Enhancements to Tea Drinking
If you have followed the above procedures you will have a quality product assuming, of course, you started with a high quality tea. Teas, like wine, vary greatly and nothing can turn a cheap product into a fine cup of tea. At this juncture we would like to make a few more comments.
- Tea drinkers generally enjoy tea at a lower temperature than do coffee drinkers. The palate is much more sensitive at a moderately warm beverages than very hot. Consequently, if you let the tea cool until the cup is comfortable to the touch you will have a more flavorful satisfying product.
- Milk, sugar and other additives may suit your palate. There is no right or wrong way to enjoy tea. In Russia strong tea with honey or marmalade is popular. Many people drink tea with milk or sugar, or both. However most people feel that Green, Oolong and Darjeeling should be served without additives.
- Again, there is general agreement among tea drinkers that strong black teas such as Assams, Ceylons, Keemuns, and blends like English Breakfast take milk well.
- Most tea drinkers agree that lemon alters the flavor of any tea and has no place in a fine tea. It should be reserved for iced teas and teas of lesser quality.
- When it comes to sugar there is little agreement. Some feel that strong black tea is better sweetened while others feel that any sweetening distorts the flavor. If you want a sweetener, try rock sugar. For many it is the ideal sweetener for tea.
A Final Word
Tea, like wine, requires knowledge to be fully appreciated. Fortunately you can acquire knowledge of fine teas for much less money and certainly more health benefits than wine. If you are interested, we can help in acquiring this knowledge which will enhance your enjoyment of tea, which is the second most consumed beverage in the world exceeded only by water.