I’ve had a lot of responses to my last post, (thanks for listening) and I’ve been thinking more about the idea of tea invoking memories.
So, I’ve just got my hands on the first part of what will be 25kilos of tea for blending.
What amazes me is that each tea brings forth so many memories as I open the bag.
I’ve just opened a bag of a nice Yunnan.
I remember a colleague who spat Yunnan out when I served it at work, describing it as “like chewing tobacco”. Wonder what she’s doing now. Working for a charity, last I heard.
I remember a lady who used to come into our tea shop and have Yunnan made entirely with soy milk – no water. She used to always arrive as Mrs Devotea was trying to grab a quick lunch. She’d sit with her and share her problems for an hour.
I remember an excellent meal I had in Melbourne in April 2010 to accompanied by a Black Dragon Oolong and a Yunnan. The little pork dumplings were particularly fine. Must go back there next time I’m in Melbourne. I usually do.
But then, we can go deeper. What’s that faint aroma of… mushroom perhaps? Or straw? No, mushroom! No, straw! Actually, that remands me of the barley tea I had last time I was at the tea house where I had the previously mentioned pork dumplings. Maybe next time I’ll have a barley tea and a Yunnan to see if they complement each other. Beer’s made with barley, maybe beer and Yunnan might work together one meal. Say, a beer-battered fish and chips and then a Yunnan? Wish I ate fish…
So, tumbling memories are the reason it takes me three times as long as it whould to blend tea.
But I can’t say that bothers me.
So many memories…
This doesn’t happen with all my teas: some are linked to someone dear to me, others are just plain teas (or not so plain) and a last group is linked to experiences I had or countries I went.
I like that your teas tell stories. For me it’s pretty much like Xavier said; some teas are beautifully personal, and others are almost “last resorts.” I won’t tell you which ones they are. As James Norwood Pratt said; “teabags are the last line of defense.” Well, I don’t want my defense to crumble.
Can’t wait to hear more about your teas. You must tell!
Speaking of memories…the other afternoon I served up some rooibos, with milk, to my mum (normally the plainest of plain teabag driers, but I was making a caffeine free drink so Pippin could have some) and she said that bizarrely, the taste of it reminded her of the china tea her grandma used to drink, and brought her strongly to mind…!