The Season of Giving is over. Teato has given many beautiful gifts to many beautiful women this Christmas, but he has also received some wonderful presents. And while some lovely and generous ladies know my tastes extremely well (I love delicious tea; this is no surprise to loyal readers) others seem to know very little about me.
One lovely girl actually gave me a coffee press for Christmas. A coffee press! It’s as if we are total strangers! But all is not lost. I will make the best of it, and pass on thisimportant tea lessonto you. You can make tea with a coffee press — in fact, it’s a great way tobrew loose leaf tea, which as you know, is far superior to teabags.
Please, take a moment to stop whatever you are doing, and listen to a bit of wisdom brought to you by a humble Tea Lover. As I wait for my cup of Winter Romance Tea to cool (who wants romance more than I, and in the winter more than ever! Though while I prefer a cooler cup of tea, I hope the romance itself is hot hot hot), I wish to share a little tip of the trade. My heart is overflowing with generosity today
As you know I Teato Flavio, enjoy the company of the ladies quite a bit. I have many powerful seduction techniques, but none is more important than this one simple thing: my smile.
It’s been a little while since my last post — I’ve been recovering from all the turkey I ate and the fun times I had sipping Treasure Island Tea, my most recent favorite flavor from Amanzi Tea, with my family. (If you’re like me, nothing goes better with a full belly than a cup of hot black tea. It helps with digestion and settles the stomach, after all!) And now it seems like I can barely blink but Christmas is coming up! The holidays just keep coming.
But that’s got me thinking, as the holidays start overtaking us, and the bitter winter climate greets us every morning, as our neighbors start covering their homes in Christmas lights and candy canes, my mood tends to change. I start wanting a more…winter kind of tea, that goes with the season. Well, don’t you worry, cause I’ve got you covered!
As your quaint tradition of being thankful comes ever closer, I thought you might perhaps enjoy an amusing story about something I know all tea drinkers consider quite precious, and of which they are ever grateful: tea bags.
Now many people say that loose leaf tea is the superior way to make tea. But even they must admit that it’s much more convenient to carry a bunch of tea bags than it is to always be cleaning out your tea infuser all the time. But did you know how tea bags came to be? It’s a bit of a funny story, actually.
I was just checking my bank balance online (and not liking what I see, I don’t mind saying! lol) and it occurred to me that I don’t think I’ve let you in on one of my ultimate tea secrets. I use it every day, and it seems only fair that I share my tea knowledge with you.
Times are tough, right? The price of everything is going up, including tea in some places. And since tea is not a luxury but a necessity, but gas in your tank is too, you have to find someplace where we can save a bit. So here’s a little something to help you through the “economic downturn.”
I do so appreciate your attention and care as you study the many aspects of the Way of Tea. I know that in my constant instruction and general testiness when it seems you don’t know why rooibos teais called red tea, and other basic facts that you should certainly know by now, I sometimes forget to tell you that I am proud of you. My heart sometimes swells up like a used teabag at the thought of how much you continue to grow.
Forgive me if I am overly sentimental. I seem to be out of my morning black tea today, and I am missing it a bit, feeling a bit emotional. I do so love black tea, you know. I love its brisk flavor, so rich and strong. I love every kind of black tea, from the flowery and fruity teas like Crimson Rose andPassion Fruit, to the spicy and nutty taste of the Masala Chai and Cinnamon Spice.
As you may know, Teato adores the tea. Almost as much as he loves the ladies. (On some days, he prefers tea a little bit more–it just depends.) And when I can, I bring the two together as much as possible. For what makes a woman’s heart grow warmer for you than a steaming cup of a rich white tea like rose garden blend? (if she loves roses, why would she not love a cup of rose garden? My logic has a simple beauty you can’t argue, no?)
But as you have certainly read before, the teamust not be steeped for too long. Theperfect cup of tea must be brewed just so. So how to smother my gorgeous companion with attention while still making sure the tea is as perfect as she is? It’s actually quite simple. Techonology to the rescue!
As the weather turns colder I find that I am not brewing up some iced tea and taking it for a hike so much anymore. More and more I find myself sitting inside with a warm cup of yerba mate, telling myself I ought to get some exercise. And yet my body just sits there. It doesn’t listen at all. Has this ever happened to you?
Anyway, I was wasting too much time surfing the old internet instead of exercising, and as usual, found something great about tea– specifically green tea, and an interesting way to…shall we say “imbibe” it? Apparently when there’s no gravity, you can eat tea with chopsticks! Crazy right! Check it out!
I was not always a tea master. I once was a young tea student. I once lived only on pizza and thought I never needed sleep. I wanted to rebel against the Man. I was not concerned with my health, thinking I could live forever (even without the health benefits of green tea and the rest of the teas). I once had to make teawith the loose leaves that I picked myself, because I could not afford to buy them. So I know what it is like to be low on funds.
I know times are hard economically right now. Many of my students cannot afford to buy new tea every day. I will share with you the piece of tea advice that I share with them when times are hard. Are you ready to gain some tea wisdom?
Oh my diligent tea students, I am feeling quite nostalgic as I sip my organic oolong tea. The strong aroma does take me back to my younger days, and thought I continue to feel young due to the almost magical effects of tea. But that’s not what I am talking about. You see, coming up in Japan, some tea houses are going to hold what cold be the largest tea ceremony ever.
On October 25 and 26, in Hamarikyu Gardens in the Chuo Ward will play host to a ceremony that will be celebrated by something like 8,000 people. 8,000 people will be taking tea, being a part of the Tokyo Grand Tea Ceremony. This is quite an amazing thing, tea students. I should not have to tell you that.
