12.18.08
The smell of tea
posted by Emma Spaulding | 5 comments
Ah, the scent of coffee in the morning. It makes people want to stand and conquer empires, or at least, get up and go to work. Much has been made of coffee’s smell, and a link certainly exists between the scent and the drink’s popularity.
But what about the smell of teas or tisanes?
Personally, there’s nothing more delightful than catching the first whiff of a new tea. Or smelling an old, familiar tea, and remembering all of the times I’ve enjoyed it. I even enjoy smelling the dregs of the teapot, although I couldn’t say for sure why. There’s something homey about that scent.
What about you fair reader? What smell makes you want to drink tea?
December 18th, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Interesting point Emma. For me, the smell of jasmine does it. Many years ago, I was on vacation in Jamaica and we had some night blooming jasmine outside my bedroom window. It was the most heavenly scent I’d ever experienced. A tropical environment can be magical but when it was further impacted by the smell of jasmine, it just brought it over the top. Jasmine tea is one of the most popular teas in China and I can understand why that is. When ever I need a bit of comfort, I brew up my royal jade snail and I’m in heaven.
December 19th, 2008 at 1:01 pm
Great question, Emma. Like Michelle, I love the atmo of jasmine. The scent is like giving your brain a big hug. Lately I have been enamored of the earthy note of Oolong, enjoying one from India and one from Thailand. For a winter treat, fresh Earl of Gray. So, so many teas . . . and so little time!
December 19th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
Emma - This is a great reminder of the powerful impact that smell has on us. Nothing can jerk you back into a memory as quickly and powerfully as smell.
I am enrapture by so many different smells of tea. The aroma of that first cup of an Angel White or Long Qing brings me a sense of lightness. The aroma of the second steeping of oolong brings me outdoors and an assam, yunnan gold and puerh all ground me. I embrace them all.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:52 am
I’ve had some Japanese greens that smelled so good that I actually hung onto the package for a while after it was empty, just to revisit the experience.
December 20th, 2008 at 12:35 pm
Ah, Sandy, I am sitting in the store office this moment absolutely savoring a cup of Golden Yunnan. Such an amazing black tea, and this one is what I call ‘man tea’ (apologies to all we ladies) or ‘the coffee drinker’s tea’ because of its’ strength and full-bodied richness. But, when it comes to aroma, we have one called white coconut that is absolutely ethereal. Others would be
raspberry rooibos with real dried raspberries and citrus zest, yes..a wonderful green jasmine I didn’t add until we found an incredible one, ginger mate (especially while brewing), and the
very potent Moroccan mint, a common tea but delightful nonetheless to my senses.
The way we brew, the aromas permeate the shop and, when we have 4 or 5 going together, people follow their noses.
What a wonderful environment, surrounded by the visual, taste and aroma of tea on a daily basis.