I have loved tea for years. My parents always bought loose-leaf Assams and Darjeelings when I was growing up. After that I bought Chinese greens and oolongs in Europe where I have family. The thing about tea is, the more you taste, the more you realise no one cup is the same. It's like wine: every vintage, every garden, every climactic difference affect the aroma and flavour of the drink. Then there are the centuries of accumulated expertise involved in harvesting, fermenting, drying and rolling the leaves.
Finally there's connoisseurship. I'd like to point out here that although I'm a huge fan, the more I pry and probe, the more I realise that I'm unlikely to ever really come to terms with the sheer variety and volume of tea out there. But the fact that medieval monks and scholars in Asia dedicated lifetimes to the study of this plant leaves hope for me! I believe that with tea, everyone can access the source. It is affordable and becoming more available than ever. It has health giving properties and with so many varieties, it never gets boring!
Watch this space and let me know your own experience...
