If we take a moment to pause and consider the moment, you will quickly learn that the art of "Taking tea" can be more than just having a drink. New Zealand tea, in the past has been highly influenced by the tea culture that originated in India and migrated into British culture. The only tea that could be purchased in New Zealand was black tea. It was stewed in boiling water until nearly tar black, then poured into a cup with a portion of milk and sugar added to dilute the strength of the astringent tasting brew. This type of tea was enough to make this Kiwi girl not drink tea.
Brands such as Bell Tea, Choysa, PG Tips were the most common in our market. Then in more recent years companies such as Dilmah, Twinnings and blends like Earl Grey hit our shores.
In New Zealand today the array of tea blends is diverse which in itself can become very confusing if you know very little about tea. And yet in reality, even a large portion of the tea drinking population do not have much understanding of the types of teas, how best to make them, and even more importantly how NOT to make them. Contrary to the fact that New Zealand was once considered a tea drinking country; since the 1980's the explosion of the coffee culture has seen us become a nation of coffee drinkers.
New Zealand has spent a lot of time and money developing an outstanding coffee culture. When in an unfamiliar town we have no hesitation in asking the locals "Where do you get a GOOD coffee around here?". Our population is increasingly educated about what is a good cup of coffee and we can certainly quickly identify what is a bad coffee. Cafes live and die on their ability to produce good coffee. But this can not be said for tea. I can't say I have been asked "Where do I get a good cup of tea around here?"
I believe the hospitality industries have yet to realize the golden opportunity for marketing good tea in cafes, and often our very talented barista's sadly don't know how to make good tea. Too often I have been served a hot pot of water with a tea bag dropped in it from overly heated steaming hot water from the coffee machine that is totally inappropriate for making tea.
My parents generation are easily able to tell you what is a good 'black' tea, My generation was brought up on greeting people into our homes by offering them a cup of tea. However step away from black tea, and the same generation of tea drinkers know very little about other types of tea.
I often have heard people say "I don't like green tea, it is too bitter". I would have said the same some months back. But I have since learnt that if my green tea is bitter it has not been brewed properly. For not all teas are equal and neither are they brewed the same.
Once you start to learn a little about teas you suddenly realize what an amazing art tea making is. You begin to recognize how rich tea making cultures are and that tea is not just about a drink but it is about taking time to stop, consider the finer elements of life, savoir the sharing of precious moments with friends as you sip and envelop the flavours of a beverage that can be liquid gold. GOOD tea has a "spiritual essence" to its being. Taking time to learn to enjoy the art of tea enables you to tap into one of the ancient, fine culinary arts that has been refined over the centuries. So in grasping a little pleasure in life, take some time out and take tea at least once today.
