My favorite tea

I make my tea almost every other day. To me it is almost like a ritual, maybe because I do it so much.

I get up in the morning, put a pot of water on the stove and wait for the water to boil. I have this 'Whistler' glass pot and can see the little bubbles forming inside - first slowly and then get bigger as if they're all trying get out. I read somewhere long ago a Chinese description of boiling water - something like 'heat the water until you see little bubbles forming about the size of little fish eggs.' I thought that was very visual. They didn't use the word 'boil'. So every time I see it reminds me of that. I think it is better not to let the water over-boiled. I put a few pinch of loose dry tea in the pot and pour the water to the top and let it steep a few minutes before I drink.

I have this tall tea pot (actually David's). I like the size, the shape and the color of it. It is missing a lid which must have broken a long time ago. So I just put a plastic lid (not in the picuture) so the tea can steep and keep dirts from getting in. I can fill all the way to the top and it is not too heavy to lift. It has a dark matte chestnut brown color striations on the body, which remind me of Mark Rothko painting. The shape is very masculine - tall, straight. I have other tea pots but they are just not the right size. I remember in the old country, we had a small table in the living room that we kept a pot of boiled water, a pot of tea and serveral glasses. Through out the day, anybody can help themself. Usually my older sister would make sure it is filled. Some days when there was a volleyball pratice across the street, my brothers and sisters friends would come in the house and help themselves. Anyway now I have this pot in my kitchen and I drink through out the day. I keep a fine mesh strainer next to it. So when I pour it catches small bits of tea leaves and some sediments.

I drink several different kind of tea. I have this Yunan green tea I brought back from a trip to China, in Lijiang market (to be exact). It wasn't in a specialized tea shop where they sell mostly Pu-her (which I also bought some but never get used to drinking). It was in a local maket from this tea merchant. His shop was out in open with burlap bags full of tea. I can see he and his wife were busy bagging little plastic bags. I asked (more like gesturing since I don't speak Chinese) for some tea. He just took out this bag from behind him and handed to me. He said something in Chinese I can only assumed that this is the best (which turned out to be). He reminds me of this Yunan family who lived next door to us in the old country. They (a father, a mother and two sons) were renting from us (a few years before we moved to the States). They were distinted that I know they were a little short and spoke different Chinese dialet. They had two horses (or donkeys) that they used them to carry tea bags from far away (near the borders?). They kept the horses near my bedroom window that I could smell the manure. It was smelly but I don't think it bothered me that much. I also remember we had a big bush of gardenia nearby that was so fragrant. I also drink black tea from Burma, given to me by my friend, Pochaw. Each tea has it own distinctive taste I don't know how to describe. I know that when I drink, they bring back many fond memories - the trip, the childhood, etc.

I won't try to describe the flavor of the tea or the effect on me because I'm not good at it. There are many blogs that explain how to make a proper tea and the right way and the wrong way of making it. Some explain the scientific benefits in length. I know it tastes a little bitter at first then kind of sweet afterward in my mouth. The warm liquid opens you up in a cold day. The tea can calm you down instead of jittery from coffee. When I'm tired at the end of the day, a cup of tea can relax me. So knowing that I have a pot of tea waiting for me is very comforting.