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11/13/04

snip

>...Probably the greatest of them
> all, Lu Yu, was so aware of the importance of water that a good chunk of the
> Cha Jing is devoted to it and a later work was entirely about water sources.
> It was his efforts that gave us the the first hints of how to prepare tea
> properly.

"Properly" is a relative term, or should be. And, as I'd thought you knew,
Lu Yu got his material from his wife, who put onions in his tea.

[snipped stuff about modern chemistry]

> Ultimately tea drinking is about pleasure and taking the time to contemplate
> and no amount of scientific analysis will add to your enjoyment.

Ugh, have to disagree here. How we derive our pleasures is highly
individual. Who's to say that intellectual exploration -- scientific
exploration -- isn't a large part of the pleasure of tea for those for whom
science is a pleasure? What adds to one's enjoyment is up to one.
>
> howler "don't boil the water" man

I never boil the water for I'm a great believer in the oxigen theory.
Actually, having never seen it, I do have my doubts, but that's the other
side of faith. Don't believe me? Ask Saint John of The Cross.

Enough.

Michael