4/26/05


I just learned something important today, something I never even thought of.
I took my glass of Emperor Long Jing outside. It's not hot out, I think it's
about 65 F, and there's a slight wind blowing, it's cloudy and there's no
smog or smells I can detect out there (except for the new-mown grass, but
that's when I pull my nose OUT of my glass) Anyway, suddenly the tea came
alive for me...I detected something like baked winter squash with sweet (but
not lots of sweet.) I think the air in my house might be too stale or
something for me to grasp the scents. The difference was amazing.

Strange hmm?

Melinda



Melinda,

Not strange at all, rather a valuable observation, I'd say. First, these
LJ's are delicate teas and can be easily overwhelmed. Second, there is no
accounting for these things. I'm much more alive to tea nuance in the early
morning. Go know. While you're at it, try brewing the tea in water around
the same temperature as the ambient air. Before a few minutes, you'll have a
nice cup of tea. In the summer I find cool water in my Chinese glass
carry-along thing works wonderfully well.

Michael

Michael