Time for Tea

I was really tempted to write about how much I had to spend on a Pellet Stove, or how I went to replace a few clapboards only to find a huge infestation of these living in my wall. But I want to be more positive than all that. You've all heard enough of me whining "my house is falling apart, blah blah blah." So this is for you*, and it's all about tea.

*I mean, when you only have three or four people who actually read your blog, you have to keep them happy, right? Otherwise all I would get are hits from people searching for Vict*ia's Se*ret Models (I get an obscene number of hits each day thanks to this unwise use of a keyword).

So anyway, about tea.

I've been getting more and more into tea over the past few years. It started many years ago when I grew addicted to the Green Tea they serve at sushi restaurants. That inspired a quest for a source of quality green tea. That, in turn, led me to a few great places to buy tea. And not just green tea.

My current favorite is actually a toss up between a few completely different teas, depending upon my mood.

For days when I'm twisted up and on edge, a dose of strong and pungent Pu-Erh tea from China does the trick. It claims to have restorative effects, and I'll stand by that claim. It is restorative - my guess is that it has a fairly high caffeine content, but there's more than that, too. It awakens you, but also relaxes. I've chugged this tea after a stint of heavy workouts and I swear it actually helped ease sore muscles. It's bitter-strong, and will probably appeal to anyone who drinks coffee black. (I like the Mini Tuocha PS21, as shown on this this page although I usually by it from here

For casual sipping when I'm in the mood for something light and refreshing, I go for white tea or green tea. The local markets (either Lo's in Portsmouth, or the place in Dover who's name I forget) have a good selection of greens, but for white you'll have to online. I really enjoy the Silver Needle from Rishi Tea. It has a somewhat nutty but very mellow flavor. The trick with white tea (all tea really, but white is extra tricky) is to brew it right; some teas like boiling water, some like water that been boiled but then cooled for five minutes, etc. Some you "pour through" and some you steep. Any good tea merchant should be able to give good instructions along with the tea, though.