Tea. Tee. Te. Atay. Chai. How many different ways do you know how to say tea? Here tea is very special. They spend a lot of time making it, and of course, drinking it. What is your favorite drink that you would spend a long time savoring? Mine is probably either bissap, (a red drink made with hibiscus that is tart) or water.
Here, they make tea very carefully. First, they put dried tea leaves, mint, sugar, and water into a pot. Then, they boil it. then they add more sugar, and water, and transfer it to a different pot, then boil again.
When they finish, they pour it into a cup, which they pour, one at a time, into two other cups. it makes foam, which somehow cools it down.
Then they drink three rounds of it.
Mmmm your description is so perfect I can almost smell the mint tea from here! You're a great writer. In Cantonese tea is "cha" like "chahh" with a really low voice because you have to use a low tone (if you use a high tone it means "fork"). Have you ever tried bubble tea? It is originally from Taiwan, and it is really popular here--it's sweet and cold and creamy (cold black tea with milk in it) but there are these sweet chewy balls (some people call them bubbles or pearls) at the bottom that are unique and so delicious. It's the perfect treat for a hot day. Next time we see each other in the US or UK we will need to try it together! -Abigail
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DeleteThanks for describing the way tea is prepared and served where you live. My favorite tea is chrysanthemum tea. In Chinese, the name for red hibiscus flowers is "Big Red Flower." It's my favorite flower. What is your favorite flower?
ReplyDeleteI like Lily of the Valley, guess why!
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DeleteHi Lily! You did a wonderful job explaining the art of making tea. How do they get it to have that foam or bubbles? My favorite tea is any kind that has fruit in it. I like blueberry, lemon, orange, hibicsus, or others with fruit. I am content to never put sugar in my fruit tea, yet I like sugar in my coffee. I am not sure why! Love, Grandma
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