h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I find it amazing that noone has mentioned the perfectly
acceptable alternative that is known variously as Japanese
tea, green tea, or o-cha.

Amazing stuff, very refreshing and, in my opinion much
better than standard Indian tea.

>>Robin<<

I agree to a T.......Japanese Restaurants in the Heart
of the Universe (NYC) first introduced me to this thrilling
beverage. But now I skip the ceremony and steep the green
tea from bags everyday at home.

Well yes, I mean it takes too long. I suppose the ceremony makes the drink. Actually, our local supermarket does looseleaf green tea, only thing is its v. expensive. I'm putting up with bags. In Singapor I popped into a Haagen-Dazs cafe to find them serving green tea ice cream - sublime. Goes perfectly with vanilla...

Green Tea.... huuumm quite like it Robin, after all is said and done though the smokey flavours of gun powder gets my vote.

I suppose it _might_ be more palatable

I agree it's great - If you're having it with ice cream then it's best with a tub of Lucas' vanilla, (Musselburgh ice-cream shop, best in Scotland). And don't pass on the sticky sweets at an o-cha no yu 'cause they make you want to drink it more.

Well, having only had a proper ocha ceremony once (sweets and all) I'd relish the oportunity to do it properly again...

Oh for crying out loud, you're all social overbearers!

No,no, you're back thinking about CHINA tea, and all those rickshaws bearing society all over the place. We're talking about the Japanese ceremony held, (perfectly still), in a wee room, usually decorated with a flower arrangement - ikebana style

And:

* A sunken fire pit
* Several tatami mats
* One tea woman in ceremonial kimono (not like UK tealadies then)

I've also heard, (well..I've read it in "Shogun"), that the Japanese could drink tea from an empty cup. That would certainly cut back on the grocery bills. (Be a bit bland though).
Sadly, I have to admit to being one of those impatient tea drinkers who has lapsed into the use of "instant" tea,(with milk), from a jar. I really must make the time to just savour the flavour. Oops, just realised that there's nothing more "instant" than some green tea leaves and hot water! Must pop round to the Chinese Supermarket.

I heard that tea is a fundamental part of zen, and many martial arts. I like that.
I had some japanese tea at my grtandmothers place yesterday. and turkish coffe. I've never been to india or Japan, but i went to Dalyan, in turkey, and sat outside a tea house on a quiet little main road, with the smell of spices from everywhere, and sat on a pile of carpets, cross - legged, and drank real turkish tea from a little glass. Wow, was that a spiritual; experience.

Real tea is a kind of transparent caramel colour, not that nasty coca cola black that teabags are. And, though I drink tea every morning, with water boiled a while ago, out of a mug, with four sugars,and a teabag, and lots of milk that makes it so lukewarm i can drink it in a second (and put the milk in afterwards)

I like tea out of little glasses better. You can drink it slowly, because it's hot. You can savour the taste, and the colour, and the smell, and take in your surroundings, and appreciate how beautiful moments are, and how we so often ignore them for infinitely less valuable and less important things, like work, and TV, and money.

Yeah, i think tea is very zen.