Bliss. Everyone finds it in different ways. For me, one of the most decadent luxuries is a glass of tea. When I'm holding a glass of that warm, sweet, translucent liquid in my hands, everything seems to fade away. There are no traumas, no losses, no arguments. Everyone and everything is whole and the universe is just how it should be as the steam wafts up to my nose. A good cup of tea is my drug--my cure for a world that is so less than perfect right now.
A good cup of tea--that's the operative phrase. No Bigelow or Lipton. No thank you. Anything found in the grocery store is just a cheap imitation of what tea should be. The bagged stuff is nothing but the scraps--the extra tea bits and pieces that are swept up packaged. That's not for me. Just like a connoisseur of fine wine, I'm always on the hunt for something better. I collect loose teas that come from single tea estates. I crave vintage, not Boone's. Call me a tea snob. I don't care.
Where does one procure this kind of tea? Well, thanks to the birth of the Internet, it's available anywhere. I can get any kind of tea to fit any kind of need that I have with just a click of my mouse and the insertion of the right credit card numbers. But with tea, nothing is like picking it out yourself.
A couple of times a year, we go to Tyson's Corner and while we are there, I make a sojourn to my favorite store--Teavana. Like the name implies, the place is a blissful zen complete with bamboo flooring, Asian teapots, and the subtle fragrance of tea. And the best part is that one whole wall of the store is filled with this bookshelf like structure and in every compartment is a steel-like drum with a tightly sealed lid that is filled with quality tea. They are all organized according to type--black tea, white tea, green tea, herbal, rooibos, fusions, oolongs. Ahhh, heaven.
My favorite part of going to Teavana is that they have a menu-like guide that explains every tea that can be studied as I am waiting in line to make my selections. Everything is sold in two ounce sizes and since nothing is cheap, I find the need to study, think, and explore before purchasing.
Unlike buying a box of Tetley, when buying loose teas, there's a chance to interact with the product. I always ask to see the tea first and I feel strangely giddy when the person behind the counter walks over to the tea drums, selects the one I want, and then sits it in front of me, pulling off the lid with a resounding ching. Usually, the will also swirl the tea in the container. It's a chance to watch it move, to look at the color and texture, to smell the earthy scent.
One time while I was making my selections, this guy was next to me buying several different types of black and herbals. He had a list that was extensive and I think he was someone's assistant because he had no interest in what he was doing..until I sidled up to the counter next to him. As I'm sniffing, swirling, and carefully selecting, he started asking questions. It was kind of funny to watch this metrosexual gentleman look around to make sure that no one he knew was watching him sniff tea.
I would have to say that I have two favorite teas. One is called drum cloud white mountain and it's a very soft and clean tasting white tea. I have a variety where it has been mixed with bits of dried strawberries. Very nice. My other favorite is the holy grail of all teas, one of the hardest to buy and the most expensive--Monkey Picked Oolong.
The story goes that many centuries ago, Buddhist monks used to train monkeys to climb into tea trees and pluck the nicest leaves that were the hardest to get to. Though I was surprised to find out that some monkeys are still being used to pick tea, now the term "monkey picked" is used to identify the highest quality of oolong tea.
I have had the pleasure of buying it once--more than that is insane--and I have to say that I felt like a celebrity when I paid. The cashier looked at me in awe. "You got the monkey picked." I just smiled at her and said, "I hope it's good." She reassured me that it was a good purchase and when I got home and heated up the water, I knew she was right. It was the most wonderful thing that I've ever drunk and worth the small fortune I invested.
Yes, I know that all of this is silly and over the top but some days there's a need for that. Some days, witt's end has come and gone and there's nothing else to hold on to. On days like that, I know that my teapot is at home, beckoning my name and that all I have to do is pour in some water and add whatever my heart is desiring at that moment.
And for just a moment, while I am allowing my hands to be warmed by the porcelain, while I am breathing in the scent and tasting the liquid, everything is right with the world. There are no bills. Everyone is safe at home. There's no fighting, no death, no loss.
It's on days like this--when I feel like the whole world is falling apart all around me--that I need tea.
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