Sami Likes Swagger
Meet Sami Ari
Sami Ari is the master of Tweet-ups , or social events for people on Twitter. He took some time a few weeks ago to come to a tea tasting. I introduced him to guayusa, or Amazon Swagger, as I describe it. If you’re not familiar, guayusa is a drink from South America that is loaded with caffeine and refreshing taste. Mr. Ari was a fan of it. He’s fresh from a whirlwind trip to Japan, so for Shui Tea’s first tea model, I present Twitter’s @SamiAri answering questions with a ‘lil Amazon Swagger.
Shui Tea: This blog is called “Don’t Be a Tea-Bag”. How do you picture someone who acts like a total tea-bag?
Sami: Well, it depends. Is being a tea-bag a good thing or a bad thing? Reading your blog I couldn’t help but wonder about that. Is it good? Does it feel good? Does it hurt? My first reaction upon hearing the words is thinking about it in a negative way. So for the purpose of answering this question I’ll say it’s an un-pleasureable act. Wait…I’m out of space. I’ll just say this, tea-bags should hang out with other tea-bags.
S.T.: “Tea Party”- what do you think when you hear those words?
Sami: Gay men, Alice in Wonderland (not the movie!!!!) and back to my university days where we had tea parties at the library and talk about the best way to shelf books with the least amount of time while being able to see the check-out and the reference area for any sudden student activity.
S.T.: Before you go to bed at night, what do you think?
Sami: It depends. Lately, it’s been on how to manipulate everything around me in order to get back to Tokyo. If not that then deciding if I’ll sleep past my alarm or not.
S.T.: What do you do to blow off steam?
Sami: Look into my hard-drive to see what film I can watch for the 3rd, 4th or 5th time. Lady Vengeance is usually a good pick.
S.T.: If you got one free punch to the face, who would you use it on and why?
Sami: That Mark guy from Facebook, he just pisses me off sometimes. Tom from Myspace was so much nicer! Also, I wouldn’t say a punch to the face BUT every time I read something poorly written, I think to myself “what…a loser”.
S.T.: What were some of the teas or tea-flavored foods you tried in Japan? Any surprises?
Sami: I have had few. Over there, you get tea with about any meal at any traditional restaurant. My favorite had to be the cold Matcha I had at a temple in Kyoto. Not sure if it was the open air environment, the way it was served or the fact that it was cold and thick (very unlike the way I’ve had it in the States) but if I had a zen (I use the term very loosely) moment it would have been at that moment.
When it comes to Matcha flavored food then I’ve had many things, from Matcha Cheesecake to Matcha Shaved Ice, they were all very tasty with the perfect balance between sweet ingredients and Matcha.
English is not my first language so after spending 3 weeks without speaking it, it doesn’t come as surprise that I have to think a bit before speaking. When I got @JimmyDoesTea’s tweet I thought that he meant swag and not swagger, which made me think I had to contribute some sort of item for his readers. I know… I’m an extremely kind person. Here’s the deal, comment on this post because we know that @JimmyDoesTea is pretty awesome. I’m sure he’ll even let me play with his iPad! He’ll pick a random person to receive the below pictured box. I’m not going to say “it’s a surprise gift” because I hate surprises. It’s a set of chopsticks. I don’t remember if it’s two or six. I have a bad memory. I suppose that’s the surprise part of it. It’s nicely wrapped all the way from Hakone. I’ll ship anywhere in the US.
The Swagger Giveaway
You heard Sami — post a comment to enter. I’ll up the ante and include some Amazon Swagger tea to the winner. Comment away!
About Tea Models
Tea Models are real people with interesting lives who get a picture taken of them drinking their favorite tea. Then, I share a bit of their story. If you’re interested in being a tea model, send an e-mail to jim@shuitea.com and tell me what your favorite tea is.
About Jim Schreiber
I started Shui Tea, an irreverent tea company in Chicago. I like to talk about good food, Big 10 Sports and Caffeine. View all posts by Jim SchreiberThis entry was posted in tea models. Bookmark the permalink.
34 Responses to “Sami Likes Swagger”
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A teabag – one who deserves your cold, wet, sloppy, and used teabag to be swung and slapped between the eyes for being a spaz in life rather than being at one with the comic, cosmic, happiness of life. Go ahead. Annoint that lucky someone across the table from you with a wet slap of clarity and declare yourself a holy teabagger which you undoubtably are. @qfishchitown
I think you just answered that question… which tea are you going to model, Rodrigo??
Oh, my goodness! Samuel could sell ice in hell, I swear! Look at that smile. But seriously, I now want to try some Amazon Swagger!
Did ya check out the post about it? I know Legally Erin wants in too… just 8 more for a free tasting!
aw, thank you! He totally did get my good angle
That Amazon Swagger was the best thing I’ve ever drank in my life! Better than Mr. Bombay S or Ms. Veuve C!
haha Sami, who knew you liked Lady Vengence!? what a movie! Matcha served in Japan is the only way to experience it.
haha, it’s only like my FAVORITE movie ever! Yes, I’m telling you Matcha Matcha Matcha mania is what I had in Tokyo ^_^
I have your swagger tea and just wanted to pop by. *Sip*
Thanks! How have you liked it?
Tweetup Sami is now Teamodel Sami. So many hats to wear. I want to win those chopsticks so I can take them with me next time I go to eat bibimbop.
mmmm, now I’m hungry!
Real people who drink real tea! I learned more about tea and met a new interesting person (Hi Sami, yes you do have a great smile) all while being enticed to try Swagger! I love it! More please
Hi there!
Trust me, the tea makes the model!
I love chopsticks AND tea! Great giveaway!
WINNER!!!
The Random Number Generator at RANDOM.ORG picked #7 and… that’s you!
chopsticks go chopsticks go chopsticks go chop!
Palahniuk would be proud!
I like tea. I like chopsticks. I like the hell out of swag, especially when it combines the two above things. Gotta go, need more iced tea.
What iced tea are you drinking?
Dear Sami,
Thank you for contributing to Jim’s blog and congrats on being the first Shui Tea model. Your conversation was interesting and I enjoyed reading it. I have to say, I’m incredibly jealous of your time spent in Japan and would love to hear more about your travels. Do you have a blog or site of your own that might provide us with such travel tales?
All the best,
Tori A
Well, I love Tea. And I love Sami Ari. And I love that @JimmyDoesTea has given Tea-bagging a new meaning–er–or–at least trying.
Now if you can come up with a way so I can keep my teeth as white as Sami Ari’s in that pic and continue to drink as much tea as I do, then I think you got a whole other business.
Love you guy.
J-D
I already knew Sami had a stellar smile, but now I know he’s got similarly stellar taste in tea! I would like to partake in both the chopsticks and the tea, please. Oh, and WB Sami!
I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing the Amazon Swagger and I highly recommend! A great coffee alternative. Nice smooth caffeine buzz. Mmmmm. And besides, Sami has great taste so you know it’s good!
@TheTonyHam
I need a vacation to Japan. Wait, that’s not going to happen any time soon. I’ll take some Swagger instead
he really does take “pearly whites” to a whole new level, huh………
That smile never leaves Sami’s face. Swagger is what my co-workers need. Swag is nice too, Jim can attest to that!
New chopsticks & tea would completely change my world view, guys.
Ohhhh! Chopsticks!
I need any kind of swagger I can get…
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