[-]
Season's Pick Risheehat Estate is the first pot I steeped out of my new order listed below.

Upton Tea's web site gave this description for the tea:

This tea has a pronounced floral aroma, a well-balanced nutty flavor, and a warm, sweet-floral finish. An outstanding value for premium Darjeeling Tea.

My favorite teas are grown mostly in the Darjeeling region of India, and as you can tell from my order in the blog post just below this one that the teas I ordered have been grown in the Darjeeling region or close to the region (all grown at a high altitudes) for the similar characteristics that I enjoy.

The description that Upton Tea gave about this tea is very accurate except for the sweet-floral part. I am missing the muscatel notes that I really enjoy from Darjeeling Teas.

The main reason I ordered this particular tea was due to the lower cost of this tea and that I could order it in bulk (I drink more tea in any given day than water alone) to keep my supply here at my home up for a while. Tuesday night I almost had a fit when I realized that I had only three kinds of Black Tea left in my stash (the tins were hidden in between all of my White Teas and Green Teas), so I went to my computer and ordered six Black Teas real quick.

I'm glad I ordered this tea, although it will not be a favorite, but it will give me some more variety in my Black Teas to choose from everyday.

Season's Pick Risheehat Estate - http://noteabags.blogspot.com/2007/06/seasons-pick-risheehat-estate.html

[-] I place an order from Upton Tea Imports on Tuesday night and I received the order today. Not bad! Upton Tea Imports received my order Tuesday night, then on Wednesday they processed my order and shipped it via USPS the same day and it arrived today (Friday). Now I wished more companies that you order products from online would process and ship/deliver in that kind of timely manner.

Well anyway, I ordered six teas:

• Season's Pick Dharamshala Estate TGFOP1
• Season's Pick Risheehat Estate
• Himalayan TGFOP1
• Golden Nepal (Kanyam Estate)
• Darjeeling FTGFOP Special Blend Organic
• Dunsandale Organic TGFOP EX/SPL

Season's Pick Dharamshala Estate TGFOP1
Description from Upton's web site:
Produced in Kangra Valley (Valley of the Gods), this well-made tea has uniform, dark green needle-like leaves. The cup has medium body with a pleasing, vegetal aroma and fine floral notes. The finish is robust, and the character is much like that of a Darjeeling.

Season's Pick Risheehat Estate
Description from Upton's web site:
This tea has a pronounced floral aroma, a well-balanced nutty flavor, and a warm, sweet-floral finish. An outstanding value for premium Darjeeling tea.

Himalayan TGFOP1
Description from Upton's web site:
Deep Darjeeling-like flavor notes reminiscent of the style of Sikkim teas. A 3 minute infusion produces an aromatic tea with golden liquor. Highly recommended.

Golden Nepal (Kanyam Estate)
Description from Upton's web site:
From the high Himalayan mountains, this tea is somewhat reminiscent of a Darjeeling. Bright amber liquor.

Darjeeling FTGFOP Special Blend Organic
Description from Upton's web site:
A blend of select lots of organic Darjeeling teas. The golden liquor has a delicate floral aroma and a mildly fruity flavor. The cup is smooth, and the finish is pleasingly pungent. We have a limited supply of this tea and offer it at a special price.

Dunsandale Organic TGFOP EX/SPL
Description from Upton's web site:
This full-bodied, fragrant tea produces a fruity cup with nuances of walnuts. The character is eminently fresh, with Darjeeling-like notes and a lingering aftertaste. A good selection for those who like a high-altitude Himalayan tea.

I just steeped my first pot from the order from above, next I'll give my review.

A New Order - http://noteabags.blogspot.com/2007/06/new-order.html

[-] Gen Hayden: Documents give a glimpse of a very different timePARDON? What's different about it? The US Central Intelligence Agency is to declassify hundreds of documents detailing some of the agency's worst illegal abuses from the 1950s to 1970s. The papers, to be released next week, will detail assassination plots, domestic spying and wiretapping, kidnapping and human experiments. Many of the incidents are already known, but the documents are expected to give more comprehensive accounts. It is "unflattering" but part of agency history, CIA chief Michael Hayden said. "This is about telling the American people what we have done in their name," Gen Hayden told a conference of foreign policy historians. The documents, dubbed the "Family Jewels", offer a "glimpse of a very different time and a very different agency". The full 693-page file detailing CIA illegal activities was compiled on the orders of the then CIA director James Schlesinger in 1973. He had been alarmed by accounts of CIA involvement in the Watergate scandal under his predecessor and asked CIA officials to inform him of all activities that fell outside the agency's legal charter. 'Skeletons' Ahead of the documents' release by the CIA, the National Security Archive, an independent research body, on Thursday published related papers it had obtained. These detail government discussions in 1975 of the CIA abuses and briefings by Mr Schlesinger's successor at the CIA, William Colby, who said the CIA had "done some things it shouldn't have". Among the incidents that were said to "present legal questions" were: the confinement of a Soviet defector in the mid-1960sassassination plots of foreign leaders, including Cuba's Fidel Castro wiretapping and surveillance of journalistsbehaviour modification experiments on "unwitting" US citizens surveillance of dissident groups between 1967 and 1971opening from 1953 to 1973 of letters to and from the Soviet Union; from 1969 to 1972 of mail to and from China The papers also convey mounting concern in President Gerald Ford's administration that what were dubbed the CIA's "skeletons" were surfacing in the media. Henry Kissinger, then both secretary of state and national security adviser, was against Mr Colby's moves to investigate the CIA's past abuses and the fact that agency secrets were being divulged. Accusations appearing in the media about the CIA were "worse than in the days of McCarthy", Mr Kissinger said.***********The CIA has got worse and worse. The only difference is they are cleverer. The only ones who think that these were the "bad old days" are those that haven't got a clue. http://tales-from-the-tea-pot.blogspot.com/2007/06/cia-to-reveal-decades-of-misdeeds.html CIA to reveal decades of misdeeds

[-]

Gen Hayden: Documents give a glimpse of a very different time PARDON? What's different about it?

The US Central Intelligence Agency is to declassify hundreds of documents detailing some of the agency's worst illegal abuses from the 1950s to 1970s.

The papers, to be released next week, will detail assassination plots, domestic spying and wiretapping, kidnapping and human experiments.

Many of the incidents are already known, but the documents are expected to give more comprehensive accounts.

It is "unflattering" but part of agency history, CIA chief Michael Hayden said.

"This is about telling the American people what we have done in their name," Gen Hayden told a conference of foreign policy historians.

The documents, dubbed the "Family Jewels", offer a "glimpse of a very different time and a very different agency".

The full 693-page file detailing CIA illegal activities was compiled on the orders of the then CIA director James Schlesinger in 1973.

He had been alarmed by accounts of CIA involvement in the Watergate scandal under his predecessor and asked CIA officials to inform him of all activities that fell outside the agency's legal charter.

'Skeletons'

Ahead of the documents' release by the CIA, the National Security Archive, an independent research body, on Thursday published related papers it had obtained.

These detail government discussions in 1975 of the CIA abuses and briefings by Mr Schlesinger's successor at the CIA, William Colby, who said the CIA had "done some things it shouldn't have".

Among the incidents that were said to "present legal questions" were:

• the confinement of a Soviet defector in the mid-1960s
• assassination plots of foreign leaders, including Cuba's Fidel Castro
• wiretapping and surveillance of journalists
• behaviour modification experiments on "unwitting" US citizens
• surveillance of dissident groups between 1967 and 1971
• opening from 1953 to 1973 of letters to and from the Soviet Union; from 1969 to 1972 of mail to and from China

The papers also convey mounting concern in President Gerald Ford's administration that what were dubbed the CIA's "skeletons" were surfacing in the media.

Henry Kissinger, then both secretary of state and national security adviser, was against Mr Colby's moves to investigate the CIA's past abuses and the fact that agency secrets were being divulged.

Accusations appearing in the media about the CIA were "worse than in the days of McCarthy", Mr Kissinger said.

***********

The CIA has got worse and worse. The only difference is they are cleverer. The only ones who think that these were the "bad old days" are those that haven't got a clue.



CIA to reveal decades of misdeeds - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6229750.stm

[-] http://phyllsheng.blogspot.com/2007/06/june-2007-pasadena-puer-tasting-event.html June 2007 Pasadena Pu’er Tasting Event, Part II: Prior to the Event

[-]

Dragon Well Tea

Native: Hangzhou
Appearance: yellowish-green spears, orchid fragrance
Brew: clear, olive taste
Water: 85° C

Ranked the first in top-ten Chinese teas in successive appraisals, Dragon Well has been the most famous green tea in China. The name of the tea was known around the 12th century. By its unique taste as well as its making, it became popular in the 17th century, even an emperor visited its tea garden four times out of his six vacation tours.

This tea has thirteen grades. The harvest starts from the third day before Pure Brightness, a Chinese solar terms around the end of March. Tea cropped from next three days is the highest grade - about 36,000 tender leaves for every 500 gram of tea. The harvest will continued until the end of the spring, the later the tea harvested the lower the grade and higher the grade number.

Hangzhou is surrounded by mountains with West Lake, a lake renowned in Chinese culture, at the foot of hills. Once the capital of China and a tourist resort for its places of historical interest now, the city is praised a big teahouse for its significant tea culture.

Source: green-tea-store.com

Varieties Of Chinese Green Tea - Dragon Well - http://www.afternoonteaparty.com/2007/06/21/varieties-of-chinese-green-tea-dragon-well/

[-]

Special or commissioned ordered Pu-erh

I am certain that some of you have asked what is exactly meant when you purchase or examine a “special ordered” pu-erh. It is very simple really. As some of you already know, the big eight factories use a coding system where the combination of numbers will identify the year the recipe was developed, leaf grade and factory. For example the Sheng 7432 will tell the buyer that the recipe was created and used since 1974, composed of mostly 3rd grade mao cha and was produced in the Menghai factory represented by the number 2. However, in the case of “special ordered” pu-erh produced by the these factories the coding system is absent - for a good reason. Generally, “Special Ordered” pu-erhs are created at the request of a collector(s), a vendor, and at times the Chinese government for various reasons such as to celebrate or commemorate an occasion, for nostalgic purposes or simply because a vendor or distribution company are dissatisfied with what is on the market and want to try their hand at being crafters. Here are but a few examples of commissioned pu-erhs:

2003 Reproduced Dragon and Horse – Private Ordered
2003 Chiyuan Tribute Tea Cake – Ordered by Lam Kie Yuen Tea Co. Ltd.
2004 Reproduced Zhongpin Hao – Private Ordered
1997, 1998 & 2000 Huilian Sheng Zhuan Cha - Ordered by the Va Luen Company



In 2001, one of MengHai's special-ordered productions was the MengHai a Green Tea Leaf Collectible of Precious Grade or better known as the Yi Wu Zheng Shan "Special Order". Super premium Arbor mao cha from semi-wild old plantations which were located in the Yi Wu area were utilized. What exactly are semi-wild or half abandoned plantations you might ask? Well, they are called this because after the over-throw of the Qing Dynasty, and as a consequence of the political turmoil that insued, many of tea plantations were neglected. As a result, these plantations were uninhibited to grow without any manipulation my humans such as trimming, insecticides and so on creating a leaf that has different characteristics to that of plantation. The arbor leaves which went into this particular beeng were growing intermixing with other camphor trees, which according to experts this was a typical and early method for repelling insects.

There had been lots of speculation and buzz in regards to this beeng, and as a result, this particular beeng has become quite spendy and scarce. In fact, if it were not for David of the Half-Dipper Blog, who was generous enough to send me a sample I may have not been able to taste it. THANKS DAVID!!!!

Initial Impression - It was easy to see that the leaves were aged, however did still have some of its green naiveté. There was no indication that it was improperly stored.

Brewing Parameters

Source - David of Half Dipper

Water-Bottled spring water. Source of water - Frontier Springs, PA

Amount – 4.1g


Water Temp - Boil

Brewing Method - Gongfu

Brewing Vessel - Yixing Teapot 120ml

Infusion times
1-15s
2-12s
3-16s
4-17s
5-19s
6-26s
7-40s
8 -60s

Tasting Notes

First Infusion

Aroma - There was lots of activity in the aroma. The first infustion had aromas of Wet wood, suttle hints of leather, perfume, cigar tobbaco all with the slightest berry background.

Taste - Execptionally silky with a playful vibrance that tantilized the sides of the tongue. Its palate was just as complex as its aroma with coffee, brown sugar and buttery notes which were all beautifully sweet.

Second Infusion

Aroma - More wood, however there seems to be hints of dried grass. The leather and cigar tobacco were still present.

Taste - Again, silky sweet, a nice palatable bitterness which complements the sweetness very well. Chocolate and spice notes are now comming through.

Third Infusion

Aroma - The aroma is still filling my nose with great sweetness, less leather however still very noticable. Tobacco is still adding to the complexity of the faint fruit-berry background. There seemes to be a hint of raw beans now.

Taste - The sweetness definitely produces an active mouth, the notes are still the same as the previous infusion, however there seems to be what seems to be the taste of corn silk at the finish.

Liquor Differential

first Infusion



8th Infusion




Wet Leaves




The mao cha was mostly buds and were quite masticated. Possibly as a consequence of its processing so I can't really compare it to other semi-wild arbor leaves that I have had the opportunity to inspect.


Overall Impression

I really liked this pu. Its coffee and chocolate quailties did surpise me as I have never tasted these flavors in a Yi Wu sheng. It is so complex that at times, it was hard for me to grasp what I was drinking. Active is the only word I can think of that can properly define this pu. The subsequent rounds for the most part were the same however with variable difference. Closer to the exhaustion of the leaves, there seemed to be more of a greenish character consisting of the corn silk and raw beans notes.

2001 MengHai Yi Wu Zheng Shan "Special Order" - http://ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com/2007/06/2001-menghai-yi-wu-zheng-shan-special.html

[-]

Special or commissioned ordered Pu-erh

I am certain that some of you have asked what is exactly meant when you purchase or examine a “special ordered” pu-erh. It is very simple really. As some of you already know, the big eight factories use a coding system where the combination of numbers will identify the year the recipe was developed, leaf grade and factory. For example the Sheng 7432 will tell the buyer that the recipe was created and used since 1974, composed of mostly 3rd grade mao cha and was produced in the Menghai factory represented by the number 2. However, in the case of “special ordered” pu-erh produced by the these factories the coding system is absent - for a good reason. Generally, “Special Ordered” pu-erhs are created at the request of a collector(s), a vendor, and at times the Chinese government for various reasons such as to celebrate or commemorate an occasion, for nostalgic purposes or simply because a vendor or distribution company are dissatisfied with what is on the market and want to try their hand at being crafters. Here are but a few examples of commissioned pu-erhs:

2003 Reproduced Dragon and Horse – Private Ordered
2003 Chiyuan Tribute Tea Cake – Ordered by Lam Kie Yuen Tea Co. Ltd.
2004 Reproduced Zhongpin Hao – Private Ordered
1997, 1998 & 2000 Huilian Sheng Zhuan Cha - Ordered by the Va Luen Company



In 2001, one of MengHai's special-ordered productions was the MengHai a Green Tea Leaf Collectible of Precious Grade or better known as the Yi Wu Zheng Shan "Special Order". Super premium Arbor mao cha from semi-wild old plantations which were located in the Yi Wu area were utilized. What exactly are semi-wild or half abandoned plantations you might ask? Well, they are called this because after the over-throw of the Qing Dynasty, and as a consequence of the political turmoil that insued, many of tea plantations were neglected. As a result, these plantations were uninhibited to grow without any manipulation my humans such as trimming, insecticides and so on creating a leaf that has different characteristics to that of plantation. The arbor leaves which went into this particular beeng were growing intermixing with other camphor trees, which according to experts this was a typical and early method for repelling insects.

There had been lots of speculation and buzz in regards to this beeng, and as a result, this particular beeng has become quite spendy and scarce. In fact, if it were not for David of the Half-Dipper Blog, who was generous enough to send me a sample I may have not been able to taste it. THANKS DAVID!!!!

Initial Impression - It was easy to see that the leaves were aged, however did still have some of its green naiveté. There was no indication that it was improperly stored.

Brewing Parameters

Source - David of Half Dipper

Water-Bottled spring water. Source of water - Frontier Springs, PA

Amount – 4.1g


Water Temp - Boil

Brewing Method - Gongfu

Brewing Vessel - Yixing Teapot 120ml

Infusion times
1-15s
2-12s
3-16s
4-17s
5-19s
6-26s
7-40s
8 -60s

Tasting Notes

First Infusion

Aroma - There was lots of activity in the aroma. The first infustion had aromas of Wet wood, suttle hints of leather, perfume, cigar tobbaco all with the slightest berry background.

Taste - Execptionally silky with a playful vibrance that tantilized the sides of the tongue. Its palate was just as complex as its aroma with coffee, brown sugar and buttery notes which were all beautifully sweet.

Second Infusion

Aroma - More wood, however there seems to be hints of dried grass. The leather and cigar tobacco were still present.

Taste - Again, silky sweet, a nice palatable bitterness which complements the sweetness very well. Chocolate and spice notes are now comming through.

Third Infusion

Aroma - The aroma is still filling my nose with great sweetness, less leather however still very noticable. Tobacco is still adding to the complexity of the faint fruit-berry background. There seemes to be a hint of raw beans now.

Taste - The sweetness definitely produces an active mouth, the notes are still the same as the previous infusion, however there seems to be what seems to be the taste of corn silk at the finish.

Liquor Differential

first Infusion



8th Infusion




Wet Leaves




The mao cha was mostly buds and were quite masticated. Possibly as a consequence of its processing so I can't really compare it to other semi-wild arbor leaves that I have had the opportunity to inspect.


Overall Impression

I really liked this pu. Its coffee and chocolate quailties did surpise me as I have never tasted these flavors in a Yi Wu sheng. It is so complex that at times, it was hard for me to grasp what I was drinking. Active is the only word I can think of that can properly define this pu. The subsequent rounds for the most part were the same however with variable difference. Closer to the exhaustion of the leaves, there seemed to be more of a greenish character consisting of the corn silk and raw beans notes.

2001 MengHai Yi Wu Zheng Shan "Special Order" - http://ancientteahorseroad.blogspot.com/feeds/8539831887596573837/comments/default

[-] Scientists in Chile are investigating the sudden disappearance of a glacial lake in the south of the country. When park rangers patrolled the area in the Magallanes region in March, the two-hectare (five-acre) lake was its normal size, officials say. But last month they found a huge dry crater and several stranded chunks of ice that used to float on the water. One theory is that an earthquake opened up a fissure in the ground, allowing the lake's water to drain through. "In March we patrolled the area and everything was normal," Juan Jose Romero from Chile's National Forestry Corporation, Conaf, said. "We went again in May and to our surprise we found that the lake had completely disappeared. All that was left were chunks of ice and an enormous fissure." Geologists and other experts are being sent to the area, which is some 2,000km (1,250 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, to investigate. The region is shaken by frequent earth tremors and one idea is that a strong quake which hit the neighbouring region of Aysen in April opened up the fissure in the bottom of the lake. A glacier specialist, Andres Rivera, told Chilean newspaper La Tercera that the lake's disappearance seemed to be part of the continual reforming of the landscape. The Magallanes area "has seen interesting changes in the last few decades," he said, noting that the lake itself had not been there 30 years ago.***********Is this a symptom of something more? See Climate and Earth Changes http://tales-from-the-tea-pot.blogspot.com/2007/06/lake-disappears-suddenly-in-chile.html Lake disappears suddenly in Chile

[-] Scientists in Chile are investigating the sudden disappearance of a glacial lake in the south of the country.

When park rangers patrolled the area in the Magallanes region in March, the two-hectare (five-acre) lake was its normal size, officials say.

But last month they found a huge dry crater and several stranded chunks of ice that used to float on the water.

One theory is that an earthquake opened up a fissure in the ground, allowing the lake's water to drain through.

"In March we patrolled the area and everything was normal," Juan Jose Romero from Chile's National Forestry Corporation, Conaf, said.

"We went again in May and to our surprise we found that the lake had completely disappeared. All that was left were chunks of ice and an enormous fissure."

Geologists and other experts are being sent to the area, which is some 2,000km (1,250 miles) south of the capital, Santiago, to investigate.

The region is shaken by frequent earth tremors and one idea is that a strong quake which hit the neighbouring region of Aysen in April opened up the fissure in the bottom of the lake.

A glacier specialist, Andres Rivera, told Chilean newspaper La Tercera that the lake's disappearance seemed to be part of the continual reforming of the landscape.

The Magallanes area "has seen interesting changes in the last few decades," he said, noting that the lake itself had not been there 30 years ago.

***********

Is this a symptom of something more? See Climate and Earth Changes

Lake disappears suddenly in Chile - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6225676.stm