Solo Teas
In all the hustle-bustle of life, one antidote is a satisfying cup of tea. Prepared just as you like, it is a treat completely and utterly indulged in by you alone. One needn't be a sybarite to savor the finest teas in a quiet little nook at home, shop or office; think of it as inexpensive, but none-the-less effective, mental health moment...Tea and Therapy. Use your T & T session to experiment with new teas and the many ways to make them. Most importantly, this is a time for tranquility.
Tea is a simple beverage, water and leaves, yet its liquor can soothe, ease, relax and send our cares away. It is a drink for the centuries, nearly five thousand years old now, and it is as fresh as it was when first discovered. (Tea is somewhat of an accident: a Chinese emperor noticed that some leaves from a nearby bush had fallen into a water pot near him. An adventurous sort, he tasted the drinkand was pleasantly stimulated yet comfortably relaxed -- he had discovered what is now the world's most popular beverage.)
You can discover the wonders and the power of tea as well.
First Come the Pots
Nothing is more suitable for a Solo Tea experience than the original teapot, the Yixing. Pronounced "E-ching," these charming collectible pots can be starkly simple with designs that are thousands of years old. More likely, they are whimsical: shaped like lotus flowers, Buddhas, or pre-Majolica subjects like fruits, vegetables or animals. Contemporary pots come in shapes such as chairs, wheelbarrows or other whimsical styles that never fail to bring a smile to one's face.
The importance of the Yixing pot lies in its special, red clay, only found in the Yunnan province of Mainland China. It is porous, absorbs odors easily and is always unglazed. This is why you should only use one variety of tea in the pot. After a time, sometimes years, the pot will take on the character of your favorite tea.
Because of their "collectibility," Yixing teapots are everywhere, but it is critical to deal with a vendor who really knows their merchandise to avoid machine-made pots or poorly-made knockoffs of traditional shapes. Like any other product, a finely made teapot holds the heat longer, is more comfortable to the hands and, critically important, will pour better. They can be expensive, so you may want to experiment first with one of the machine-made ones, and use it to learn how to make tea in the Chinese style.
If, however, you just want to buy these pots for their aesthetic appeal, buy what attracts you. Most pots are either the reddish clay of Yunnan or a brown clay. However, various ores in the clay are used for decoration and, sometimes, for entire pots. The ore colors are ochre, black, brown, and teal, the latter color frequently oxidized to bring out its blue-green hue.
Yixing teapots are available at most fine gift and tea shops, or contact wholesaler World Treasure Trading Company (PO Box 50213, Long Beach, CA 90808; (310) 429-7151) for the location nearest you. Jim and Louise Anderson have been importing these pots for years, and all their pots are lead-free, making them suitable to use for any type of tea. They also have whimsically-shaped tea caddies, miniature teapots and other gung-fu tea ceremony accessories.
Next Comes the Tea
Wondering what to brew in your Yixing pot? For the tiniest pots, we suggest green teas; medium pots, oolong; and the larger ones are best for Pu-er. Perhaps the best sources for true China teas are:
Silk Road Tea
2980 Kerner Boulevard, Suite A
San Rafael, CA 94901
(415) 458 8624
e-mail: silkroadteas@yahoo.com
Imperial Tea Court
1411 Powell Street
San Francisco, CA 94130
(415) 788-6080
India Tea Importers
1629 Bate Street
Montebello CA 90640
(213) 722-9438
fax: (213) 722-6368
Upton Tea Imports
231 South St.
Hopkinton, MA 01748
(800) 234-TEAS
Chaiwalla
1 Main Street
Salisbury, CT
(860) 435-9758
Tea Resources
For a detailed explanation of these teas, let me plug The Tea Lover's Companion: The Connoisseur's Guide to Buying, Brewing and Enjoying Tea by James Norwood Pratt with Diana Rosen. This gift-sized, hardcover book includes a large list of tea purveyors throughout the United States, plus a terrific overview of tea, and is written in Pratt's elegant style. It is the first updated book to include the best of the China teas available in the United States. Pratt's first book, The Tea Lover's Treasury , is now the classic in the field. His new book not only updates the original list, but gives a more expanded view of tea brewing methods and tea types; a must for every tea lover on your list. Click here to order Diana's latest book, The Book of Green Tea, from Amazon.com!
Diana Rosen is a freelance writer for eZines, web site copy, and print magazine articles on food, beverage, and other lifestyle topics. The veteran journalist is also the author of 10 nonfiction books and the co-author of three others. For more information, visit www.dianarosen.com
Note: This information was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the businesses in question before making your plans.
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