I spend a lot of my time messing around with tea. Craving it. Making it. And drinking it. As I move through this tea-scape, I often come across people with theories to share, tales to tell, and orders to issue, around the idea of how to make the 'perfect' cup of tea. And I myself have often pondered this question. But today I realised - tea is like the day. You should not worry too much about it, but simply take it as it comes. Be it good, bad, or forgettable. Sometimes it will be a tea of small things, of little flavour and strange after-tastes. Occasionally it will be great. But it will never be predictable. The better, the best, will always be an unexpected joy.
So play around. Experiment. Milk in first, milk in last. Stir a little, stir a lot. A dash of milk, a dollop of milk. Out of a mug. Out of cup and saucer. Out of a pot. Out of a pot again. Out of a flask. Or even out of a plastic cup (but not too often).
So treat a cup of tea like the day. Let the good ones come to you. And let the bad ones slip away. You are, after all, only ever a cup away from things getting better.
I've now got a mild craving for a mug of Earl Grey with a dash of milk.
Posted by: henry lambert | 07/27/2007 at 09:32 AM
Lovely post Paul. The craving must be in the genes.
I really must go and make myself another cup !!
Posted by: Harry C | 07/27/2007 at 11:44 AM
I'm happy just to be given a cup.
Posted by: Ben | 07/27/2007 at 12:01 PM
I'm a big fan of the English Breakfast variety!
Posted by: Anna MacCormick | 07/27/2007 at 01:47 PM
Erroneous segue warning: Tea makes me think of your blogcast with Ben in which you mentioned a book entitled Why? - what was the full title/author?
Posted by: John Dodds | 07/27/2007 at 02:08 PM
I think that I have probably drunk no more than 10 cups of tea in my whole life.
Posted by: TomLR | 07/27/2007 at 03:39 PM
That looks like a good cuppa.
Posted by: Will | 07/27/2007 at 06:16 PM
Tom.
Posted by: Ben | 07/27/2007 at 08:58 PM
I think that I have probably drunk no more than 20 cups of tea this week.
Posted by: John Dodds | 07/27/2007 at 09:16 PM
i kept thinking about this idea today. and about that woman's bouffant. wise words, paul.
Posted by: lauren | 07/27/2007 at 09:46 PM
That's the grossest cup of tea I have ever seen, it looks like bad gravy.Hope you didn't drink it!
Posted by: Patricia | 07/28/2007 at 02:20 AM
Anna, welcome to the blog. Let's not forget all the tea I used to make you (Anna and I used to work together).
Tom, I've seen you drink 8 cups in one sitting, so don't lie.
Patricia, there is nothing like tea and rain water - you should try it.
Lauren, I should have co-authored you on this one, or at least the women with the bouffant - you were both my inspiration.
Posted by: Paul H. Colman | 07/28/2007 at 08:56 AM
Paul - that was Stella.
Posted by: TomLR | 07/28/2007 at 01:27 PM
Ben.
Posted by: TomLR | 07/28/2007 at 01:29 PM
Oh right, that explains the can.
Posted by: Paul H. Colman | 07/29/2007 at 12:20 AM
Facebook has recently just stormed Australia and one of the novelties is that I am part of a Facebook group called A Cup of Tea Solves Everything. Of which the philosophy I completely agree with. It has almost 72000 members. Brilliant...just like a cuppa.
Posted by: Laura Tjia | 08/02/2007 at 07:42 AM
I happened upon this page while doing some design research (no connection to your site at all really - one of the things I love about the internet).
I thought I was the only person that gave tea so much thought. Yes, that ever elusive 'perfect cup of tea'. You can follow the exact same steps and still get a hit one time and a horrible miss the next. A rushed cup, a slow cup, a cup that's full one moment and empty the next leaving no memory of the flavor or warmth that you're sure passed through your lips. Whatever it is, a cup of tea is a wonderful thing.
Ok back to work I must go ...but not before the soothing flavor of Rooibos with a big dollop of milk makes it's way to my mouth. Mmmmm, Aaaah. Thanks for the break!
Posted by: Desiree | 10/22/2007 at 05:57 PM