Hello reader. It’s been about a month since we last spoke. Perhaps it feels like a long time to some of you, but it’s been a blink of an eye for me. I’m going to stray from the review format you are used to, so if that’s what you’re here for you can leave and go on about your business.
It’s been nearly a year since this blogs inception. As you can tell, there is no set rhythm with when I’ll write. There have been large lulls and larger flurries of activity. I suppose that’s likely a reflection of my mood more than anything. Anyway, I bring this to your attention because I won’t be advertising this anymore. If you’re still here, it is because you’ve enjoyed what you’ve read. And moving forward, if you are a new reader, you are here because you heard about me from someone other than myself. Now, I can hardly imagine there ever being a time where one of you broadcasts “Hey yo, new tecno dropped, check it out!” but a man can dream.
So, what’s been going on with me? Well, quite a bit actually. If you’ve been reading along for a while, you know that we’ve been in a series highlighting my adventures with Taobao. Particularly, I’ve been writing reviews for each of the 9 teas I purchased. I have three left to review. That’s been tabled because quite frankly, I don’t want to do it right now. If I don’t eventually get to it, I do plan on releasing some score cards and talking about them.
Score cards you say? I spoke a little about this earlier this year. I sent 10 taobao teas to four tasters in a blind tasting panel. Biv, my partner in crime, put together scorecards of everyone’s thoughts (including his and mine). I’ll get around to sharing those with you so you’ll at least get to see my thoughts on the three teas we haven’t covered here.
If you recall, the Taobao trial run was conducted to simply try shops storage. If some of the tea happened to be good, all the better. If that was the appetizer, then I’ve been extremely busy cooking the main course. Immediately after the first round of teas came in and I tried them all, the research began for sourcing “round two” as it has now been called.
Round two has been a much richer and rewarding experience, because not only have I been scoping out teas I’m actually excited for, but I’m building relationships. In fact, well over half the teas that will be coming in round two were not even purchased on the Taobao platform. That’s because I’ve been able to build relationships outside of Taobao. Some of these folks have shops there, and some do not. None of this would be possible of course if it were not for Biv. If he had not found me, none of this would have happened. I never dreamed this is where I’d land in this journey, and you know what? I have a feeling it’s just the beginning.
Round two! Round two teas will finally be in my hands somewhere around the end of this month. All things taken into consideration; this order has been nearly a year in the making. So, I’m pretty excited. I don’t know how the teas will be, but I did what I set out to do. And then much much more. What did I set out to do? I think it was to find some good tea for cheap. It’s kind of taken a life of its own though.
And the shop trials still haven’t stopped! Not only does round two include more shops for storage and product testing, but I managed to rope in another buddy who also happens to have a blog.
https://blog.alexsteanotes.com/?m=1
– I somehow managed to convince the poor sod to buy four different teas from four different Taobao shops. Those finally arrived for him, and now he’s sent some off to me for evaluation that I expect to receive today.
And then of course, some of my readers keep sending me tea to taste and review. It never ends. Not that that is a bad thing. I happen to like tasting, analyzing, reviewing tea. A man can only drink so much tea though. At least, that’s what my wife keeps telling me. I’m busy y’all! None of this takes into account what’s going on in my life outside of tea. You wouldn’t guess it, but there actually happens to be more to life than drinking dirty leaf water. I’m sure I’ll touch on those life details at a later date.
At present time though, you’re probably left asking what all of this means for you, the reader. As of right now it means nothing. But many of you continue to press me to open up shop. Sell you thangs. I’ll admit, it does have the aroma of inevitably. Black pepper leading to a sneeze. Burnt toast leading to a stroke. Chloroform leading to… anyway. Stars are aligning, and the puzzle pieces are falling into place. There is one big lingering factor hanging around though. I’m not sure I want to.
Whatever happens, I’ll still be drinking my tea. In fact, I’m drinking the 2007 dayi palace this very moment. That cake was part of round one, and one of the teas I still owe you a review on. How about this for a review: this tea is good.
And now, the fate of this blogs popularity and readership lay in your hands dear reader. What will you do with such a grand responsibility? Nothing? That wouldn’t bother me. If I recall, I think I set out to write this blog for no one other than myself. Having you and others engage is just a nice little bonus. Thanks for sitting at the table with me today. I’ll see you soon.
"This tea is good." Yes, that's it. :)
Well and simply said. Good tea speaks for utself.