Quote:
Originally Posted by astra
Can I ask you a very private question?
How/when did you become a Teaist?
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Thinking back, I would guess I was in my early 30's. Perhaps 30,31 or 32. I always liked tea, ever since childhood, but until that time only drank it on occasion, except when backpacking, when it was my primary beverage. But somewhere around that time, someone introduced me to Twinings Prince of Wales. As Robert Frost said; 'And that made all the difference.'
I began drinking other Twining teas, especially English Breakfast, Prince of Wales, and Ceylon. Then someone bought me a package of loose leaf Prince of Wales, and I can remember how astonished I was at the difference between commercially made tea bags and the loose leaf teas. I went out and replaced all my tea bags with loose teas. I started drinking several mugs a day, almost making a ritual out of it.
I began looking at other tea merchants and trying their teas. Some from here. Some from there. That was more than 30 years ago. I haven't slowed down very much since that time. I've just narrowed my playing field to the black and oolong teas. Since moving to Asia I've found it easier to find other teas on market shelves (as compared with shopping in the US) but I buy my standards by mail order anyway.
I no longer ritualize my tea making/drinking. I'm not a connoisseur drinking only out of 6oz. white china cups that have been pre-heated. I guzzle the stuff. About a gallon a day. But these days I only guzzle the good stuff!
Stitchawl