Some Thoughts
About Tea
Tea was discovered in
China over 5,000 years ago when Shen Nung, an early emperor, required that all
drinking water be boiled as a hygienic precaution. During a journey, some dried leaves from a nearby bush fell
into the boiling water and a brown liquid was infused into the water. The Emperor was interested in the new
liquid, drank some and found it very refreshing. Today, there are many kinds of tea grown and harvested
around the world. You can grow
some teas at home.
Here
is a picture of a tea plant ready for harvest. This is an Oolong plant of the Tung Ting variety.
Some tea grows only in
extreme environments such as this High Mountain Tea being harvested by an
ardent tea lover.
To maximize the enjoyment
of your tea, you should follow the steps outlined here.
First, ensure you have an
adequate supply of tea. It would
not do to run out when guests arrive.
As an added precaution,
always rub your teapot to ensure that yours is not a magic teapot that houses a
genie. They may not like boiling
water!
Be
sure to boil plenty of water.
Remember, you must use the first pot of water to rinse the tea leaves.
Tea can be made at
different strengths according to desire.
To make strong tea, add more of the dried tea leaves. Be prepared to stay awake all night!
To make a weaker tea, add
less of the dried tea leaves. You
may find the use of tweezers helpful for this process.
Now add your boiling water
to the teapot, let it sit for a short time, then pour out the liquid into a
cup. This is not only to rinse the
dried tea leaves but to provide an initial cup of tea so that you may savor
it's fragrance while the tea undergoes it's final brewing. While pouring the tea, take time
to notice the coloration of the liquid and appreciate the wonders of this fine
beverage.
Now add more water to the
teapot for the final brew and take some time to appreciate the fine aroma of
the first pouring of the tea. The
tea will be ready to drink very soon.
Now pour the brewed tea
into your cup. Even though for
many black teas, it is often desirable to add flavorings, please remember that
for green tea, you do NOT add sugar or cream!
Now sit back, relax, and
enjoy your tea. Allow it to gently transport you to rapture on the wings of
imagination as you slowly sip.
Doesn't that taste good?
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