My Imaginary Summer Vacation

This year for my summer vacation my family traveled to Assam, a state in Northern India.  There we stayed in a bungalow on a working Tea Estate.  We enjoyed "Bed Tea" each morning, a delightful take on breakfast in bed with pots of perfectly brewed piping hot English Breakfast Tea.  Each afternoon we immersed ourselves in learning about a different facet of the tea estate or just wandered the land and smiled at the Assamese ladies on their breaks from picking the precious green gold.

This is how my back-to-school essay would read if I were:

a) still school age
b) had actually taken this trip

Late Summer always has me wistful for a vacation.  This year,  I was pining for a trip to India or Sri Lanka to visit a tea estate.  I love the idea of seeing the endless fields of green, green tea bushes growing under the dappled light of the acacia tree.  I've fallen in love with the photos of beautiful, dark haired women with basket of leaves balance on their heads going about their daily work of picking tea leaves that might later, much later end up in my cup.

I've actually found the perfect spot to fulfill this fantasy vacation.  It is called Ceylon Tea Trails and its website (teatrails.com) boasts:

 
" Guests are absorbed into life on a working tea estate, whilst reveling in five-star luxury. Tea Trails will teach you everything you need to know about the perfect brew. The unique Tea Experience tour with the tea planter in residence will show you the wonders of Camellia Sinensis."

Sounds fantastic, right? Maybe next year (sigh)

Until then, I will be enjoying a bright cup of English Breakfast on the veranda overlooking my rolling hill of green, green grass.


Sharing the love of tea,

Dara

The Replacement II

At the behest of one lovely reader I am offering a more substantive review of my replacement tea infuser.

Q: Does it give the tea a plastic taste?

A: No way! I can't stand that. In all fairnness, I must share that it is not perfect. I find the infuser basket to be a little small as a ratio to the the amount of water one can put in the vessel. Also, the little arm does not stay up with most teas, but for sure not with heavier leaf greens. That means the tea keeps infusing after it should, so I either have to drink fast (ouch burnt mouth) or pour some off (ouch hate to waste tea).

What is great is that this infuser is totally portable. I can make tea 2 minutes before leaving the house and then again at work with little hassle. If the Aladdin "development team" called me right now, would I have some suggestions? You betcha! If they offered to advertise on my blog in return for a ringing endorsement, would I sell out to the man? You betcha! But only because it is a pretty good infuser.

Sharing the love of tea (to go).

$3.50 for instant tea? Seriously?

Hello tea lovers,


Just back from New York City where a cuppa generally runs $3.50. Insane! I don't mean for good loose leaf tea, I mean for average stuff. I took my own delightful blends and my trusty travel infuser and travel mug, but those pesky NewYawkas still wanted $3.50 for hot water. I think this means I have officially been in the Midwest too long. I mean, I used to live in some of the most cosmopolitan cities in these United States, including New York and now I complain about an expensive cup of tea.

Four days into my trip I happened on a great little eatery, Dishes. We were staying at The Roosevelt, just down the street on East 45th. Dishes is this delicious combo platter of fresh baked goods, organic stuff and automatron. The food is good, lingering is discouraged. Once found it became our breakfast eatery of choice. Down with $20 hotel breakfasts, up with $4.25 oatmeal buffet! And not a bad cup of tea for $2 ish.

Sharing the love of tea...and savings,

Dara