That does seem useful.

Though I giggled at black tea being "strong".

Sorry, it's just that I grew up in Miami. So I'm kinda conditionioned.

...Which, come to think of it, is probably why I kinda just instantly liked tea...

*grin* Great essay, Neshomeh. There's a lot of cool stuff in there. Mind if I save it and re-use? Credited always, of course.

Oooh, I like. I'll have to use this on a few friends. Thankfully most of my Uni friends are (almost) as great of Tea Fiends as I am, so the call of "Who want's to go to Az's place and have tea?" in a crowded room almost always elicits at gathering in my home and at least one strange combination. I think the most interesting thusfar has been Russian Caravan tea (really strong smoky black tea) and Anise Extract. It actually turned out quite good....

You clear up some misconceptions about tea quite nicely.

I protest!

For one, it's misled, not mislead.

For a second, there is NO SUCH THING as overly brewed tea. Up to an hour in a builder's boot is best. And what you call steeping is what we call stewing. Often to the point where you could stand a spoon up in it, in my case.

Your up to five minutes is wrong too. Ideal brewing time is seven minutes, as timed by the smoking of a hand-rolled cigarette. And green and white teas need the teabag leaving in throughout the drinking process.

Oh, and there is totally a right way to drink tea. :P


~Pads, who could debate the supremacy of "real" tea till the cows come home