I thought a tea chest was what Peter posted as well; we used them for storage way back, and got a fair bit of tea out of each one. What's the sort you posted intended for, Andrew?
The continental fashion for weak, mildly flavoured teas made from poorer
quality tea leaves masked with artificial flavours in a tea bag that is laid beside a
glass [
sic] of lukewarm water is so utterly distant from the English or
Japanese tea ceremonies that there's felt a need to mask the offering with a presentation
style that gives a veneer of luxury and
choice. This "chest" will contain eight different
types of tea bag ranging from Lady Grey Decaffeinated to Redbush to Mildly Minty (chemical flavouring only), and is presented, lid open, alongside the
glass of lukewarm water, so that you can admire the pretty box whilst making a selection between a range of equally insipid beverage bags which one dunks in the
glass for several seconds until it's the color of watery piss. The fashion has become pretty much obligatory in so-called boutique hotels as it can be operated by staff who have never once
had a
good cup of tea (made in a pre heated
pot, with freshly boiled filtered water using whole leaf pungent and strong single source natural tea, brewed for three minutes minimum, until the color of an appropriate
wood (mahogany for Assam, walnut for Darjeeling) and served in a traditional
cup or heavy mug). The attractiveness of the box is designed to mask the terrible tea.
In defence of my ownership of this box, I do occasionally get visitors from Europe who expect such a selection. I let them choose whilst I busy myself making real tea for myself.
PS. So called "Builder's tea" (PG Tips and such brands) are considered perfectly respectable alternatives to whole leaf tea for day to day use, and may be made strong enough to walk on. PG Tips in a cardboard box is classier than Damman Frè
res Orange Blossom Infusion in a
red and black
lacquered box. Real builders use two bags
per cup. And
mint tea made from a bunch of
mint is perfectly
good and tastes even better if pulled from the ground, especially if growing wild by a pathway or inside someone else's garden fence. Don't confuse it with hemp.
