Learn to appreciate Tea

Being one of my first goals on this site, it has proven to be one of the most difficult. As a coffee lover, tea always seemed to be just too light for me – too weak. I couldn’t seem to understand the attraction, other than for its healh benefits.

I tried various flavors, brands, systems and embellishments, but with no real love for the flavours. I simply stood still with my understanding of tea, hot or cold.

Recently, I stumbled upon a locally owned herbalist who bottles up her own mixtures of natural teas. Mixtures of rose petals, lavendars, eucalyptas, and everything else in between. I became overwhelmed with the vast variety of smells and tastes to choose from. I enjoyed picking through piles of different beautiful cozies, defusers, spoons and pots all dedicated to the process.

With a little practice, I enjoyed my first cup of tea while curled up in my sunroom. I fully enjoyed the taste, the texture, the aroma, and the benefits of health I knew it would deliver.

I noticed that in this town, there are many tea houses that offer the formal “High Tea” experience, which I actually attended yesterday with my sister. The miniature sandwiches, tiny cupcakes, beautifully crafted cucumber finger-foods and fruit. It was a dining experience, but what made it an especially enjoyable meal was the pot of rose petal tea I devoured with my meal. I truly enjoyed every sip, and am so glad to have learned to fully appreciate tea.

I thought it was like mildly flavored water. I used to drink coffee. Now I won’t touch the stuff. It makes me too jittery. I drink yerba mate now (see my comment to Renee: http://www.43things.com/entries/view/782659#comments) and I feel like a more complete person…

I’ve finally tried some really good ones. I want to eventually drink green tea for breakfast instead of coffee, but I first need to like it!! A friend gave me “Chai green tea” by Stash. THis stuff is so good, but I only have a few left, so I’m hoarding them. The flavor is a little sweet & a little cinnamony – (is that a word?) So, I defenately like that form of green tea. I also bought a can of Red Bush Herbal Chai, which is loose herbs & spices. It smells really good & the taste isn’t too bad. The only thing is that it’s hard to strain with my clamp thingy because it’s loose.

Oh well, I guess I’ll have to keep trying… I do love all the little doo-hickeys that come with tea drinking. I love my beautiful Wedgewood teapot, the bag strainer that I got at Bombay, and using lemons for flavor. It’s defenately a luxury when you get the right tea!