ellestad.bsky.social
@ellestad.bsky.social
Tea drinker, husband, pet companion, woodwind musician, enthusiast cook; works in technology. San Francisco, CA. He/Him.
First real winter rainstorm of the season is a good day to get out a Shou Puerh mini from the 2021 W2T Trick or Treat Bag. Lesser Evils small batch Shou was one of my faves from the assortment.
#ShouPuerh #RipePuerh #White2Tea @white2tea.bsky.social #TeaSky
#ShouPuerh #RipePuerh #White2Tea @white2tea.bsky.social #TeaSky
November 13, 2025 at 4:14 PM
First real winter rainstorm of the season is a good day to get out a Shou Puerh mini from the 2021 W2T Trick or Treat Bag. Lesser Evils small batch Shou was one of my faves from the assortment.
#ShouPuerh #RipePuerh #White2Tea @white2tea.bsky.social #TeaSky
#ShouPuerh #RipePuerh #White2Tea @white2tea.bsky.social #TeaSky
Iron Arhat (Tue Luo Han) is always one of my favorite rock teas. This is a very nice (2022) example from Rivers and Lakes Tea.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #Yancha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #Yancha #TeaSky
November 11, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Iron Arhat (Tue Luo Han) is always one of my favorite rock teas. This is a very nice (2022) example from Rivers and Lakes Tea.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #Yancha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #Yancha #TeaSky
Press pot brewing Kuura Corp Go Juice "all day every day" Yunnan black tea. Nothing fancy.
#BlackTea #HongCha #KuuraCorp #TeaSky
#BlackTea #HongCha #KuuraCorp #TeaSky
November 8, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Press pot brewing Kuura Corp Go Juice "all day every day" Yunnan black tea. Nothing fancy.
#BlackTea #HongCha #KuuraCorp #TeaSky
#BlackTea #HongCha #KuuraCorp #TeaSky
White Rooster Crest is usually processed as a low oxidation, low roast rock tea. Almost more like a green tea than an Oolong. Subtly flavored, it is a rock tea varietal I struggle to appreciate.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
November 5, 2025 at 4:30 PM
White Rooster Crest is usually processed as a low oxidation, low roast rock tea. Almost more like a green tea than an Oolong. Subtly flavored, it is a rock tea varietal I struggle to appreciate.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
Moving my traditional winter rock tea fiesta up a bit this year from starting after Thanksgiving to starting after Halloween. Golden Water Turtle (Shui Jon Gui) rock tea from Rivers and Lakes.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
November 3, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Moving my traditional winter rock tea fiesta up a bit this year from starting after Thanksgiving to starting after Halloween. Golden Water Turtle (Shui Jon Gui) rock tea from Rivers and Lakes.
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #RockTea #YanCha #TeaSky
"Alarmingly high levels of plutonium-239 have been found at...former Hunter's Point shipyard."
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h...
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h...
November 1, 2025 at 3:12 PM
"Alarmingly high levels of plutonium-239 have been found at...former Hunter's Point shipyard."
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h...
www.sfchronicle.com/sf/article/h...
Zhangping Shui Xian (Roasted) from Rivers and Lakes tea. This version is tasty too, but as a small matter of preference, this morning I feel I prefered the previous unroasted version.
#OolongTea #WulongCha #RiversAndLakesTea #TeaSky
#OolongTea #WulongCha #RiversAndLakesTea #TeaSky
October 28, 2025 at 4:06 PM
Zhangping Shui Xian (Roasted) from Rivers and Lakes tea. This version is tasty too, but as a small matter of preference, this morning I feel I prefered the previous unroasted version.
#OolongTea #WulongCha #RiversAndLakesTea #TeaSky
#OolongTea #WulongCha #RiversAndLakesTea #TeaSky
For the most part oolong tea isn't sold in compressed form. The only real exception is Zhangping Shui Xian from Southern Fujian. It is often sold in these cute little tile shaped pillows. This is a very nice example from Rivers and Lakes tea.
#RiversAndLakesTea #OolongTea #WulongCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #OolongTea #WulongCha #TeaSky
October 23, 2025 at 5:24 PM
For the most part oolong tea isn't sold in compressed form. The only real exception is Zhangping Shui Xian from Southern Fujian. It is often sold in these cute little tile shaped pillows. This is a very nice example from Rivers and Lakes tea.
#RiversAndLakesTea #OolongTea #WulongCha #TeaSky
#RiversAndLakesTea #OolongTea #WulongCha #TeaSky
What tea do you drink on your birthday? Do you pick a special tea or a special type of tea? Or just drink your usual teas? I picked this "Lotus Peak Shui Xian" from Tong Xin She Teahouse as a special tea to start the day and the next year of my life.
#RockOolong #YanCha #TongXinSheTeaHouse #TeaSky
#RockOolong #YanCha #TongXinSheTeaHouse #TeaSky
October 22, 2025 at 4:33 PM
What tea do you drink on your birthday? Do you pick a special tea or a special type of tea? Or just drink your usual teas? I picked this "Lotus Peak Shui Xian" from Tong Xin She Teahouse as a special tea to start the day and the next year of my life.
#RockOolong #YanCha #TongXinSheTeaHouse #TeaSky
#RockOolong #YanCha #TongXinSheTeaHouse #TeaSky
Opening the bag, it is very obvious that this is gardenia flower scented tea. Pleasant enough, but not something I would search out.
#EcoChaTeas #OolongTea #TaiwanTea #TeaSky
#EcoChaTeas #OolongTea #TaiwanTea #TeaSky
October 19, 2025 at 5:33 PM
Opening the bag, it is very obvious that this is gardenia flower scented tea. Pleasant enough, but not something I would search out.
#EcoChaTeas #OolongTea #TaiwanTea #TeaSky
#EcoChaTeas #OolongTea #TaiwanTea #TeaSky
First they co-opt my exercise, then my healthy food, now my sobriety? What's next MAGA? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
October 9, 2025 at 7:56 PM
First they co-opt my exercise, then my healthy food, now my sobriety? What's next MAGA? www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025...
Experimenting with a potential new simple travel tea set, strainer and pyrex beaker. Happily, the 250ml beaker fits snugly inside my travel electric kettle. (RiYueTan Sun Moon Lake Taiwanese black tea via Mud and Leaves.)
#BlackTea #HongCha #MudAndLeaves #TeaSky
#BlackTea #HongCha #MudAndLeaves #TeaSky
September 17, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Experimenting with a potential new simple travel tea set, strainer and pyrex beaker. Happily, the 250ml beaker fits snugly inside my travel electric kettle. (RiYueTan Sun Moon Lake Taiwanese black tea via Mud and Leaves.)
#BlackTea #HongCha #MudAndLeaves #TeaSky
#BlackTea #HongCha #MudAndLeaves #TeaSky
The final tea of the Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight was Xiaguan Tuocha 2005. Xiaguan is well known for its Iron Cakes and its mushroom top shaped tuocha cakes. It's not uncommon to find older Xiaguan cakes, it is somewhat uncommon to find cleanly stored examples. This is a well stored example.
September 16, 2025 at 4:17 PM
The final tea of the Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight was Xiaguan Tuocha 2005. Xiaguan is well known for its Iron Cakes and its mushroom top shaped tuocha cakes. It's not uncommon to find older Xiaguan cakes, it is somewhat uncommon to find cleanly stored examples. This is a well stored example.
Tea number 9 in this Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight is a 2011 "Big Green Tree". The proprietor has done some research and found this particular batch of "BGT" was a special commission of particularly high quality material.
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky
September 15, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Tea number 9 in this Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight is a 2011 "Big Green Tree". The proprietor has done some research and found this particular batch of "BGT" was a special commission of particularly high quality material.
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky
A very nice Taiwanese Dong Ding Oolong from Eco-Cha Teas that has not declined for being slightly aged. Kind of perfect.
#OolongTea #WulongCha #EcoChaTeas #TeaSky
#OolongTea #WulongCha #EcoChaTeas #TeaSky
September 14, 2025 at 4:20 PM
A very nice Taiwanese Dong Ding Oolong from Eco-Cha Teas that has not declined for being slightly aged. Kind of perfect.
#OolongTea #WulongCha #EcoChaTeas #TeaSky
#OolongTea #WulongCha #EcoChaTeas #TeaSky
Every once in a while a lemon or two on our tree is spared by the rats. Somehow, they become enormous and sometimes they are monsters. The tea is Lumberjack Breakfast from White2Tea, a heartier everyday Fujian blend.
#BlackTea #HongCha @white2tea.bsky.social #White2Tea
#BlackTea #HongCha @white2tea.bsky.social #White2Tea
September 13, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Every once in a while a lemon or two on our tree is spared by the rats. Somehow, they become enormous and sometimes they are monsters. The tea is Lumberjack Breakfast from White2Tea, a heartier everyday Fujian blend.
#BlackTea #HongCha @white2tea.bsky.social #White2Tea
#BlackTea #HongCha @white2tea.bsky.social #White2Tea
Tea Number 8 from the recent Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh educational sample set was Xiashu Huazhu 2015. Another compelling mid-age, dry storage, soft power raw puerh.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
September 12, 2025 at 3:22 PM
Tea Number 8 from the recent Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh educational sample set was Xiashu Huazhu 2015. Another compelling mid-age, dry storage, soft power raw puerh.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
Tea number seven in this educational puerh tasting from Pu-Erh.SK was Yiwu Gaoshan 2015. Some fine hot leaf water, well on its way to being exceptional hot leaf water. If you don't like this, you probably don't like raw puerh.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
September 11, 2025 at 3:56 PM
Tea number seven in this educational puerh tasting from Pu-Erh.SK was Yiwu Gaoshan 2015. Some fine hot leaf water, well on its way to being exceptional hot leaf water. If you don't like this, you probably don't like raw puerh.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuerhDotSK #TeaSky
Tea No 6 from the Pu-Erh.SK educational tasting flight is Pang San Zhou 2020, another Thailand raw puerh tea, and a rather nice one at that. Slight pleasant bitterness, calming energy.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
September 10, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Tea No 6 from the Pu-Erh.SK educational tasting flight is Pang San Zhou 2020, another Thailand raw puerh tea, and a rather nice one at that. Slight pleasant bitterness, calming energy.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
Tea no 5 from a recent Pu-Erh.SK educational tasting flight was a Gedeng 2024 autumn raw puerh. Soft power.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky #PuerhDotSK
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky #PuerhDotSK
September 9, 2025 at 3:31 PM
Tea no 5 from a recent Pu-Erh.SK educational tasting flight was a Gedeng 2024 autumn raw puerh. Soft power.
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky #PuerhDotSK
#RawPuerh #ShengCha #TeaSky #PuerhDotSK
Tea number 4 from the Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight is one of their Thailand raw puerhs, Grand Reserva 2022. Another sample that must have come from a particularly compressed part of the cake, rock hard.
#ShengCha #RawPuerh #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
#ShengCha #RawPuerh #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
September 8, 2025 at 7:35 PM
Tea number 4 from the Pu-Erh.SK raw puerh tasting flight is one of their Thailand raw puerhs, Grand Reserva 2022. Another sample that must have come from a particularly compressed part of the cake, rock hard.
#ShengCha #RawPuerh #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
#ShengCha #RawPuerh #PuErhDotSK #TeaSky
Raw puerh No 3 from a recent Pu-Rth.SK sample set is "Yiwu Zhang Jia Wang 2024 autumn". One of my favorite teas in the batch!
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha
September 5, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Raw puerh No 3 from a recent Pu-Rth.SK sample set is "Yiwu Zhang Jia Wang 2024 autumn". One of my favorite teas in the batch!
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha
#PuerhDotSK #RawPuerh #ShengCha
Sometimes I wonder if there is really any difference between hearty Yunnan green teas and young raw puerh. This is "Hulk" Yunnan green tea from Bitterleaf Tea.
#GreenTea #LüCha #BitterleafTea
#GreenTea #LüCha #BitterleafTea
September 4, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Sometimes I wonder if there is really any difference between hearty Yunnan green teas and young raw puerh. This is "Hulk" Yunnan green tea from Bitterleaf Tea.
#GreenTea #LüCha #BitterleafTea
#GreenTea #LüCha #BitterleafTea
Raw puerh number 2 in the Pu-Erh.SK tasting flight was one of Pu-Erh.SK's Thailand raw puerh, 2023 Mind Switch. I think I got a piece from a tighter compressed portion of the cake, resulting in more broken leaves and higher astringency. (I also feel like I underdosed the first steep.)
#PuErhDotSK
#PuErhDotSK
September 3, 2025 at 4:01 PM
Raw puerh number 2 in the Pu-Erh.SK tasting flight was one of Pu-Erh.SK's Thailand raw puerh, 2023 Mind Switch. I think I got a piece from a tighter compressed portion of the cake, resulting in more broken leaves and higher astringency. (I also feel like I underdosed the first steep.)
#PuErhDotSK
#PuErhDotSK
Turns out tea number one from this pu-erh.sk tasting flight is a "Mansong 2024 autumn" raw puerh. Umami, sea breeze, spring grove.
#TeaSky #PuErhDotSK #ShengCha #RawPuerh
#TeaSky #PuErhDotSK #ShengCha #RawPuerh
September 2, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Turns out tea number one from this pu-erh.sk tasting flight is a "Mansong 2024 autumn" raw puerh. Umami, sea breeze, spring grove.
#TeaSky #PuErhDotSK #ShengCha #RawPuerh
#TeaSky #PuErhDotSK #ShengCha #RawPuerh