Thursday October 4, 2007 | 6 comments
Third of three posts regarding Teens and Tea
“This is white tea?” Martin, a senior boy, peered into his cup.
“No, you dweeb, it’s green!” Malachy downed his tea in a single gulp.
“How did you do that?” Millie batted her eyelashes at Malachy, “It’s so hot.”
“I like it hot. Really hot.” Something in Malachy’s inflection led me to believe that perhaps he wasn’t talking about the tea. He reached for the pot, shook it, and peered inside.
It was the third session of teens and tea. The first, boys only, was a time of innocence and reverence. The second, only girls, was rather like a quilting bee. This was a mixed group, and – in the space of a nanosecond – viewed by the participants as a possible opportunity to pass their DNA on to the next generation.
I was serving Matcha Genmaicha, and the toasty roasty fumes of that lovely blend filled the room. I told the students about the tea, as Millie and Malachy eyed each other over the rims of their cups. Darla and Elise sipped their tea with amused expressions on their faces. Lenny got up to join Darla and Elise in their hemisphere of the round table.
Martin needed to get back into the game. “Hey, Rafe. If a bear walks into a room, and there is a reader and a writer in the room, which one is he gonna eat?” I repeated the question, a tactic used to hasten a punchline, which is almost NEVER withheld.
“He’s gonna eat the reader! Wanna know why?” I complied. “He’s gonna eat the reader because readers digest and writer’s block! Get it?” He guffawed. Everyone groaned. The exquisite tension between Millie and Malachy was broken. First time I can remember being grateful for a pun.
“Is there any more tea?” Lenny’s deep voice sounded like God Himself had joined us. “The rice is a nice touch.” I steeped the leaves again, explaining that the tea would not be quite as fragrant, but still satisfying. Darla declined a second cup.
“Are you inviting different people every week? Or, can we come again?” The bell rang, we said our goodbyes, and I was left wondering about the future of a tea dating service.
A tea dating service? Why not?! Or at least a tea bar, where people can go on dates. You could probably learn a lot about a person from their preferences (provided there were enough choices at the bar)!
I’ve always wondered why there are tons of coffee shops, but hardly any tea shops (especially with the range of ambience that coffee shops seem to provide).
Anne, I just gave someone we all know a very brief history of the Specialty Coffee Craze, with the publicity push across the country by Howard Schultz and Star Bucks in the 80′s. Tea has also been growing since the late 70′s but not so flamboyantly. You will see your Tea Rooms flourishing the same way in the next 5 years. As Quality Tea consumption grows and matches Quality Coffee. Which will be very good for the entire Specialty Beverage Industry. Most of this enlightenment started in the Grand Daddy of the Specialty Beverage new age. Wine, in the late 60′s and early 70′s, but of course YOU! knew that. We also have the new massive awareness of better health as our Publicity Guru for Tea….PJF
So I’m wondering how folks feel about the new green tea-based energy drinks out there–evil perversion, or a way to introduce people to green tea? I’m remembering how coffee-drinks drove the coffee consumption craze.
Anne, I think people are pretty smart in general. If they are going after these new crazes, and they discover the whole leaf product from which these energy based drinks are formed. I believe through curiosity and education given by people like us, they will discover the best that Camellia sinensis has to offer. You would be surprised at the purists that have emerged in the coffee world, looking for the best of the best. Given time the same will happen in Tea. We are just a the beginning of that journey. So it is up to us. When people ask educate them wisely. Just as I am learning from the Gurus in this, our T Ching Society. So I may do, as I have asked you to do….PJF
Paul, I tend to agree with you. In the tasting room, I have seen a big shift away from preferences for flavored wines and white Zinfandel towards dry table wines and more traditionally-made wines. The more “chatter” there is about a subject, it seems, the more our bee-hive minds absorb.
There You Go Anne, We can never learn enough about any worthwhile subject, and ways to apply it. Someone is always discovering something new. As we are in Specialty Beverage arena.
This is a blog of education, learning, and sharing. Perhaps one of the best out there. Look at our line up of contributors. The job now is to drive more serious Tea drinkers, and the curious about quality Teas towards this site. I am doing this every day. I hope you are too. ( I’m sure you are)…PJF