Derek wrote:

>Last night, as I was laying in bed trying to get to sleep, I realized
>something. My friends and colleagues thing me somewhat of a tea
>gourmet - or even a tea snob. But I don't think that's accurate.
>
>I make almost all of my tea in either a single pot with an infuser or
>in my Tea-one (A tall pitcher and top's got a filter basket. Push a
>button and the tea drains out after steeping.) I never use two pots,
>and I don't use different pots for different types of tea (although I
>have thought about it).
>
>I don't like puerh.
>
>I don't measure out my tea by weight. I merely eyeball what I think is
>the right amount on a teaspoon. And then I drink it out of a mug.
>
>I don't like puerh.
>
>I keep my teas stored in a drawer, in airtight plastic bottles because
>its convenient. I know there are better methods, but I don't have the
>gumption to switch. (At least I keep them "air tight" and "dark".)
>
>I don't like puerh.
>
>While I appreciate the intricacies of gungfu, I have no desire to
>actually do it myself. Sure, it's a good cup of tea, but I don't think
>its worth the effort. And for me to do it for the sake of doing it
>would be pretentious. (I'm not saying that doing gungfu is
>pretentious. I'm saying that it would be "for me" - it's a personal
>thing.)
>
>I don't like puerh.
>
>I do appreciate good teas, however. And I know what "bad tea" is. I
>was at a conference last week that had bagged tea at the snack table.
>It wasn't too bad, but I missed my stash of teas at home. At the same
>time, I often can't tell the difference between two grades of the same
>tea - while I know others who can.
>
>Did I mention that I don't like puerh?
>
>And I have hardly any "tea memorabilia" around, except a few teacups I
>bought when I was in Russia. Save for the absence of a coffee pot in
>our house, no one would really know from visiting that I drink tea.
>
>All of that has brought me to one rather startling conclusion. I am
>not a tea gourmet (a connoisseur of tea). I am, in fact, simply a
>gourmand (one who is heartily interested in good tea).
>
>Maybe, one day, I'll move myself up the tea drinkers hierarchy. But in
>the mean time, I'm just going to enjoy my tea.
>
>The "gourmet" is dead. Long live the "gourmand"!
>
>
>
I'm sure this question has been answered many times but I'm to lazy to
google it. Whats "gungfu"?

Poe