Quote:
Originally Posted by Laine
There's no option for both. I think it depends on the situation. If you want a quick cuppa then good quality teabags are O.K. But for a relaxing, civilised experience then loose tea can be wonderful. Of course, there are far more varieties available in loose leaf if you have a specialty tea shop nearby.
I remember when I ordered a pot of Darjeeling at The Tea Centre in Sydney I was asked 1st, 2nd or 3rd flushing. ??????
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I agree with you that it depends on the situation. I have a big collection of loose leaf teas but for the quick cuppa, I still use tea bags.
1st, 2nd or 3rd flushing? I didn't know that Oz is so advanced in serving tea in shops! I was very impressed that in any Australian coffee shop one can order different kinds of coffee, like long white or short black etc. In Paris, unless you go to a specialist coffee shop, the coffee you get in a traditional French cafe is expensive and horrible.
The flushings could mean rinsing of the leaves before it is served. I was told that the 1st pot of tea made with Oolong should be thrown away because it tastes dusty and bitter. It is only from the 2nd or 3rd infusion that the best taste comes from. By the way, Oolong can take at least 6 refills of hot water so don't throw the leaves away after just one filling of the teapot. It will be like the story of how Europeans threw away the water after making tea and ate the leaves when they first discovered it.