Tuesday, August 24, 2010

How Should Someone Share Tea?

"Moreover, Subhuti, when a bodhisattva practices generosity, he does not rely on any object--that is to say he does not rely on any form, sound, smell, taste, tactile object, or dharma--to practice generosity. That, Subhuti, is the spirit in which a bodhisattva should practice generosity, not relying on signs. Why? If a bodhisattva practices generosity without relying on signs, the happiness that results cannot be conceived of or measured. Subhuti, do you think that the space in the Eastern Quarter can be measured?"

"No, World-Honored One."

"Subhuti, can space in the Western, Southern, and Northern Quarters, above and below be measured?"

"No, World-Honored One."

"Subhuti, if a bodhisattva does not rely on any concept when practicing generosity, then the happiness that results from that virtuous act is as great as space. It cannot be measured. Subhuti, the bodhisattvas should let their minds dwell in the teachings I have just given."

Chapter 4 of The Diamond Sutra translated on The Joygae Order Of Korean Buddhism homepage

Generosity for the sake of generosity. :)

With this in mind one would like to announce a free Dao Tea sample package to readers. Pedro of Dao Tea agreed to provide the samples and one will cover the shipping. Here is what's in the package:

5 g Kim Shin Ho 2009 saejak green tea
5 g Kim Shin Ho 2010 saejak green tea
5 g Kim Shin Ho 2009 jungjak green tea
5 g Kim Shin Ho 2009 Balhyo cha

5 g Kim Jung Yeol 2009 saejak green tea
5 g Kim Jung Yeol 2010 saejak green tea
5 g Kim Jung Yeol 2009 Balhyo cha

This generosity is not completely unattached though...

If you accept this free package you are expected to post your thoughts or tasting notes of the samples on MattCha's Blog. You will get about a months time to sample and reflect on them. After which a post will appear on MattCha's Blog on each of the teas in this package, simply leave your thoughts on that tea in the comment section of the posting. If you cannot commit to tasting the tea within a month and leaving you comments then please don't request the package.

This package should allow even someone with little or no experience with Korean teas a nice primer by allowing for cross comparisons between: producer styles, yearly trends (or the very least an idea of how Korean green tea degrades after aging), different grades, and different types of Korean tea (balhyo v.s green).

The first 10 people to leave comments on this post expressing their interest with their email address will receive the package. One will delete your comment and send you a confirmation email as soon as possible.

Pedro has also offered one sample of 2010 Ujeon green tea to 1 of the very lucky 10. A number will be drawn to see who will receive this extra sample.

Peace

47 comments:

Unknown said...

Matt,

This is an amazing opportunity and great idea. Thank you very much, as I am just starting to try and understand Korean Tea.

Thank you,

Adam Yusko

Matt said...

Adam Yukso,

Got you. You are #1. One can get your email from your blog.

Peace

Nigel Ewan said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Nigel,

Got you. You are #2.

Expect a confirmation email soon.

Peace

Mark said...

You mean I will get to taste what you have made me salivate over for the last few months?

How can I give you my e-mail in private?

thank you and Pedro

Matt said...

Mark,

If you post your email address I will immediately erase it as soon as I receive it.

Sorry for the lack of privacy.

Peace

Mark said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Mark,

Got you. You are #3.

See, that was very quick. :)

Expect a confirmation email soon.

Peace

Ian said...

Matt,
Can I be #4? I have always been interested in all these Korean teas you post about!

Thanks,
Ian

Matt said...

Ian,

Just drop your email and you can be lucky #4 (snicker, snicker). One couldn't get your email address through your blogger profile on this computer.

Peace

Anonymous said...

I want in! I've been completely enjoying your blog entries about Korean tea. I even ordered, and just today received, Korean Tea Classics and The Korean Way of Tea from Seoul Selects.

Ben M

Ian said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Ben,

Drop your email address and your in Ben!

Peace

Matt said...

Ian,

Got you. You are #4.

Peace

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Ben,

You are in. You are #5.

Peace

Matt said...

Adam Yusko,

Couldn't find your email address on your blog. Can you post it?

Peace

Bret said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said...

Matt,

First I would like to say how much I enjoy your blog! It's been constantly an inspiration for me and all the the teas you share have been really getting me interested in Korean tea. Been wanting to try Korean tea for some time but my student budget has kinda made me reluctant to make the leap into Korean teas. This sounds really great! Could you fit me in?
-Ben P

Matt said...

Bret,

You are in. You are # 6.


Ben P,

Just drop your email and you can be lucky # 7.

Peace

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Ben P,

Got you. You are #7.

Peace

Trent said...

is there still room?

Matt said...

Trent,

Yes, there is.

Would you like to be #8?

Simply leave you email.

Peace

Bret said...

Thank you Matt. This is quite an ambitious undertaking for you, a book club and a Korean tea tasting. Your decision to do both makes for a more complete experience. Finally, we can all taste some of these teas you have been taunting us with for so long. I wish there were some Dok Cha on the menu though, that tea is calling me and I,m not sure why.

Anonymous said...

Ahhhh I agree with Bret! I would be willing to pay for some dok cha because it's virtually impossible to get... Thanks for doing this though! I'm really excited about trying these teas!
-Ben P

Matt said...

Bret & Ben P,

The book club and this tea tasting were kicking around in ones head for a while and just kind of congealed at the same time. One wanted to add a more dynamic less passive dimension to MattCha's Blog.

As far as the ddok cha goes- One sent out samples of that a few years ago:

http://mattchasblog.blogspot.com/2008/07/2008-nok-ya-won-wild-hadong-ddok-cha.html

Perhaps, it will happen again sometime in the future.

Looking forward to hearing what you think of these Korean teas.

Peace

Nathaniel said...

If there is still space left I would love to participate in this event and hopefully open my eyes to a new world of teas that I have yet to experience. Regardless, I will be looking forward to reading through all of the tasting notes.

Matt said...

Nathaniel,

Got your email from your blogger profile. You are in. You are # 8.

Trent,

Maybe you like #9 better? Just post your email.

Peace

nada said...

Matt,

I think you've got my email already. I'd love to be included in this. I'll help out with the international postage too. Korean teas are a very under represented area in my appreciation of tea.

n.

Matt said...

Nada,

Yes, got your email. You are in. You are #9. Don't worry about the shipping, it'll be taken care of.

One will hold #10 for Trent for 12 hours. If anyone wants to be a "back-up" just in case someone backs out please express your interest.

Peace

David said...

Hello,

Being a silent reader of your blog for a while, and someone interested in all kind of teas, I would be more than interested to be a backup.

voieduthe@gmail.com

Have a nice day.

Matt said...

David,

One is also a silent reader of your blog. Great job!

You will be the back-up.

Peace

Matt said...

All,

One will send out the confirmation emails tomorrow when the list will likely be finalized.

Peace

Brandon said...

Hi Matt,
Very generous, in the true spirit of tea and friendship.

Perhaps your Invisible Hand will finally flood the Western market with savory Korean greens.

Ho Go said...

Now you need a post on desire, greed, and, lust, for tea! I missed out on the tea but I didn't miss out on my desire, greed, and, lust. Thank you.

Unknown said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Matt said...

Adam Yusko,

Got it.

Peace

Matt said...

Brandon,

hahaha... The Invisible Hand strikes again...

HoGo,

hahaha...

keep lusting.

You guys are too funny.

Peace

Matt said...

Trent,

One held your place for 18 hours, but still no reply. One can only assume that you are no longer interested? Or perhaps it was just not meant to be. So your held place will be given to the backup...

David,

You are in. You are #10.

All,

One is going to go to the random number generator at www.random.org , set the min at 1 and the max at 10, and generate a completely random number. The first number generated will be the winner of the ujeon sample. Of course the numbers you have already been given will be used. Here we go...

Peace

Matt said...

...

The number generator took a longer than usual time to generate the number...

it was 10.

Congratulations, David you will also receive a sample of 2010 ujeon grade Korean green tea.

Peace

Bryan said...

I am very much interested in this, and hopefully I am not too late! please put me up if you can!

Matt said...

Mr. Cha,

Sorry, the 10 samplers have already been selected. Thanks for your interest though.

Peace

Rebekah said...

What joy. Parts of the universe that belong together come together. Matt, thank you. Looking forward to reading everyone's comments on the tea.

Matt said...

Rebekah,

Thanks. Feel free to chirp in with your options and thoughts on these teas in the coming months if you've tried them.

Peace

Petr Novák said...

Hi Matt,

I have work hard all day and now, taking rest, I had a lot of fun reading whole competition here- I know that it was not goal (to make me laugh..) but thank you.

Very nice idea- I look forward to read impressions from teas from all lucky guys.

Petr

Matt said...

Petr,

Started reading the comments from top to bottom... haha ... It does sound pretty funny- like one is auctioning off a car or something!

Take care with some good tea during your rest.

Peace