
ReplyDeleteJan. 4th 2011
Today is our first day in our Tea IIW class. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the room was a table full of different types of tea pots and cups. It was interesting to see how different regions of the world present their tea. We also had a guest speaker, Thea McCand. She is the only person certified as a master of tea in the state of Texas. She explained the process of gaining her mastery, which made the title seem pretty impressive. Thea shared five different types of teas with us; White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Black tea (also known as red tea in parts of Asia) and Rooibos tea. Before today I’ve really only had one or two types of teas, and I didn’t know anything about them at all. I learned that different tea’s have different healing effects to the body. White tea is good for the skin and prevents strep and staph infections, drinking green tea helps retain knowledge and is used to help with arthritis, Oolong tea produces T-cells that fight cancer cells and is often taken to help depression, Black tea is good for bone density problems and is anti-bacterial, and last rooibos tea is good for the digestive system. All the teas are from the same type of plant except for rooibos, that’s actually from a red bush and is considered to come from the pea family. Thea shared a lot of fun little facts about tea such as the water PH level makes a difference and tea used to be handled as currency. Because it was my first time taking the time to drink the tea, I wasn’t too fond of all the flavors; the only tea I really enjoyed was the rooibos.
(295)
Brianna Raymond 1/7/10
ReplyDeleteThe Korean Tea presentation was much different compared to the Japanese Tea Ceremony. The Korean one was different because it was much more casual and a bit more modern. The teas were also different because the Korean Tea wasn’t as thick or strong as the Japanese Tea was. Also, the Korean sometimes use teabags, where in Japan, most of the tea is made from tea powder.
I am continuing to work on my part of the group’s Europe Map. The country I chose to look at more in depth was Ireland. I chose this country because it seems like a popular country and I think they have very interesting tea rituals. From my research, I have learned that Ireland is one of the largest tea consumer per capita in the world. I also learned about how families use tea for special occasions. In Ireland, if a member of a family passes away, it is usually expected that the family keep a pot of water boiling all day to make tea for any company that might want to visit. I find this interesting because in our culture, usually people send the grieving family comfort food to make them feel better, but in Ireland, the roles are somewhat reversed. (207)
America Jauregui
ReplyDelete01-07-11
Today I leanred how tea affects the culture of Iran. Through Mrs. Ranjbaaran's presentation I learned that people from Iran would brew their tea with a samovar. The hot water in the samovar would produce steam that would then heat up the tea pot on top of it, making it brew the tea and water inside it. When serving tea, in Iran people usually serve the tea in a glass cup, because in Iran people like to see the color of the tea. In parties, instead of serving chips and dip like in America, they serve fruits, sweets, and tea. Even when you are just visiting a friend's house, in Iran they don't ask you if you want tea, they just bring it to you. If you do not want the tea then you do not drink it, but you can not refuse the tea, because that is considered rude. We tasted one of the teas usually served in Iran called Cardamom tea. We are also offered cookies and sugar cubes. For me the tea was a little bitter until I put sugar in it and then it tasted much better. In fact it turned out to be my favorite tea I've tasted so far.
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Jazlynn Bernal
ReplyDeleteJan. 5th 2011
I was quite excited when we went to the multipurpose room for the Japanese ceremony. It was the second time I experienced the ritual, the first time being in Japan, and was quite a learning experience. The tea they served me in Japan was WAY better than the tea we tasted in the ceremony here. When we walked in, one of the women greeted us and explained what the ceremony meant to the Japanese. She also went into detail about their New Years ceremony and the importance of the holiday to their country, they even created premade posters with examples of their traditions. It was a bit difficult to understand everything she said, but it was obvious that the ceremony was a sacred ritual. It was very serious and was supposed to be performed in dead silence. First, you must enter the room through a tiny door. The door is so small that you have to basically crawl through it; only, it’s in a precise way. Then, you take a cookie or other form of sweet that the host has to offer, when you do this you say a Japanese phrase that roughly translates into “excuse me for eating this”. The tea drinking itself is an exact process as well. I couldn’t quite see the volunteers drinking it, but from what I heard, they drink from the same bowl, take a few sips, wipe off where they drank, and turned it an exact amount before handing it to the next person. I remember the woman saying that if they slurped the tea during the last sip, it was a sign that the tea was good. I personally didn’t care much for the tea or the refreshments offered, however I was quite intrigued and interested in their kimonos. I tried one on a few summers ago, and it was quite difficult and uncomfortable. It’s very surprising that some Japanese women wear them more often than just special occasions.
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Jazlynn Bernal
ReplyDeleteJan. 6th 2011
Yesterday’s Japanese demonstration was so beautiful and meticulous, but lacked heavily in the tasting area. Today is the other way around. We had visitors that demonstrated South Korean tea ceremonies, and although theirs wasn’t so detail oriented, their presentation was educational and their tea was delicious. South Koreans make/ drink mainly green tea. The woman explained that they try to avoid young tea leaves because they’re not very stable, and have “special” effects when eaten. The green tea leaves are steamed; they’re not fermented or oxidized. This is different than most of East Asia because most tea originating in East Asia are oxidized. During tea leaves earlier years, they were used for food and medicine, but with the development of storage technology it has become a material for drink. Throughout the years, tea has been used as a social gathering between women of the noble classes. Unlike the Japanese ceremony, which is used for more of a ritual and spiritual purpose, South Korean tea ceremonies are used to socialize, meaning they’re encouraged to talk. The woman explained that all five senses are used to drink the tea; tasting, the smell, the color, hearing the steam, and feeling the warmth of the cup. She showed us how they prepare the cups, boiling the water, pouring the water in the cups, pouring the water back in the kettle, adding the tea leaves, then a few minutes later pouring and serving the finished tea. I must say, I really enjoyed the tea, however I was disappointed when they decided to bring chocolate instead of their ceremonial foods, I mean, isn’t IIW about trying new things?
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January 5, 2011
ReplyDeleteToday, we witnessed a traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony. The tea started of as a powder and when added to hot water becomes a warm green tea with foam. The tea smelled like seaweed and was really powdery, we had a sweet treat to go with our green tea, The treat wasn’t all that flavorful but had plenty of texture.
The tea ceremony is a very silent event, and a very long process. The hostess would clean her utensils to show her guests that they are welcomed and all the tools used are cleaned and disinfected thoroughly. Tranquility, Harmony, Respect, and Purity are a major role in the ceremony, Didn’t get to complete much research.
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January 5, 2011 (the other post was for the 6th)
ReplyDeleteToday we had a guest speaker come over, she’s the only tea expert in Texas! We learned a lot about the history of tea, tea benefits, what tea is best for you, all the different types of tea and their benefits. We were able to test 5 different teas which were yummy (this is actually continued from my very first post)
January 6, 2011
ReplyDeleteToday we had a Korean tea ceremony, I actually enjoyed this ceremony more than the Japanese ceremony. This was more of a social event, the Korean tea ceremony has the purpose of having women become closer. So it’s kind like going out for coffee here but coffee is replaced with tea. In the ceremony there is usually a sweet as in a rice cake. I learned a new way to cool the tea which is to pour a little in each cup and come back to pour once again, the tea should not be fill to the rim, it should fill about half way. The cups should rest on your left hand and with your right hand hold it with 3 fingers, your thumb, your index, and middle finger with your other two fingers together and a bit out. I also learned a new way to drain your tea bags, which is to lift the bag just a bit above the tea and let it hang there, let it spin and whatever it wants to do and when its done draining throw it away.
Word Count; 187
Jazlynn Bernal
ReplyDeleteJan. 7th 2011
So, I’m fairly sure that today’s tea (without the sugar) was my favorite tea. Ms. Ranjbaaran is from Iran, and she was sweet enough to share her heritage’s outlook on tea with us. Much like the South Korean’s, Persians use tea as a means to socialize. Tea is so customary in Iran; they not only drink it when guests come over, but also first thing in the morning. The country was primarily a coffee country until the 15th century when the main beverage turned into tea. This was due to the geographic advantage of tea, growing closer to Iran than coffee beans. The piece of equipment used to brew the tea is called a samovar. It was a strange looking kettle that boiled water which gave off steam that rose to the top with a hole where the leaves are sitting in a pot brewing. The steam is so hot it boils the little bit of water with the tea leaves in it which creates a strong base, then you just add water from the samovar to weaken the tea. It took a while to completely understand how it worked, but it was so interesting. Persians drink their tea with sugar cubes. I tried it with the sugar cubes and preferred it without. The black tea they drink is good for the teeth, lowering cholesterol, and good for the circulatory system. The tea and refreshments were definitely my favorite. I was surprised that Ms. Ranjbaaran shared her journey to the United States. I enjoyed her company as a host as well as her traditions.
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Jazlynn Bernal
ReplyDeleteJan. 10th 2011
Today was our last day here in our IIW class. We have a fieldtrip to a tearoom, Serenity. When we walked in there were a bunch of little tables with four tea cups and saucers at each table. It was such a cute setting, and everywhere you looked in the shop there were decorations of tea pots or something related to tea. I don’t quite recall all the different types of tea we drank, there was over ten. I enjoyed some more than others for sure, but it was a good experience widening my tea tasting pallet. We were also served scones, I think they were cranberry. It was a cute experience, sitting at a table with three other people carrying on a conversation over tea and scones. The woman who owns Serenity gave us a mini history lesson about where tea comes from how it traveled to different regions to get where it is now. She also taught us the difference between Afternoon Tea, Light Tea, and High Tea. I found it very interesting that one pound of coffee has less caffeine than one pound of tea, but one cup of coffee has more caffeine than one cup of tea. It makes sense because less tea leaves are necessary to make a cup of tea than the amount of coffee beans needed to make a cup of coffee. Also, the type of water and the way it’s prepared is very important. The woman shared a lot about tea. It was quite refreshing.
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Caitlin Camacho
ReplyDeleteJan. 4, 2011
Today when we walked to our class I noticed several different teapots and teacups arranged on a table. Ms. Smith, Ms. Martin, Ms. Harelson explained to us the different countries these things were from and how they were used. We then had Tea Master, Thea McCand, come and talked talk to us about different types of tea and their health benefits. We tasted White tea, Green tea, Oolong tea, Black tea, and Rooibos tea. My favorite was the Black tea. Tea has several health benefits, but the strange thing is when milk is added to a cup of tea it cancels out all the health benefits, which is funny because that sucks for British people, such as my mother and grandmother. I’m really excited to learn about different types of tea and how different cultures make it.
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Jan. 5, 2011
Today we saw a Japanese tea ceremony. The women were wearing really pretty dresses called kimono’s that looked quite uncomfortable. I volunteered to participate in their ceremony. So first, I took off my shoes and crawled under a tiny door after bowing. All of this happened on a mat. After I took my place, I was passed a plate of cookies, but before I took one I had to excuse myself for eating by saying something in Japanese. After everyone ate I had to bow and they passed around this big cup full of tea. Drinking it is kind of ridiculous, I had to turn in to the left, take three sips slurping during the last sip, wipe where my lips touched, then turn it half way to the right. It was really confusing, and the tea tasted like liquid eel. I think I like green tea the least. The women also talked about their culture and the importance of the tea ceremony. I thought it was weird that they don’t talk at all during the ceremony; it’s more of a ritual thing than a social gathering.
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Jan. 6, 2011
Korean women came to talk to us about how they drink and make their tea. I was a little disappointed that after yesterday’s huge presentation the women were dressed casually and spoke decent English. Instead of drinking tea for spiritual reasons they drink it to socialize. The women use tea to socialize, and they talk about the tea. The way they serve it is kind of strange too, but it’s more practical than the Japanese people’s way of serving. They heat of the water, pour it into each cup, and then pour it back in the tea pot. They do that to warm the tea cup. After the water is put back in the pot they added the tea leaves for 3-5 minutes. They also used a common everyday tea to show us how they prepare it. I’m not going to lie, it was good tea. I was surprised to see the bigger chunks of tea leaves when I drank the tea, but regardless, it was good. The woman said they eat Korean rice cakes with their tea, which sounded like it would go better with the tea than chocolates, but chocolate was fine too.
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ReplyDeleteAmerica Jauregui
ReplyDelete01-10-11
Today was the final day in our Tea IIW. To finish off the week we went to the Serenity Tea Room. The room was made up of pastel colors and had several small tables that seated four people. For each person there was a tea cup, saucer, fork, spoon, and knife. We were served ten types of tea and scones to go with them. Most of the teas were really good, others were not. However, it was the best tea I have ever tasted. There were teas I had never heard of, and I was able to learn about different types of tea and how each one tasted. I do not remember the names of the tea, because there were several but I know that they tasted delicious. Meanwhile we tasted the various teas we were able to converse with the people in our table. It was really fun and I was able to have quality time with my friends. Soon after we were almost done with our tea one of the tea owners started to talk to us about the history of tea. Then after we came back to school we were able to present our research on how tea is used in different parts of the world. It was a very informative day.
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