Space Cowboy wrote:
> I'm in a college town recently and came across a store that sold all
> the necessary tea paraphernalia. I even picked up a nice big tea ball
> for the Brown Betty. They had a limited selection of commercial teas
> but I did pickup a 500g tin of Roberts Campbell's Perfect Tea from
> Dublin. Never know what you'll find in the Brick and Mortars.
>
> Jim
>
> PS Bubble tea is big with the college crowd. Every coffee shop I've
> been in can make it. I'd like to see the look on your face when you
> see the shelves with tea. My advice look for the apothecary glass jars
> with various teas.

Yeah it was at Penn State near State College (We are...) and the first
time I saw it. I was a bit leary of the "balls" in the unknown fluid
that didn't really resemble tea to me with an oversized straw... and
when I asked the woman selling it she stated that they were "zhen zhu"
which I had no idea of... hence why I passed on it. But now that I know
what it is I'm looking forward to trying it.

I'm sure I'll go into some sort of shock from overload when I step into
Chinatown, its like a dream come true. And compared to the small and
basic places I buy tea locally it will be unimaginable. Heh, it's tough
living in the middle of nowhere where I'm the only person for miles who
has any interest in tea and seen as strange for not drinking coffee
like normal people, or at least tea in bags... Pittsburgh is not a real
diverse or cultural area. I can't wait. I'm heading home from work,
finishing packing, and going to try to leave by about 5am tomorrow
morning to get there by noon-1pm hopefully.

I'll post when I get back Monday or Tuesday with some info and photos
of the trip. Thanks again to all that offered some guidance.

- Dominic