"Rufus T. Firefly" > wrote in message
m...
> How did everyone get interested in tea? Many of you have lived in
> Asia, but are not from Asia. Did your interest develop after you went
> to Asia? Why tea when the world is interested in coffee? (I,
> personally, have never liked coffee, but I envy those who do.) How do
> those around you view your fascination with tea (for those fascinated
> with tea)? Do they see it as eccentric? It is obviously not very
> eccentric when you're caught up in it, but I fear most people cannot
> understand this interest, regardless of where in the world one might
> be.
>
> Excitedly awaiting your stories,
>
> Rufus T. Firefly
> Tokyo
Sir, I am British. Need I say more?



In that case I shall.



I remember thinking, "What was it those adults were drinking out of hot
cups?" All I was allowed was milk. I was unable to voice my dissatisfaction
with the state of affairs until I had acquired enough motor control to reach
out and point at the teapot.



"Oh look, he wants some tea, how charming."



I was very frustrated at not being able to persuade my family to give me any
tea until I had acquired the word "Tea." This was a step forward for me.
However, much to my disappointment, what passed for so-called tea, was, in
fact, more milk with a teaspoon full of tea. I was probably at least four
before I was drinking a reasonably satisfying cup of tea. But, horrifying as
this sounds, I would have to wait a few more years before I graduated to the
dark, potent, masculine brew.



Mr. Firefly, ask not what other people do not understand. It is of no
consequence. Perhaps they have only been given floor sweepings in a bag. My
poor culturally deprived American wife thought that they sold tea in the
supermarket. Ha! I said to her. Those little bags of decaying dust wrapped
in cellophane don't even come close to tea. Why would she, or anyone, like
such an insipid drink? But when she had sampled the real thing, there was no
going back, her cultural deprivation came thankfully to an end. Now at the
mere mention of tea, her eyes shine with a blissful light, she radiates
benevolence and good will. And she hasn't even had any yet. That's just the
mention of it.



Fascination you say Mr. Firefly. Are you suggesting tea is hypnotic? I hope
you are not casting aspersions on the salubrious brew?



Now when I was a boy of about 10, my friend Terry and I tried smoking tea.
He lived down the road from me in the same small village. Somehow or other
we had managed to get a couple of pipes. We filled them up with tea, as
access to tobacco wasn't readily available. We had some discussion as to
whether we should blow or suck. I was for sucking, but Terry insisted on
blowing. On the count of three, we tried our methods. In the next instant,
my bedroom was filled with smoke, I was coughing and spluttering, and Terry's
eyes were wide with fear as he saw the entire lighted contents of his pipe
launch towards the ceiling. We gave up smoking tea. We were fire hazards.