Time for Tea

After a longer hiatus than I originally anticipated for a much needed vacation, I sat down at my desk and poured myself a cup of tea.  I had drawn a blank on what I wanted to write. Sometimes I have idea's and they pour out of me like angry hornets out of a disturbed nest. Those times are far and few between. Most of the times, writing for me is like trying to trim the cats claws; awkward, but totally worth it.

I can do more thinking over a cup of tea then writing most days. I started this blog as a way for me to practice writing, to develop  a style, and talk about things that interest me. It seems that most things that interest me is graphic novels and books and my cup of tea and the occasional adventure.

I haven't finished the book I am reading yet, and some adventures aren't ready to share, which leave me to talking about my cup of tea.  I am some what serious about my tea. I didn't always be that way. In fact I didn't start drinking tea regularly until my early twenties.  I grew up in a religion where the caffeine was not permitted, a cup of tea was not a thing to be had in the home.

A cup of tea is not a thing to me. It is a moment of tranquility in a cup. I have had some of my best idea's over a cup of tea with girlfriends, and I have gotten through some really long work days by the power of a cup of good tea. I drink two types of tea, and I recommend both types. I drink loose leaf tea and I drink bagged tea.  There are merits to both types of tea. Everyone deserves a cup of tea.

Loose leaf tea means different things to different countries. I have a couple of dear friends that have the fancy to travel and with the kindness of their heart they have brought me back tea from various places.  I have received bricks of fermented  Pu-erh that has to be rinsed before use and that you can get multiple brewings out of. I have been gifted delightful herbal tea's  made with dried fruit and herbs from Germany that have no caffeine and taste like the richness of home and hearth. And I love every delectable brewed drop.

Bagged tea is completely different than loose leaf by realms. Loose leaf tea you get measure and concoct and feel a little bit like a mad scientist. Bagged tea is perfect for wanting to enjoy the flavor with out the time it takes to bag or strain the tea. I enjoy the simplicity of bagged tea, especially when I am short of time.  I do have a little bit of an irritation when it comes to bagged tea.

Most boxes only have 20 bags in the box. This would have never been a issue to me until I got a box of Whittard of Chelsea from a friend that had been to London. The box was the same size as my regular tea boxes, but instead of the standard of 20 bags of tea, there were 50 tag less bags of delicious wonderment. My world was shaken.  I had to check my local tea's to see if perhaps I was just blind to boxes with more tea in them.

Stash- 18 bags per box
Twinings- 20 bags per box
Bigelow- 20 bags per box (except Lemon Ginger which had 18)
Celestial Seasons- 20 bags per box
Traditional Medicines- 16 bags per box.

How is this possible? The box is the same size. Shouldn't it hold the same size of tea? It would seem that in the world, the English are very serious about their tea, and don't mess around with a mere twenty bags of tea. If you are going to buy tea, you are going to buy tea and not just a sampling.
  And now my tea standards have been raised a little bit more as to what I expect out of my box of tea. Now that I have talked about tea, my next post will have to be about something other than what I am drinking, but till then I am going to finish the cup I am on.


There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea. - Henry James