Two specific experiences made me curious about the wider world of tea.
I grew up enjoying a cup of Lipton tea with milk and sugar. Sometimes, we’d have Tetley tea at a relative’s house. As far as I knew, tea always came in tea bags with very small, broken leaves. (These styles of tea, by the way, are great for making a hearty, malty cup of tea good with milk.)
I also assumed almost everyone drank tea with milk unless they were drinking iced tea.
Tiny Tins of Loose Leaf Tea
Then, one day (many decades ago) someone gave my mom a sampler set of loose leaf tea. Each little, bright canister was a different color and contained a variety of Twinings loose leaf tea. The teas were mainly flavored.
That’s when I realized tea could come loose, in bigger bits, and in a wider range of flavors.
I understood there was a wider world of tea beyond what was usually in our cupboard.
Interestingly, I remember the impression these tins of loose-leaf tea made on me. But, I don’t remember the taste of the tea they contained. Maybe I was too busy fighting with my nemeses–the tea egg strainer and the tea infuser shaped like a perforated spoon. (LOL) Those things have always irritated me. They seemed determined to break my nails. And, the tea always wants to escape out the sides! I still feel strongly about them. I even made a short video offering tips for choosing tea infusers. (Choose what YOU enjoy using, of course. But–spoiler alert–I recommend others.)
Another Glimpse at Wider World
By contrast, I vividly remember the first time I was out for dinner and tasted a tea with a delightful flavor. It didn’t taste like Lipton and wasn’t flavored. I didn’t have the language for it at the time, but I was noticing a tea that wasn’t malty and brisk. Instead, it was floral and silky. It was a delicious Darjeeling. It was that more firmly put me on the very long path of exploring the wider world of tea.
I still love Darjeeling tea–both first and second flushes. I love it hot and iced.
Coincidentally, the first time I tried and loved a sparkling tea was a Darjeeling at 29B Teahouse in New York City. That teahouse is no longer open, but the folks who ran it–Tea Dealers–still sell tea and teaware.
I have yet to recreate a sparkling Darjeeling quite as amazing as that one, but it inspired me to start making my own sparkling teas at home. And, I’ve had great luck with other teas. I think I’m closing in on a great sparkling Darjeeling, too! (I’ve shared tips for making sparkling tea in this post. There’s a photo of that 29B Darjeeling there, too!)
Do you remember a specific tea that alerted you to the wider world of tea?