The experience was yours alone, and belongs solely to you. No one will ever have that exact same cup of tea. You are at home with it, and now it’s at home in you. By the end, you’ve journeyed together, and now you know it well. With drinking the rest comes acceptance of the cup of tea, allowing it to be what it is, and learning to enjoy it for what it is through surprise, resignation, delight, comfort, or whatever that cup holds for you. OK now, that’s some real deep stuff, and actually a perfect description of what it is like to drink a cup of tea…any cup of tea! The first sip, even with a tea you’ve had before, always is: “How does this taste? Is it OK? Did the brewing go well? Are the leaves losing their flavor? Did I add enough milk, or too much? How’s the temperature?” It’s like entering a new space as a visitor, or dipping your toe into a body of water to test things out. “With the first sip I am only a visitor, but by the time I have drained the last drop from the cup it is my home.” Who is this mysterious “Minister of Leaves,” and where did he (or she) get such tea wisdom? I read all the quotes on the tea I drank, but my favorite was the Earl Greyer quote shown above (which, yes, was another factor in giving it the #1 slot): The Earl Greyer tea took first place in the Republic of Tea sample teas, not only because I love Earl Grey, but because its strong, rich taste lived up to the expectations I have for Earl Grey, and I’m always pleased when I run into a blend that does the name justice. It had too much ginger and not enough peach taste, however, which was agreed by the other family members who tried it with me. The Ginger Peach takes second place, particularly because the smell reminded me so much of the Serene Teaz ginger peach blend that is now, sadly, discontinued. To be perfectly honest, the descriptions and smells of most of these were better than they tasted…but it was still SO fun to try so many different teas! Part of the problem may have been the water quality as my family is in an area that does not have good-tasting water, so I’m happy to blame that on some of the taste disappointment. The Palais des Tres tea didn’t come with the tin, but my sister had put some of those bags in the tins too. The teas I picked to try from the sample tins.
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