78

Today is beautiful :)

It’s about 10:30 am on Christmas Eve. The sun is out in the far south and shining through some glass art Kiki made that I have hanging in my bedroom’s sliding glass door. The glass is casting red, yellow, blue and green across a small triangle of the floor.

I hear the throaty gurgle of one of the troublemaker crows in the date palm out front (the resident crows inspired another non-review https://steepster.com/derk/posts/419916 ). A migratory waterfowl hollers softly in the distance and at least 4 other kinds of birds are chirping. I see some of the little ones hopping around on the hog wire hoop trellises we set up for the green beans and cucumbers last year. One little bird is going back and forth from the chamomile to the avocado, to one of the figs, to the pot of paperwhites in bloom, to the mandarin. I opened the door to get some fresh air and the temperature and humidity are perfect right now. The door is staying open for as long as this blessing of a day permits.

Kiki put a tray of breakfast at this isolating invalid’s door. My favorite breakfast — hearty toast topped with feta and a fried egg. A side of pink pineapple that is everything I thought a pink pineapple might be without having tasted it before. Side note: pink pineapples are GMO and Del Monte “remove and replant each crown before shipping, sustainably cultivating the next crop of this magnificent rarity.” That’s doublespeak for “we don’t want anybody else growing our trademarked plant at home and making money off it.”

This tea is a blessing, too. Made by the hands of some unknown people in Taiwan. I would like to see their hands tie the knots in the string that cradles the lemon.

I’m on the other side of this virus.

Feeling so overwhelmed with joy and beauty and gratitude right now that I’m on the edge of letting some of it leak out through my eyes. I feel ashamed to experience so much bounty when others are without. I have to reabsorb these feelings, wrap them up for now, pass the package on to somebody who needs it. Someone very important to me once told me I’m too sensitive; countless others have told me I need to open up more. There’s a lot going on in this fleshbag of chemical and electrical processes. It’s best to just carry on as I am.

Flavors: Bitter, Broth, Caraway, Flowers, Lemon, Lemon Zest, Medicinal, Molasses, Pleasantly Sour, Raisins, Soy Sauce, Thin

Preparation
Boiling 8 min or more 12 OZ / 354 ML
ashmanra

When you write your heart like this, I feel like I am actually with you. Be wonderful beautiful marvelous unique you!

Martin Bednář

I agree with ashmanra absolutely word by word!

Nattie

Beautiful words. I’ve been told that I’m too sensitive myself many, many times, by many different people, and I’ll tell you what I always tell them – there’s no such thing.

tea-sipper

Wonderful note, glad to hear you’re getting better from the covid!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

People who liked this

Comments

ashmanra

When you write your heart like this, I feel like I am actually with you. Be wonderful beautiful marvelous unique you!

Martin Bednář

I agree with ashmanra absolutely word by word!

Nattie

Beautiful words. I’ve been told that I’m too sensitive myself many, many times, by many different people, and I’ll tell you what I always tell them – there’s no such thing.

tea-sipper

Wonderful note, glad to hear you’re getting better from the covid!

Login or sign up to leave a comment.

Profile

Bio

This place, like the rest of the internet, is dead and overrun with bots. And thus I step away.

Eventual tea farmer. If you are a tea grower, want to grow your own plants or are simply curious, please follow me so we can chat.

I most enjoy loose-leaf, unflavored teas and tisanes. Teabags have their place. Some of my favorite teas have a profound effect on mind and body rather than having a specific flavor profile. Terpene fiend.

Favorite teas generally come from China (all provinces), Taiwan, India (Nilgiri and Manipur). Frequently enjoyed though less sipped are teas from Georgia, Japan, Nepal and Darjeeling. While I’m not actively on the hunt, a goal of mine is to try tea from every country that makes it available to the North American market. This is to gain a vague understanding of how Camellia sinensis performs in different climates. I realize that borders are arbitrary and some countries are huge with many climates and tea-growing regions.

I’m convinced European countries make the best herbal teas.

Personal Rating Scale:

100-90: A tea I can lose myself into. Something about it makes me slow down and appreciate not only the tea but all of life or a moment in time. If it’s a bagged or herbal tea, it’s of standout quality in comparison to similar items.

89-80: Fits my profile well enough to buy again.

79-70: Not a preferred tea. I might buy more or try a different harvest. Would gladly have a cup if offered.

69-60: Not necessarily a bad tea but one that I won’t buy again. Would have a cup if offered.

59-1: Lacking several elements, strangely clunky, possess off flavors/aroma/texture or something about it makes me not want to finish.

Unrated: Haven’t made up my mind or some other reason. If it’s pu’er, I likely think it needs more age.

bicycle bicycle bicycle

Location

California, USA

Following These People

Moderator Tools

Mark as Spammer