brewing something new...

that's right, i picked back up an old habit (no, not that... something safer) - tea. i used to consume the mass produced grocery store varieties on a regular basis for years and than for reasons unbeknown to me, i quit.
well, i'm far from your english tea party snob but i have recently taken a liking to loose tea leaf brewing. this is a step up from the run of the mill whatever's on sale at meijer approach that i had yesteryear.
i've found this new area of focus to have multiple benefits. the antioxidants found in almost all teas have remarkably positive effects on health. the glass-blown pot i brew in now days makes for an aesthetically pleasing experience, not to mention an amazing aroma that fills my quaint home.
i'm still making my way around and don't foresee investing in the ultra expensive organic lines anytime soon but i suppose we'll just have to wait and see what comes of things. thus far i have developed a taste for japanese sencha, smooth black assam, oriental spice (similar to chai), peppermint herbal, and citron green. i haven't yet sampled the white teas but i'm eager to learn the differences when i get around to it.
i'll probably pick up a more streamlined brewing device if i decide to carry this interest for longer than what would be considered a fad. i'm not usually one for trends but we all fall prey to impulsiveness now and again, this being my latest since i finally succumbed to the mp3 revolution sometime earlier last year.
there's a small import shop in the area that carries a wide variety of teas, however i've only been a window shopper to this point. most of my adventure has come by way of www.adagio.com
i've found them to be helpful and competitive. the only thing i find challenging is that they handle all their customer service via chat and do not currently have a published telephone system.

anyway, that's all i find populating my mind at this very moment. perhaps i've tickled your curiosity enough to join me for a freshly brewed spot sometime in the future, or not.

ciao!