My friend Ryoko , who has been so busy with her new career she hasn't had time to blog, spent a few days on holiday in China. Instead of a postcard I received something much more exciting in my letterbox. The beautiful flower above starts out as an ugly little duckling.
Add some hot water and it starts to look a little less ugly.
Leave it for a little while and you will see its beauty emerging.
Finally you will have a cup of tea that is as pretty as it is refreshing.
For some really good information about tea visit Joey at 80 Breakfasts and read her tea post.
UPDATE: Many of you have asked about the taste and smell of the tea. It has a very delicate aroma, slightly, and only slightly, smokey. The taste has far less tannin than black or green tea. It has a very light smoked, fruit taste, but only very light. There is no hint of the floral taste you experience in an Earl Gray tea. It is not a big in your face tea but more an elegant refined tea.
