Floating Leaves Tea

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Taiwanese Tea Jedi, Shiuwen Tai, Shares Tea with a Rotating Cast of Friends

Floating Leaves Tea


    • May 20, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • monthly NEW EPISODES
    • 35m AVG DURATION
    • 159 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Floating Leaves Tea

    Reading Tea Leaves

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 36:08


    This episode we get deep into 'reading' tea leaves, or watching very carefully to know what the leaves want from us as brewers. 

    Let Tea Brew Itself

    Play Episode Listen Later May 6, 2024 26:02


    This episode we carry on from the previous stopping point : As we experiment with brewing new teas, how do we know if a flaw in the tea is coming from the tea or the brewing technique? So we took out some bowls to just soak the tea and let it brew itself!

    The Intention Experiment

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2024 23:00


    In this episode we carry out an experiment comparing two brews that are exactly the same in all parameters except for the focus of our intention. We were absolutely floored by the results!

    Tea Cups : Quality

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2024 39:03


    Shiuwen, John and Noah compare grades of porcelain in gongfu tea cups, and investigate what each cup does to a tea.

    cups shiuwen
    Tea Cup Materials

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2024 22:44


    We're back! First episode in the new Tea Studio! We're starting with an easy experiment, but also a very useful one : tasting tea out of different materials like glass, mass produced ceramic mugs and porcelain etc. Join us and give it a try at home!

    Drinking Old Tree White Tea from Yunnan

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 7, 2023 31:50


    This is a little interim episode with no video component while John is away. We've been wanting to record a session with this tea for about a year now, and although we're very close to sold out of it now, we thought it would be fun to share our experience for those that have the tea already. It's the Nightshade White Tea. Harvested in 2020 it's already mellowed nicely with age. If we get another chance to buy a tea like this we'll jump on it, because this was an awesome session. If you got this one, let us know in the comments if you had similar or different impressions when you tasted it.

    What's Your Intention?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2023 47:28


    In this episode we explore how we go about setting our intention and adjusting for the tea in this ever changing moment.

    Self Expression Through Gongfu Cha

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 10, 2023 46:56


    This episode we explore ways to build understanding and express our vision of what a tea can be.

    Techniques For Brewing Oriental Beauty

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2023 53:16


    There's finally a tea in our lineup that we're using lower than boiling temperature water! Special Reserve Oriental Beauty. In this episode we talk about how we approach this tea and tell stories about our first encounters with it.

    Making Adjustments For Special Teas

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2023 41:49


    This episode was inspired by (1) John's question about how to make adjustments for different teas and (2) our experience of how to get the most out of our batch of Charcoal Dong Ding that was roasted in December of 2022.  Also, Noah is very excited to be back on the podcast again!

    Waking Up Aged Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2023 49:30


    We find aged tea is one of the more difficult styles to brew well. In this episode we explore some techniques that help to show the best side of an aged tea.

    Being Present with Your Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2023 24:10


    We're back!! In the first episode of season three, Johnny and Shiuwen will be experimenting with the harnessing of intention to brew a better (or worse) pot of tea.

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    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Finale

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2022 46:22


    This episode we just sit back and drink an epic puer tea harvested from 1000 year old tea tree.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | John Brews ANOTHER Pot of Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2022 46:44


    John's second time to switch places with Shiuwen and show off all his tea brewing techniques that we've been working on this whole season!

    class brews shiuwen
    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Techniques for Refreshing Stale Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2022 37:23


    The long awaited follow up to 'Techniques for Identifying Stale Tea', this episode is all about the tools and techniques we use to push staleness out of an older tea.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Practicing Connection While The Tea is Brewing

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2022 38:12


    Recently we've been talking a lot about the 'opening movement' of tea brewing: Pouring water into the pot and the many details contained therein that effect the final brew. This episode we delve into the less obvious 'middle movement', or waiting for the tea to be brewed. This may seem straightforward, and is easily overlooked because the brewer is not doing any active process to the tea. BUT, as our tea classes keep repeating ad nauseum, there are infinite details in every aspect of tea brewing.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Tasting for Agrochemicals

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2022 35:36


    This episode we compare two high mountain oolongs, one grown with agrochemicals and one from an organic tea garden. Shiuwen teaches John, and the listeners, the tricks for picking up on agrochemicals in your cup.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Deeper Techniques in Water Flow

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 3, 2022 56:22


    More on water flow. We learned last time on the Waterfall vs Whirlpool episode that the way you choose to pour water into a pot of tea changes the outcome. This time we are exploring more fine details on how to improve the quality of your water flow.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Tea Tools : Sharing Pitcher / Gongdao Bei

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2022 31:52


    Today we talk about a tea tool that goes by many names : sharing pitcher, fairness cup, gongdao bei, cha hai. It is used with the best intentions, to make sure everyone is drinking the same taste at the same time. But is it necessary to brew a good pot of tea?   

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | The Hidden Parameter in Tea Brewing : Waterfall

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2022 41:58


    When we talk about the parameters of tea brewing, it's not uncommon to think of water temperature, amount of tea and timing. But there is a hidden parameter that we all must execute to pull out a good cup of tea from the leaves, and that's the way we pour water into the pot. 

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | ”Jet-Lag” or ”Bound Up” Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 22, 2022 10:37


    Most teas undergo an acclimation period after shipping, especially long distances (like when we get new products in from farmers and roasters in Taiwan). This quick episode John and Shiuwen taste a roasted oolong that is in jet lag mode.

    Tea Class with NOAH | PNW Charcoal Roasted Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 8, 2022 39:54


    In this episode, Noah shares some of his own charcoal roasted oolongs with John, and they compare the raw version with the finished product.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Getting to Know a New Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 25, 2022 34:21


    Shiuwen tells the story of how a new tea took some getting used to, and how she approaches unknown variables in tea brewing. We don't have any sample available for this episode, but we hope you'll practice these ideas when you next run into a new tea that doesn't make sense at first brew.

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    Tea Class with Shiuwen | John Brews a Pot of Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 11, 2022 33:24


    This episode John brewed a pot of tea for us! This is the first in a series of John brewing, on the other side of the table. To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can brew this tea (Dong Ding Traditional A, available on our website) and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience.

    class brews shiuwen
    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Recognizing Cha Qi with Smelling Cups

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 27, 2022 40:08


    This episode is all about using smelling cups to explore more deeply into the scent. We also identify the meaning of Cha Qi, and how Cha Qi manifests in the scent.   To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink this exact tea and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39731915817167%5D=1&updates%5B39651322429647%5D=1

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Techniques for Identifying Stale Tea Pt. 2

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 13, 2022 31:17


    Oolong tea does not go bad, but it does go stale if stored improperly, or for a very long time. In this episode, we taste the same Tie Guanyin oolong tea, one stored properly and one improperly. John and Shiuwen identify the staleness of tea through drinking.   To join the class and learn from these episodes, please place an order and leave a comment to let us know you'd like some stale tea to practice with. Otherwise, if you have a bag of tea you've left open for quite some time you can also practice these techniques and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions.  

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Techniques for Identifying Stale Tea Pt. 1

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 6, 2022 11:42


    Oolong tea does not go bad, but it does go stale if stored improperly or for a very long time. In this episode, Shiuwen offers John a few techniques to smell from the dry leaf if a tea is stale.   To join the class and learn from these episodes, please place an order and leave a comment to let us know you'd like some stale tea to practice with. Otherwise, if you have a bag of tea you've left open for quite some time you can us that to practice these techniques and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions.

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Tracing Tea's Scent Inside The Body

    Play Episode Listen Later May 23, 2022 39:12


    With higher grade teas, we are looking for more complexity in the scent. Not only how flavorful or how many notes it has, but also where the scent is felt in the body. This episode Shiuwen and John compare two oolongs to isolate the sensation of scent reaching deeper inside of the nostrils.   To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink this exact tea and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39651321872591%5D=1&updates%5B40287149392079%5D=1 The Tea : Nantou Four Seasons, Smooth Water Baozhong

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Brewing Basics : Timing #NoFear #MakeMistakes

    Play Episode Listen Later May 9, 2022 39:58


    This episode Shiuwen and John explore the third main parameter of tea brewing : timing. How long does the water need to sit on the leaves? #NoFear #MakeMistakes   To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink this exact tea and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39651320299727%5D=1 (Note : For this episode, any Taiwanese tea from our shop will get the point across.) The Tea : Ruby 18

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | The Breaking Point

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 25, 2022 24:42


    This episode we soak four black teas to see if they 'break' or not. A good tea will still show a sense of structure and movement, even if it's brewed to the point of unpleasantness. We are using two of our own black teas and two tea bag teas.   To join the class and learn from these videos, you can drink these exact teas and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. If you buy these two teas, leave us a message in your order notes and we'll send the teabags for free ;) Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39651320201423%5D=1&updates%5B39651320299727%5D=1   The Teas : Ruby 18, House Black, 2x Tea Bag from Grocery Store

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Brewing Basics : Finding Your ”Golden Ratio”

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 11, 2022 41:25


    This class we will be exploring different leaf-to-water ratios to see if there is really such a thing as proper recipes. To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink these exact teas and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the tea on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39651321970895%5D=1 The Tea : Charcoal Dong Ding

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Fundamentals of Tasting : Noticing New Sensations of Roasted Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 28, 2022 28:23


    In this tea class, Shiuwen guides John to notice the various places in the mouth and body where roasted oolong can produce unique sensations and textures. To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink these exact teas and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. These teas will be used in the next episode as well. Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/update?updates%5B39651321970895%5D=1&updates%5B40528029647055%5D=1   The Teas : House Oolong Charcoal Dong Ding

    Tea Class with Shiuwen | Brewing Basics : Get The Most Out Of Premium Oolong With Boiling Water

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2022 26:35


    Shiuwen offers a tea class on the ‘correct' brewing temperature for oolong tea. Is it ok to boil green oolong?   To join the class and learn from these videos, you can drink these exact teas and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the teas on our website here https://floatingleaves.us/products/secret-garden-alishan-high-mountain   The Tea : Secret Garden Alishan High Mountain Oolong

    Season 2 : Tea Class with Shiuwen PREMIER | Fundamentals of Tasting : BASIC vs PREMIUM Green Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2022 30:57


    Shiuwen of Floating Leaves offers a tea class on the defining characteristics that make green oolong more basic or more premium. Focus is on experiential learning. To join the class and learn from these episodes, you can drink these exact teas and answer Shiuwen's guiding questions from your own experience. Find the teas on our website here => https://floatingleaves.us/cart/39651321807055:1,41098440343759:1 The Teas : Jin Xuan Secret Garden Alishan High Mountain Oolong

    The Next Generation of Tea Tasters

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2021 50:09


    Shiuwen invites special guests, some "random middle school boys", for a holiday special episode! T   his is also the last episode of our retroactively named Season 1. We will be taking a short break, and will see you again in 2022!   Find our teas : https://floatingleaves.com

    Oolongs with the Oolong Owl | Tea Blogger

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2021 87:50


    Tea blogger Oolong Owl visits the shop for some strong pots of epic oolong.   Check Out Oolong Owl's Blog : https://oolongowl.com/   Tea Teas : Eight Roast Dong Ding Lala Shan Hong Shui Taman Shan 'Empress Dowager'

    Drinking Teas the Surprised Me with Steve | Tea Friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 29, 2021 89:25


    Long time tea friend of Floating Leaves, the infamous Steve, joins Shiuwen and Noah to drink some teas that struck us by surprise!   The Teas :   Sun Solstice Oolong   Charcoal Roast Ruby 18   Lalashan Hong Shui   Find our teas at https://floatingleaves.com

    friend drinking surprised teas floating leaves shiuwen
    Tea Class with Young Johnny | Student of Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2021 77:32


    Shiuwen sits down to answer some of John's questions about tea tasting: What it means for a tea to be 'open' or, conversely, 'bound up'.    The Tea    1998 Iron Cask Aged Dong Ding (brewed 3X's)   Find our teas at https://floatingleaves.com  

    Warrior Teas with Kim Ivy | Taichi Instructor

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2021 91:55


    Founder of Embrace the Moon School for Taichi and Qigong, Kim Ivy, joins Shiuwen for some potent teas.    Learn more about Kim's Taichi and Qigong dojo at https://embracethemoon.com/

    Choosing Teas That Represent My Friends Timothy and Lewis | Artist, Painter

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 18, 2021 91:57


    Shiuwen chooses and shares two teas that represent her two friends Timothy and Lewis, Floating Leafers from the early days.   Find Timothy's work at https://timothysiciliano.com/   The Teas Wild Pinglin Baozhong Laughing Buddha (Yunnan High Mountain Oolong)

    Roasted Oolong and Puer with Chris and Caitlin | Host of Tea Talks Podcast

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 4, 2021 106:04


    Fellow tea podcasters of Tea Talks join us for their first dive into Dong Ding plus other roasted oolong.   Check out Chris' podcast on Instagram @ckylum and find Caitlin @dishwench   The Teas :  House Oolong Charcoal Dong Ding 1998 Ripe Tuocha

    Baozhong and Dong Ding with Matt | Tea Newbie

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 20, 2021 50:43


    Shiuwen invites our friend and budding tea connoisseur Matt for an oolong introduction.   Link to full video episode : https://youtu.be/3QabhFyAPsY   The Teas Competition Style Baozhong Dong Ding Traditional A

    Yunnan Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 6, 2021 43:10


    A great tea! This is an upcoming release, an oolong tea grown in the high mountain region of Wuliang Shan in Yunnan province (home of puer tea). We had a great session capped off with a brief conversation about tea brewing.

    Return to the Land of Milk & Honey

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 23, 2021 43:13


    Excellent session with Milk and Honey oolong. Plus a conversation on water temperature and tea brewing.

    Loofah!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 16, 2021 30:56


    Welcome to Floating Leaves, your local loofah emporium! Buy a loofah for your teapot, for your friends' teapots and even for your enemy's teapot. It's good for you!! *Also, Shiuwen wanted to make sure we made this correction : She did not give a liter of blood, but rather a PINT of blood.

    pint floating leaves shiuwen
    16th Anniversary of Floating Leaves!

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 9, 2021 31:22


    We drank a delicious Eight Roast Dong Ding for the 16th anniversary of Floating Leaves which occurred on 8/8.

    floating leaves
    Crabby Mama

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 2, 2021 32:57


    Last week we went back to visit an 'old friend', a tea that we've tasted many times and are just finding out new things about it. This time we visited a 'new friend', also a Furry Crab, and from the same farmer. This one is also fantastic! And we're looking forward to many more sessions with this tea. It is only available on the dot com site.

    Visiting an Old Friend

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 26, 2021 32:48


    This session we tasted Furry Crab, an oolong we've been drinking for a while now, but one that is showing a new face in the last month or so.

    Playing With Pots

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 19, 2021 36:29


    This episode we tried out some of our new Yixing and Taiwanese Wood Fired teapots. We use Dong Ding Traditional A as a base and branch out depending on how the Dong Ding tastes.

    Overnight Roasted Oolong

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 5, 2021 28:21


    This session we drank a new batch of Charcoal Dong Ding that I brought back from Taiwan. It was roasted in a special way to produce a very unique feel for Dong Ding tea. WE LOVE IT! We're going to be keeping aside some for ourselves to age. And after this session Shiuwen wants to keep even more!!

    A Thick Cup of Tea

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2021 37:09


    When I got back to the states Shiuwen told me I was brewing tea really strong! During my time in Taiwan I really changed up my brewing, and I think it tastes great. Today we drank the King of Teas, Charcoal Dong Ding, and it was strong enough to stand a spoon up in it.

    thick teas shiuwen

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