I have a friend who always gives fire extinguishers for wedding gifts.

I give a margarita set -- 6 margarita glasses, a bottle of good tequila and margarita mix.

That's a really good idea, Vortex. I like fun and sort of unique gift ideas.

No tea site suggestions? Or actual tea. I really liked this last time but since I can't read a word of it, I don't know how to replace it so I'm striking out on my own.

Cass, upton tea importers. They have a great selection, sell samples, and better prices than most places.

Awesome. I want to find a workable gap between 'well, I have tea but even I know it's not very good tea' and 'my ex aunt in law brought me a tin from China after a bunch of people did tastings.' Samples that I can buy are perfect for that.

eta: About to buy so many samples. Several of their sampler packs and then a couple of samples of teas I know I generally like. Their catalog is ... dense. Thus prepackaged sampler packs seem like a very good way to start. Um, eighteen teas in total. I need a new notebook just to remember what I want to finally buy. In 2015 when I run out of tea. Thanks, sj.

Dang, Vortex gives good gift!

Cass, I have found that one trick to tea is knowing what kind of tea you like as then it's easier to try something unfamiliar knowing you'll probably like it. I think of ita drinking jasmine tea, and I like a good oolong. I've tried quite a few now and there's some I like better but even the ones that aren't quite as delicious are very nummy to drink.

Happy to help, Cass. I hope you enjoy the samples you ordered.

Cass, I have found that one trick to tea is knowing what kind of tea you like as then it's easier to try something unfamiliar knowing you'll probably like it. I think of ita drinking jasmine tea, and I like a good oolong. I've tried quite a few now and there's some I like better but even the ones that aren't quite as delicious are very nummy to drink.

This is good advice. Upton especially has so many different choices for every type of tea. I'm currently in search of the perfect assam. Although sometimes it is also nice to try something completely different with the samples. I'm currently drinking Monkey tea, which is not an assam, but really has the malty flavor I was looking for.

I think of ita drinking jasmine tea, and I like a good oolong.

Yup. I test places with jasmine and mango infusions--Upton has good prices, but so far Teavana and Adagio have better flavours. Teavana is expensive and annoying, but I could drink their jasmine tea forever. Lupicia is more expensive, and that certainly doesn't apply to my palate, so no point me spending dosh on them.

ita, there is a local place called the Conservatory of Coffee and Tea. It's on Washington Bl in Culver City. Has lots of teas you can sniff or try and then buy in bulk, and their prices are very reasonable.

ita, there is a local place called the Conservatory of Coffee and Tea. It's on Washington Bl in Culver City

I think I tried going there a few months ago, and they closed the doors at 5:55 in my face. I've been nursing a pointless grudge since then...

However, I am good with tea for the next little while, thanks to very nice Buffistas and an Adagio gift certificate. Once I burn through that, I will head out there.

They don't have wifi, which means I don't go there when I need to grade. I wonder how much custom they scare off with little things like that.