wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Despite being English, I have just after 27 years started to drink tea.
> I never liked the English brew (PG Tips, milk and sugar) and I spent
> some time in HK and China and never went for the tea they give you at
> the table, although at an opera performance in beijing, the tea served
> was something else entirely.
>
> Recently though, after regular Dim Sum sunday sessions here in
> Amsterdam, I tried the green tea they serve at the tables, which I
> found to be quite delicious, and have since acquired the taste of tea
> (Cha No Aji??? :-)).
>
> I wasn't surprised to find an enthusiastic ng devoted to teas! I need
> some pointers, I have browsed through the group, but there's lots to
> take in, so forgive me if I cover oft-covered ground, and allow me to
> pose a few questions, as I have no idea where to begin!
>
> Firstly, I read here a lot about strainers. I can pretty much guess
> what these are and what they do. However, this suggests that there are
> no loose leaves in the pot glass, which seems contrary to the way it is
> served by the Chinese (think of the scene in Zhang Yuan's 2003 film
> GREEN TEA, where Zhao Wei meets Jiang Wen for the first time, the hot
> water being poured into Zhao's glass, distrubing the leaves that sat at
> the bottom, but which now swirl around in the hot water. So, is this a
> matter of preference?
>
> Ok, here's a real drongo question: How much loose tea roughly (I
> suppose it depends on taste), does one use when filling a teapot? How
> should a pot of tea be prepared?
>
> Seriously, I had lived in my current place for a good few months when a
> friend came round, and, knowing I do not drink tea or coffee, she
> brought round her own bags. She asked if I had a kettle, and I had to
> tell her I had no idea. She went to the kitchen and the kettle was
> sitting on the kitchen top next to the toaster. I hadn't even noticed
> it before, so please don't think I am trolling with the above question!
>
> My brother for christmas bought our parents a beautifu tes set and he
> advised my mum not to wash the teapot after use, as it adds to the
> flavour after time - is this a good tip?
>
> Lastly, and I will do some research on this - with so many varieties of
> tea, how does one gauge quality, freshness, etc.? What is "white tea"?
>
> Any good websites to recommend?
>
> Cheers,
> Alex...
>

I never knew there was so much to drinking Tea. I'm becoming enlightened
by the minute. Kick ass.

--
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