Smashing Display

A smashing window display I walked past the other day in Parnell (Auckland, NZ). It was branded as a Dior display at a Visionx optometrist. I can only assume this was intentional and not just a disaster after shelving collapsed!? Either way this successfully grabbed my attention.

iPlay Qi

No it's not some alien with little bubble eyes! This is a Tou Cha (tuocha) tea I had today. I'm very new to this area of tea to be honest. I was talking with a lady a little while back about Puerh teas and she explained that not only do they mellow with age but they also develop good Qi or at least the ability to better stimulate Qi in the body. Puerh teas have long been known for their medicinal properties and it seems it's not only because of measurable scientific properties in the leaf but also this 'life force' or energy known as Qi.

So it seems she came by work yesterday when I wasn't there and left me two of these Tou Cha bowls or nests to try, her son having brought some back from a recent trip back to China. For those who don't know they are basically compressed tea leaves in the shape of a miniature birds nest about 2-3cm wide but processed in the unique way of Puerh teas.

She didn't get to leave any detail about them but I can only assume it is a Green/Raw Tuocha which I've never tried, having only had the black variety. The paper it was wrapped in doesn't tell me much because I don't read Chinese. The dry aroma was distinctly different to the Black Tou Cha which was more like a typical loose leaf Puerh, more musty. This one reminded me of dry hay, or strangely of the mouse cage my sister used to have... not in a bad way, just quite unique?!

As soon as I started brewing it I could smell this pungent aroma releasing... gradually intensifying the original smell only damper then becoming distinctly smoky in a way that reminded me of the ashen smokiness of Yerba Mate (from South America). I brewed at around 80-85 degrees for 2-3 minutes for this first brew and the colour never got much darker than a strong green tea, glowing with a deep yellow/green though slightly clouding as I gently agitated the leaves to break them up a little.

The flavour was like nothing I've experienced before! Very rich and buttery with that distinct ashen smokiness. It also had something else that reminded me of chrysanthemum. After a few mouth fulls I breathed out to get the taste as it coats my mouth... all I could think of was buttery salty popcorn! Yum.

Ok so this is where it gets weird. I'm quite familiar with the elated 'tea drunk' feeling from high caffeine teas or from the Theanine in one of my regular strong cups of Matcha. What I didn't expect was to get an overpowering sense of this floaty almost 'stoned' feeling after only half a glass of this tea (less than a minute after taking my first sip). My colleague was laughing at me because I was buzzing out! I swear my mouth was feeling a little numb and slurry. What on earth had this mysterious lady left for me! I can't help but wonder if she left a tea which she knew would give me strong hit of 'Qi'. Being a green tea I don't think it was high enough in caffeine to hit me that quick so it could have been high in Theanine which definitely feels the same though I'm used to a much more crystal clear sensation from Matcha whereas this was warm and blurry in a nice way. Perhaps it was indeed this mystical energy coursing through my body :)

Anyway I left it aside a few hours before coming back for a second steep of the same leaves. The second cup was even more intensely rich in flavour... one colleague found it so overpowering she couldn't come near without feeling heady. I have to admit I couldn't finish the second cup because it was just so full on but I totally appreciated it's flavour. I look forward to the next one when I'm in need of some Qi to centre me!

Please if anyone can offer some more info or corrections based on the pictures below or my description post your comments below.

Sweet Treats

Ooh I just bought Sweet Treats by Frankie Magazine today... it's so YUM!

Paper Goodies

Fantastic cards, paper products, stationary and limited edition prints... from bellesandwhiselles

via/ frankie magazine originally bellesandwhiselles

Au Revoir Simone

Zoe (somuchtotellyou) "How do you create your songs? Do you sit around with a bottle of wine or cup of tea..." Heather (Au Revoir Simone): "Often tea, very rarely wine..."

Great music, great interview! Read it now

via/ somuchtotellyou

Modernity

Marianna Brandt designed tea service (ca. 1924)
via/ primaveragalleryny

Gravy Pot

This reminds me of my profile iPlaytea pic at the top of my blog which was taken in a park near the centre of Cambridge, England while filming a documentary with a bunch of New Zealand artists there. We took a roast dinner to the park one chilly evening and had a picnic at dusk... the teapot however was full of wonderfully warm gravy!

via/ simonfilip

via/ simonfilip

iPlay in the Gardens

Some pics that take me away...

Popeye Strength

It's a skite I know but I've managed to blow off my cold within a day! I'm sure it comes down to all the Matcha I'm drinking. It's not spinach but it's very green and I'm sure Popeye would be proud.

A can of Spinach or Matcha?

iPlay Cuppa Tree

Watch the quirky stop motion version

via/ lookleftandlookright

iPlay Castles

Take some indoor furniture outside and photograph it with subject and it almost always looks artsy, it's probably been a bit overdone but still effective. So I love the sculpture below with a similar setup but taking it to another level of obscure creativity.

Sotheby's Exhibition... Tea at the Castle via/ designfolio

Sotheby's Exhibition at Sudeley Castle via/ designfolio

Sotheby's Exhibition at Sudeley Castle via/ designfolio

“nest feeling”, Nina Bruun via/ idbazaar

iPlay Kitsch

Jewellery by New Zealand designer Georgina Baker. Her work can be found in a number of stores around the country. I've bought these as gifts on many occasions, always unique!

The Thinking Man

 Tea... the thinking mans drink.

George Orwell

The Classics

I saw they sell these great mugs in Whitcoulls (for New Zealand readers) recently, perfect with a book in bed on a wintry night.

Tea with Bowie

This post is for Amy who reminded me of the David Bowie phase I went through some years ago now... I've since watched Labyrinth again and it's as wonderful as ever.

David Bowies offers a cuppa tea

a man of many looks

"...if you turn it this way it'll show you your dreams".
(I had such a crush on the girl!)

their eyes in this scene are amazing! (i love pixels)

Faded in the wash

via/ audreyhepburncomplex

via/ audreyhepburncomplex

She Remembers

via/ audreyhepburncomplex

via/ frogsandcrowns

via/ ohhellofriend

Tea with the Tillerman

This is one man I'd love to share a pot of tea and stories with. A true old school story teller. I went to his concert the other night and it took me back to listening to my dads record collection as a kid. I was quite moved, he comes across as such a warm personable guy. Legend.