Best Tea for Telling Stories
by Rachel Deveau
I cannot remember my first cup of tea – whether it was at home, at a friend’s place, or at a tea party – but I would not be surprised if it was Earl Grey. Every morning, like the sun rising, my mother drinks a cup or two of Earl Grey. When I was growing up, my little siblings and I were trained to rush and put the tea kettle on as soon as we saw, or even heard, her getting up. We didn’t even need to ask which tea to brew.
While my mother drank her cup of Earl Grey, we children would gather around her and ask to have a cup of her tea, just so we could listen to her stories. Some mornings there were no stories, but other times, she would have much to tell us. Whether it was a story from last week or from a history book she wanted us to read, we would listen eagerly, the hot tea cups warming our hands.
Considering my familiarity and nostalgia for Earl Grey, it perhaps is no surprise that I was delighted to discover Earl Grey Smoky.
Earl Grey Smoky follows the tradition of Lapsouchong, a popular Chinese smoky tea. The smoke rises out of the tea cup while the water is boiled, giving the air a slight wood fire smell, and suggesting another good time to share stories – around the campfire where scary tales often fill the space between the flames and the dark night.
In some smoky teas, the wood fire can be too strong for a cup of tea, but Earl Grey Smoky strikes a nice balance with just enough smoke to add poignancy to the classic bergamot flavorings of a good British Earl Grey.
Earl Grey Smoky can invoke the muse with just one spoonful of its fine leaves.
Tea Info:
Earl Grey Smoky
Can Be Purchased: Kusmi Tea, Paris
Website: http://www.kusmitea.com
Price: $14.37/125g metal caddy
RedFence Rating: 8 (out of 10)
