Tea Redefined

Tea is one of those ordinary must haves that no one thinks about and is used daily. However there much more to it than just a morning drink or a soother after a hard day, There are different types and different ways to brew this bunch of exotic leaves.It's more than just a  cup, it's a work of nature's art. meant to be sipped , not guzzled.

Newcomer Susan Chira wrote about this ancient and fascinating drink in yesterday's New York Times Food section, For years the beverage took a back seat to coffee, especially since the growth of Starbucks. That's all changing thanks to the same company buying Tea-vana, a throwback to the tea emporiums of the 19th Century. Tea sales have reached 11 billion last years and sales will most likely increase/ thanks to more and more restaurants featuring  the drink.    Teas vary and with them taste as well.Just as with grapes for wine and champagne where teas leaves are grown influence how they'll taste. Everything   from  elevation to soil quality , origin to age are important on how the final product will taste. There are even comparisons of the leafhoppers in oolong leaves have comparisons to botrytis,the fungus that is attached to Bordeaux wines. Even the prices are hitting the same stratosphere as the wines, An aged pu-erth is a whopping $45,000 for one cake of compressed tea leaves.New Yorkers can experience less expensive but still delicious leaves at such hangouts as Fang. This tea house, run by a Taiwanese family has more than seventy teas to try and at a more reasonable price range of five to ten dollars.

Tea lovers can try gourmet teas at home. There is a how to with the article, on how to brew a proper pot.It starts with the water. If the water is too hot it can burn the leaves and ruin the flavor. The temp for white tea should be 180 degrees while green tea should be brewed with water that's been heated to between 175 and 180 degrees.The same heat should be applied to the Japanese match a tea.Oolong tea requires more heat, from 175 to 200 degrees because of the way it's prepared.They're partially oxidized and deliberately bruised to release oils and flavor, then heated to set the taste. They range from the green teas to more heavily roasted kinds. Black tea is the hardiest, and has to be brewed to a near boiling 200 degrees.This is because they're completely oxidized. This is done by taking oxidized leaves and allowing them to wilt, then are rolled. This exposes the oils to the air. if you're lucky to have the unusual puer-eh tea them cook it to a rolling boil of 212 degrees.Also avoid putting tea in balls or infusers since they're too small to allow the leaves to expand and release their full flavor.  For iced tea go the cold infusion way,Take one tablespoon of loose tea, put in a pitcher of cold water and  let   it steep overnight in the fridge.

Tea isn't just that cup that's sipped after a hard day or as a thirst quencher on a hot day. It's a complex beverage that's as layered as a fine wine. Try  an oolong or white or the puer-eh and discover this.

Tea Time Tradition

I've recently gotten into the habit of putting sugar and lemon in my tea. I've always preferred plain but now I'm craving the tart sweet addition. I usually prefer my brew without anything. Now I no longer like the simple strong taste but want to amp up my cup.

Hot tea doesn't always have to have the addition of lemon and plain white sugar. You can sub lime juice for the lemon to make it more exotic . I thought of doing that and it would be refreshing in iced tea. You can also try brown granulated raw sugar too. Lavender infused honey is also a great sweetener and it can be used in both hot and iced teas. Another popular taste is mint. This too goes well in any kind of black tea . Wild mint grows in abundance so you can even pick some during a hike or from your backyard.

What teas go well with flavoring? I found just a simple black oolong goes well. I do like the slightly orange flavored Lady Grey for my morning cup however it doesn't need anything. Red or bush teas just require a simple sweentener like a half teaspoon of honey or sugar. I was drinking this last year thanks to the HBO series .The #1 Ladies' Detective Agency.It is a robust tea more suited to winter than summer.Other teas that require no additions are the soothing chamomile and the sturdy Earl Grey varieties.

Well, for now I'll enjoy my afternoon tea English style. I like the way my oolong mixes with lemon and sugar to create a relaxing drink. All I need to finish it are some scones and clotted cream.

Steampunk Teas

I just discovered a new subculture called Steampunk. The best way to describe it is high tech meets late Victorian era. It has its' roots in the works of Jules Verne and Mark Twain (Wikipedia also credits Mary Shelley as well) and also in the more modern works of China Mieville. For those of you who still don't get it, think that Sixties TV show and later movie The Wild, Wild West. People involved in Steampunk dress as "modern Victorians" - women are allowed to wear pants under their crinolines while men carry their cell phones in tooled leather cases or in fobs. With this comes the passion for Victorian high teas, those grand affairs that involve delicate foreign teas and delicate sandwiches and cakes. You may not want to embrace the whole steampunk culture but you many want to indulge in an afternoon high tea.

What goes into a good high tea? First of all good china. It's nice to serve it in fine teacups with good linen underneath. If you're having qualms about this then settle for a pretty cotton tablecloth with matching napkins. Don't use plastic utensils. Always have delicate teaspoons and sugar tongs, along with servers neatly lined up. As far as teas themselves, a good Earl Grey or oolong is about the best bet. Irish breakfast tea is too strong and will overpower the taste of your sandwiches and cakes. Most teas are usually served with lemon but you can have a small pitcher of milk or cream for those who like a creamy rea. Sugar is requisite, preferably the cubed kind. If you can't get them then white or the more natural brown is fine.

An impressive tea depends on its' food. Fresh baked scones are always good. They can be served with butter (never ever serve margarine at a tea!!!!)jam or clotted cream. Another must is some type of sandwich. Egg salad or watercress with butter is the preferred filling however you can add deviled chicken or ham ot spice it up. After sandwiches comes fruit and either sliced cake, petite fours. cookies and bonbons. Tarts are also popular and you can easily make and bake nice lemon or nut ones. As for cookies, simple butter ones are the best and make a lovely accompaniment to the teas.

You may not want to embrace the full aspect of Steampunk culture but at least experience the romance of their Victorian inspired teas. It will bring you back to a more elegant era where food was regarding as something more. It was regarded as art.

Elegant Egg Salad Sandwiches

6 hard boiled eggs
1/2 cup mayonnaise
Bread cut into triangles with crusts removed


Shell eggs. Mince white and yolks , adding mayonnaise until a paste forms. Spread on triangle and cover with another triangle. Serves eight. Serve on pretty china dish.