On Sat, 02 Apr 2005 21:54:15 GMT, pilo_ wrote:

> i'd be interested to know if the cup you use
> adds to your overall tea experience..........p*

First of all, I want to acknowledge that drinking from different
vessels, say a guywan or a tasting cup, does affect the experience of
drinking tea. I have a set of Russian podstakani that we use for
"special occasions." How one consumes the beverage does have an
effect.

But, for the most part, we (my wife and I) simply don't care. We use
mugs. We use teacups with saucers. We use insulated travel mugs while
commuting. We typically drink tea for the flavor and the caffeine, not
for the "experience" of drinking it.

Admittedly, this is a rather pedestrian approach - especially in the
presence of those who admire and practice Asian ceremonies. But it's
life. Neither my wife nor I like coffee. We drink tea because we're
craving a hot beverage with caffeine. We love the flavors and we love
trying new types - scented, flavored, blended, or otherwise
unadulterated.

Ceremony is nice, but I don't have time to dwell on ceremony when I'm
working. I just want my tea (and I get a little cranky without it).

Admittedly, that makes me a "tea gourmand" and not a gourmet. But so
be it. I'll wear that label proudly.

At least I don't use bags.

--
Derek

"A verbal contract isn't worth the paper it's written on." -- Samuel
Goldwyn ("Goldwyn's Law of Contracts")