Have you made the change from coffee to tea yet?
Don’t like that dry gritty feel that tea leaves in your mouth?
Not a fan of tea flavor in general?
You know all the health benefits of tea, both green and black, but just haven’t found the tea for you?
Go no further Fat Farmer
Things I’ve recently learned about tea other than the same old same old:
- tea is best when brewed from loose tea leaves
- there is no right or wrong as to how strong or how long to brew your tea
- If you like cold or ice tea, any tea flavor will do, you can even mix flavors
- tea leaves can be brewed several times
- most teas do not have a shelf life like coffee
- most tea does have caffeine but the tannin in tea makes your body absorb the caffeine over a longer (6-8 hrs) period of time. No spikes like coffee
- tea can mellow you and “even” your mood
- you can add cream and sugar or honey or flavored syrups to tea – go figure – it is darn good that way and takes that tannin feel away from your teeth
My Favorite Tea
A couple of years ago now, I reconnected with a grade school friend that I haven’t seen or heard from in over 45 years. As life does to all of us, Spencer changed from the mild mannered soft spoken “smart” guy I used to know into a brilliant, composer of amazing symphonies and other such incredible things. We shared the story of each of our lives and he told me of the tea he keeps as a constant companion.
That tea was Lapsang Souchon. I don’t expect many if any of you have ever heard or tried Lapsang (as I now refer to it). It can be a strong tea, but it most assuredly has a flavor and aroma like no other tea. The smokey almost peaty aroma and taste are reminiscent of a fine single malt scotch. It is Sherlock Holmes’ tea of choice.
The Story of Lapsang Souchong
Briefly from Wikipedia, the story goes that the tea was created during the Qing era when the passage of armies delayed the annual drying of the tea leaves in the Wuyi hills. Eager to satisfy demand, the tea producers sped up the drying process by having their workers dry the tea leaves over fires made from local pines.
The smoke from those fires flavored the tea and the rest is history.
I will drink other tea, but I don’t really like it as much as coffee. I brew my Lapsang in an iron tea pot and sometimes use the leaves as many a 3 times. I’ll start drinking as soon as the hot water is poured over the leaves and continue to enjoy 3 or 4 more small cups as the tea brews and gets stronger. See, no rules. If there is any tea left in the pot, I have been known to drink it cold.
I love Lapsang. Oh, I forgot to tell you, Spencer is a Tea Pusher man or better put a “Johnny Appleseed of Tea”. I’m now completely involved with the flavor and mellow of Lapsang Souchong – thanks Spencer.
If you don’t have a regular source for tea try the Fat Farm Store. Lapsang Souchong tea is available here.
Get healthy, drink tea – Jughandle
Also see – Matcha Green Tea
