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12/12/2005 TeaI love tea.
Some of you know this, but I really like tea.
Going back, I think my tea obsession started when I was in high school (that's 10-12th grade for you Aussies). I remember going to the supermarket and getting all the tea bags that they sold and trying each of them out. However, as I said, they were tea BAGs. Some of you might have noticed this already, but tea from bags can become somewhat bitter. Like Darjeeling tea, it's a strong tea to beging with, but in tea bags, it becomes soooooooooo bitter!
Anyway, while usually I could point out what got me interested in a certain thing, I'm baffled with this tea business. I mean, tea has always been around (I mean in my house, not the world in general) but what got me to think, "hmmm, I think I want to explore the different teas" I have no clue...
In high school, one of my dorm-mates (I lived in a dorm) gave me the title 『紅茶博士』 Koucha Hakase, literary meaning "The Black-Tea Professor." This was not because I really knew all the different teas, but because I drank so much of it it seemed like I was possessed!
It's only when I came to Australia that I really got started to get tea leaves. Reason, is because there is this nice tea shop in Canberra, Civic (I think many of you who live in Canberra know this place). I'm more fond of black teas (which in Eastern countries they call it Red-Tea, interesting huh?), and usually I like the blends. Right now I'm really hooked on a blend called "Choc Mint" which is self explanatory.
And recently, I've found a nice tea shop in Japan that is not to far away from my house that I could get my tea leaves from! So all is good.
 I'm writing about tea today because I watched The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, and I felt like Arthur Dent. I haven't had tea for a LOOOOOOONG time!
Everday StuffYou know... you really don't need to know... Because I haven't done anything interesting... boring life for me! 11/29/2005 Fresh Chai TeaIt's been cold and miserable for the past couple of days now (despite it being Summer and all) so I thought I'll treat myself, and anyone who is reading this blog, to a cup of Fresh Chai Tea.
Ingredients (For 2-3 mugs)
WATER 160ml
MILK 440ml
SUGAR As much as you want
SPICES
1/2 of a Cinnamon Stick
6-8 Black Pepper Seeds
6-8 Cloves
2-4 Cardamon Pods
2 Laurier (Bay Leaves)
TEA LEAVES 8g (Here are some suggestions)
TaraJan (Indian tea)
Vanille tea
Ijenda (African tea)
Orange Chocolat tea
(Stay away from teas such as English Breakfast or Earl Gray!)
Method
First, you grind up the spices (except the Laurier, which you tear up with your hand) and put them into a bag of some sort. Put the tea leaves into the same bag as well. (I use a mesh bag, but you can use anything that keeps the tea and spices in) Remember to close the bag!
Next, boil the water in a pot, and once it has boiled, turn off the heat and put in the bag with spices and tea. Let it sit for a minute or two, then put in the milk and turn the heat back on. And turn the heat off just before the mixture boils.
Take the bag with spices and tea out, serve the tea into your favorite cup, add as much sugar as you like, then relax and enjoy the Fresh Chai Tea you had just made!
P.S.
The ingredients are just a guide line, feel free to change the amount of any item.
  11/20/2005 Barley Tea 麦茶In Japan, barley tea is something you MUST have to make it feel like summer. Without 麦茶 (pronounced as "Mugi cha") it feels like you are missing something in the blaizing hot sun, and water just dosen't quench your thirst. (As an Japanese Summer experience, there is also another drink called カルピス (Calupisu) but that's too sweet for my taste)
Anyway, it's summer in Australia now, and I need my barley tea. Thank god that Australia is a multi-cultural country, for it's not that hard to find foreign food.
However, and this is the sad part, but most of my friends that I offer it to, say that it tastes NASTY. Just by telling them it's called "barley tea" makes them go YUCK. It's a shock to me, because I like the taste, and even crave for it now and then. But then, like Vegemite in Australia, barley tea must be an acquired taste.
Oh well, can't please them all now can we?
 Everday Stuff Not much happend today, just sat around and talked. My housemate got hold of Madagascar, and I need to get it off her. Doing a little bit more on that animated character, and desided that I need to redo her fringe.
 BLAHWould you like a glass of barley tea? |
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