Fri. Oct. 11, 2024
Tea in the Morning
I don’t know how long I have been a fan of tea, but I know I have been enjoying the colors, aromas, and flavors of tea for many years. I think it started sometime around high school, and then my appreciation for tea, and really all beverages took off after reading Tom Standage’s book A History of the World in 6 Glasses. I think we take for granted tea as something simple…because it is. It is a dried leaf, reconstituted in hot water, and drunk before the infusion becomes too bitter. Yet tea also encompasses a web of complexity spanning topics of economics and trade, man’s connection to nature, and the history of human civilization (to list a few). In every cup of tea there is a wealth of human history, and each cup serves as an example of the deep interconnectedness of all things. It also happens to be a very nice way to start the day.
Over the years I have spent a great deal of time at the local farmers market where there is a tea stall which serves a broad variety of excellent teas. No, this is not an advertisement for them, however the owners and employees have all become good friends of mine and so naturally I’d like to help them out however I can. While I figure out what I’m doing with this substack, this new version of an old thing (a blog), you will find some images and tasting notes of teas that I have tried and enjoyed. Hopefully, for those that subscribe, this will not be a nuisance, or cause for turning away. Instead, I hope it will inspire you to seek out and sit with your own favorite brew, admire the colors, the aromas, and flavors, and to slow down a bit.
Tasting Notes - brewed at 96°C for 3min 30sec.
Color: Very reminiscent of a whiskey. When light hits it you see a gradient from the color of straw to vibrant orange (cadmium orange and the darker pyrrole orange).
Aroma: Straw, grass clippings, dried leaves and maybe fresh bread?
Taste: Very clean! Reminiscent of a white tea. Surprisingly neutral given its vibrant color, but not bland. A very refreshing cup of tea
Mouthfeel: Balanced. Almost no bitterness/astringency at all. A hint of it towards the last few sips.