The cost of learning

Good question. Initially, I bought loose leaf tea from just about every local place in my town that had it, only later to discover that it was not the freshest or the best quality. Luckily, all of that was in small quantities (the key in starting out: buy small). I also have tons of stuff I bought when SpecialTeas went out of business over a year ago and they sold their tea at 75% off. I have given some of it away, and some will probably get composted, as it’s already barely steep-able. Still, much of that tea I use to add to a second or third steeping of a pot of mid-grade green tea; that way, it still gets ‘used’.

Now, I try my best to look for the positive in things; so as far as learning goes, yes, all that cost me time, energy and money, but not too much of any, and I enjoyed the process. In the end, it was all worth it. I mean, you can’t really ‘buy’ learning anyway, now can you? Nor can you go around it, or over it, or under it; there is only one way: through it; and it turns out that’s the best way.

(Skip this if you’d like):
Here’s a philosophical reflection related to how I believe we tend to learn (although it directly addresses this thread topics title, it’s not directly related to Tea): I read that Carl Jung said something to the effect that we spend much more energy trying to avoid that which stands in the way of our reaching our goals, rather than confronting them directly. I think there’s a lot of truth in that. : -)

Thanks for the answers everyone! Really interesting.

I remembered as well, whenever I try a new tea, i have to try other variations close to it to get a gauge on whether it’s good or not. So at least, an ongoing cost of learning is constantly needing to have different grades of tea on hand for comparison, rather than just tasting 1 type.

Yup..mine was buying only from Teavana the first year. I did not know any better….

My journey has been similar to those of others with buying more more more tea, must try all the teas, initially. As part of that, I think one of my major costs was learning about wholesalers and re-packagers. When I first started drinking tea I had no clue that not all tea companies blended their own teas and many just repackaged blends from large wholesalers. I bought the same tea under different names because I wanted to try “another version.” Not anymore!

As several people here have already said but I want to repeat – buy small … I look for sample sizes or the very smallest size I can find on any vendors site first. If they offer small sizes I then check shipping charges. I have been very lucky to get a healthy supply of teas to try in small sizes for no or very low shipping fees. For me it works because I tend to enjoy so many different types of teas. Then when I find some I really love I will get more of it. Right now though I am still in the small bag phase with a very short list of those I will put in my eventual permanent stash. While I am working on my perm stash list I have been collecting pretty containers to safely store larger quantities in, building up my tea pot collection, cup collection, brewers, items needed for speciality teas, here and there. The only teas I have bought larger quantities of thus far have been some teas that are excellent for iced teas as summer is upon us in my part of the world and my family will go through that really fast!
Edited to add – actually I have purchased a few “larger” quantities of teas now that I look at my stash, usually however I have picked these up in some killer sales that I could not avoid. LOL I guess it is just a catch 22 for anyone in love with tea.
If I can get 4 ounces for the price a sample would regularly cost Im going to do it! I can always send the ones I don’t care for to someone who may. :)