A Conversation for The Quite Interesting Society
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Nov 10, 2009
>>Is it because, whilst Westerners consider the acronym-tea to be superiour, the Chinese actually prefer leaves that are slightly older?<<
Yes. Vip +3
The SFTGFOP is essentially a highly regarded tea of the sort we'd recognise in the west as Darjeeling, with a light, clear appearance mild astringency . It is grown from a Chinese species of tea plant that is cultivated in India (not an Assam)
The style of tea is down to the point at which the tips (tippy) are harvested. (the clue was in the fact the plant was still flowering 
- Super fancy Golden Tippy FLOWERING Orange Pekoe) It is in spite of the name a black tea, (there are many myths circling around the 'orange' appellate, something to do with the hue of the husk or possibly the surname of a famous importer.
The black tea of preference in China is Lapsang Souchong (which for my money smells for all the world like the interior of the hoover bag and, worryingly, furniture polish 
) but this is probably due to the Chinese preference to have the leaves slowly smoked over a pine fire. (Many myths also abound about the origin of that style of tea, but it's piquant order and strong earthy taste and a world apart from the fragrant and delicate sensibilities of Darjeeling.
Hence why you'd be unlikely to hear SFGTFOP spoken of in such circles.
If you need a hand in future remembering SFTGFOP as an acronym, try this memetic :
Surely, far to good for ordinary people! 
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Nov 11, 2009
>>Sorry. I thought "Tippy" was a made-up word, disregarded the whole translation as a consequence <<
Whoops! 
I think 'tippy' probably is a made up word, just like the tea isn't orange and pekoe desn't really refer to anything either - nevertheless those barmy tea merchants; brains addled by decades of constant caffiene abuse - this is the term they use.
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Nov 11, 2009
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
van-smeiter Posted Nov 12, 2009
"just like the tea isn't orange"
Of course not, it's mandarin. 
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
toybox Posted Nov 17, 2009
Well I'll be damned. On of my regular blogs incidentally mentioned SFTGFOP in today's post:
http://www.maitre-eolas.fr/post/2009/11/14/Forfaiture
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Nov 17, 2009
Not just making stuff up.
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. Posted Nov 17, 2009
Just realised I never scored this thread. I'll do it when I get back from college.
Key: Complain about this post
QI - I'll be brief - SFTGFOP
- 61: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Nov 10, 2009)
- 62: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Nov 11, 2009)
- 63: Vip (Nov 11, 2009)
- 64: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Nov 11, 2009)
- 65: van-smeiter (Nov 12, 2009)
- 66: toybox (Nov 17, 2009)
- 67: toybox (Nov 17, 2009)
- 68: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Nov 17, 2009)
- 69: Clive the flying ostrich: Amateur Polymath | Chief Heretic. (Nov 17, 2009)
- 70: toybox (Nov 17, 2009)
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