www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ocjF7XoHN0

www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3mZgs0vkDY

the Chaney Holiday Show:
Pottery, Drawings, and Re-purposed rings by Chris and Mary Chaney

Show Info:
Just in time for the holidays we are presenting fresh works from the Chaney household.  From the kiln, I will be offering Asian influenced soda fired ceramic works that are sure to be the perfect handmade gift.  Mary will be presenting delicate skeletal line drawings inspired by osteological reproductions.  For the unique jewelry lover, Mary will also be offering rings made from vintage and re-purposed buttons.

Mary and I met at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, IL where we both studied Art.  Since graduation in 2001, we have practiced our individual disciplines in various professional capacities around the Chicagoland area.  Currently, I teach ceramics at Lillstreet Art Center in Chicago, while Mary teaches our 2 year old daughter the finer points of crayon use.

Opening Reception:
Saturday, December 11th
6pm to 10pm
(During the Second Saturday event!)

Show Hours:
Friday, December, 10th 5pm to 9pm
Saturday, December 11th, 10am to 10pm
Sunday, December 12th, 12pm to 4pm

Major will be when I have the outbuilding constructed for the electric kiln.  Hopefully I’ll actually be posting regular updates on all the projects…

What can I say about this tea that hasn’t already been said?  My initial interest in this tea came from purely aesthetic reasons — its curly leaf shape (tamaryokucha).  Why does this matter?  Well I had only been previously exposed to the straight needle-like varieties of Japanese greens.  Not surprisingly, the curly and curvy leaf reminds me of a spinning pottery wheel.  Let me explain:  When teaching beginners to throw on the pottery wheel, I always try to explain that our brains are used to thinking lineally and not  in circles (because the wheel spins).  Whether that is true or not, I don’t know.  Anyway, to be successful, beginners must retrain their brains to accept the fact that the wheel is going to spin and they are going to have to compensate mentally and physically for that unfamiliar motion.  So I can say the same thing about my tea experience.  The Top Leaf helped me retrain my brain in the fact that all Japanese greens need not be straight or linear in shape.  Hey, I am a visual person, whatever it takes, right?

I am also drawn to this tea for Mellow Monk’s commitment to supporting independent family owned and operated tea farms in Japan.  Every little bit helps, both with our world and our bodies.

I’ve lived with this tea for a little over a month now, and I have to say that I quite enjoy it as an everyday tea.  Top Leaf has a consistent brew, however it can be tweaked depending on what flavor profile I want to pull from the leaves.  Some days I want a sweet and mellow tea while other days I want a biting astringent cup.  This tea has versatility and range.

To me, the dry leaves have an almost minty aroma, although there is nothing minty about the brewed soup.  After a bit of experimentation, I settled on the following brewing parameters:

1.5 tsp dry leaf

1st brew: 170ºF for 2 min

2nd brew: 170º for 1 min

3rd brew: 180º for 1:30 min

Brew 1:  This is by far the strongest brew, with a bright yellow soup.  Much different than other Japanese teas, which can be very green.  The thing I like most about the first brew is that after I take a sip, there is a creeping bite that recedes just as I think it is going to crest into bitterness.  It’s ability to go up to that line, but not cross it is very appealing to me.

Brew 2:  I hate to use the description of “grassy” because it is thrown around quite a bit when describing teas.  However, I can understand why it is used, and the first and second brews of this tea can certainly be described as “grassy.”  The flavor reminds me of a fresh mowed lawn.  It is sweet, but not in a sugary way, sweet in a way that reminds me of spring.  Like a crisp spring morning.

Brew 3: This last brew is much greener than the first and most of the initial bite is now gone.  The tea has mellowed to a shadow of its former self and the flavor has become much sweeter although slight and subdued.  I find this third infusion the perfect way to end the session with the sweet watery tea being quite refreshing.

Conclusion:  I do like this tea quite a bit and am looking forward to trying Mellow Monk’s other offerings, mainly the Master’s Roast.  While I can definitely recommend the Top Leaf, I do have a couple of criticisms.  The first is that there is quite a bit small tea particles (dust, fannings, what have you) in the bag which can quickly turn a brew quite bitter if not careful.  If anything, this aspect reminds me that the most important part about brewing and enjoying tea is to slow down and not rush the experience.  My other comment that I wish the bag came with a resealable zip-loc type closure.  These are both small concerns of mine and do not factor into my overall impression of Top Leaf, which it that this is definitely a high quality and tasty tea.

Looking to support Chicago Artists? Want to give a home to a unique piece of handmade art or get a jump on shopping for the holidays? Now is the perfect time!

Lillstreet opens the gallery for this very special event. Join us for a juried show featuring work by over 60 student artists.  As a teacher at Lillstreet, I cannot participate in the sale.  However, the work submitted by the students is sure to be top notch!

When:
Saturday, August 29, 2009 10:00am – 6:00pm
Sunday, August 30, 200910:00am – 5:00p

Where:
Lillstreet Art Center
4401 N. Ravenswood
Chicago, IL 60640
Google Map

Contact:
773-769-4226
kat@lillstreet.com