With tea infused recipes, crafts, tea reviews and tea news, I realize I don’t really share many “secrets” about my tea lifestyle. Every now and then I may throw in a fun fact about my history with tea and such so I thought it would be fun to have a post dedicated to some things you may not know about my journey with tea. It’s also my birthday today! So what better timing to learn more about me. Here are 10 little facts about my tea lifestyle. Feel free to share something about your tea lifestyle, too.
10 Things About My Tea Lifestyle
1. I used to dislike matcha. Like a lot. I often feel like this is one of the biggest shocks to people. My matcha journey is a whole story itself! I understand that today I am obsessed with matcha, and have been for a few years but that wasn’t always the case. I first tried matcha back in 2010 and my initial reaction was “YUCK! That can not be tea” and who knows if it really was. It was some cheap, brown looking powder that tasted horrible and being new to matcha, I didn’t have a clue how it was prepared. My boyfriend was a much bigger fan than I was and I thought, cool he’ll have his own thing to love. After a few years of trial and error and finally learning more about matcha quality and preparation, my taste buds thanked me for giving it another try.
2. Roses are red. It may have all started with a strawberry flavoured tea bag (that, to this day, I still don’t know much else about it) but the majority of my tea upbringing (before loose leaf, of course) were Red Rose tea bags.
3. Speaking of tea bags…I still use them. Cue the gasps! I’m not going to start dissing something that got me started on my tea addiction. If I’m out and I really want a tea (and I forgot to pack some), you bet I’m stopping at that Tim Horton’s drive thru (although their steeped tea is made with whole leaves now) or somewhere else. I remember at the 2016 Toronto Tea Festival, Zhen from Zhen Tea quickly mentioned in her presentation that she will do the exact same. That confession just made me love their brand more. Sometimes having tea from a teabag is better than no tea at all.
4. I never wanted to like coffee. There was a point in my life that I remember specifically thinking tea is going to be my thing. Even though growing up with the coffee pot always on, I forced myself to stay away. I wanted to be different. I wanted to never become addicted to coffee. On the occasion, I’ll have espresso but other than that, you’ll never find me near the coffee maker to prepare a pot. (Unless I try to make coffee for guests, but even then, I have no idea what I am doing…)
5. I can be a tea hoarder. This is true especially when I’m down to the last few grams of my absolute favourite tea. I know I shouldn’t try to keep that tea forever, but I try my best to store it properly and make it last for as long as I need until I have that craving again. It’s sad to drink the last bit of my favourite teas.
6. Teaopia was my life. Anyone else remember this tea store? I think my heart shattered just a wee bit when it was first announced that Teavana was buying Teaopia and I no longer knew what was going to happen to my version of heaven. Teaopia is where my love for loose leaf teas began and it’s where I spent most of my free time, especially since it was the only tea store that was around where I lived. To this day, I still have and use the Teaopia Tea Master.
7. Most of the time, I’m a second flush girl. Don’t get me wrong, I love the most prized first flush teas but I find I lean more towards the stronger steeps.
8. It’s all about the taste. Many people begin drinking tea for various reasons. Mine did start with wanting to just have a moment with my mom and sister while they enjoyed their cuppas, but I continued making tea my life because of the taste. While there can be many “health benefits” with tea, it was always the unique flavours and the feelings it gave me that kept me going back for more.
9. Bubble tea is not for me. I’ve tried bubble tea several times and just can’t seem to get into it. I never crave it. I never want one when I pass the several shops in the mall. I’m just really not a boba tea fan. Maybe one day!
10. I don’t know everything about tea. I’m sure you probably know this fact already. Can anyone really know everything about something? We’re always learning and growing. I’m always reading about tea. I’m always drinking tea. That’s how I learn and that’s how I’ll continue to share the leaf. I’m always going to be a student of tea and I wouldn’t have it any other way.
It’s your turn now! Share something with me in the comments below about your tea lifestyle.
My Tea Life-style:
[Tea Is My Doctor] I use tea to self medicate and I do believe this is the real reason why for so long I was attracted to the beverage. I’m one of those weird people whose body tells them exactly what they need, whether if it’s beverage or food, my body will crave it and I’ll know precisely what it’s craving. (ex: The other day I was craving arugula, ate it, felt like a billion bucks) Tea helps my mood, my hormonal balance and countenance… My body told me so…
Thanks for sharig LuAnn!! I don’t celebrate birthdays so I won’t wish you traditionally, however, I love life! I am happy that you have lived another year to tell tales of tea and share them with us! Happy steeping!
Thanks for sharing that bit about you and your tea lifestyle, Gabie! It’s always best to listen to your body, especially when it tells you it wants tea 😉
I love oolong tea, especially wen shan bao zhong, and because my local tea shop imports directly from Taiwan (relatives there) I favor Taiwanese oolongs. But I love coffee too, because of the smell and how it’s always been a part of my life. When I was little, every morning my father would bring me a cup of “coffee milk”, warm milk with just enough coffee in it to turn it that au-lait color. So to me, the bean and the leaf, they are both good.
Two of my loves are tea and crafting! I like to combine them as often as possible!
I am a lover of coffee, tea (tea bags) and tea parties and now decorating…. Like you, I still have lots more to learn…..
Thanks for your sharing. I happen to read your sharing, thank you much.
I am in China and tea drinking is everywhere. Thanks