I learn something every day. Among the non-herbal teas, among those made from the leaves of the tea plant, I knew about black tea, and I knew about black teas. I also enjoy a variety of green teas, which often give me a much needed caffeine boost mid afternoon.
Interesting to find out there are also white teas and oolong teas. A friend bought some tea from China some while ago; I think this might actually be an oolong tea. More or less by chance, I recently bought a white tea (that’s how I discovered the existence of white teas to begin with), a Chinese Pai Mu Tan. It looks more like herbal tea, green-ish dried leaves and some stalks, basically. White tea actually closer to the harvest than green tea, with minimum oxidation.
Very refreshing!
I love a good coffee, but admit that I am increasingly fascinated about the variety of teas out there. Coffee seems almost boringly straight-forward in comparison.
Food and Drink
China
Time for another book, since I have read two lovely ones during our holiday. So, today I shall mostly be recommending…
Amy Tan‘s Saving Fish From Drowning.
A reviewer on Amazon describes it as a great comic drama, and I guess this sums it up nicely. A group of middle-class people from San Francisco travel through China and Burma, but not everything goes as smooth as planned: It all starts with Bibi, the organiser and tour guide, dying. When the group heads off with a replacement guide, things start going pear-shaped due to their own ignorant doing, and due to other circumstances.
A brilliant tale, comic and dramatic and something for the heart. Very lovingly and insightfully written, as all of Amy Tan’s books are. Highly, highly recommended!
Books
Amy Tan, Burma, China, San Francisco
Another endless source of daily fascination: toilet paper brand names.
My personal favourite is Tesco’s very own Embossed Luxury. Somebody at the next checkout bought Sovereign’s Luxury. Apparently, Flora is number 1 in Egypt, and it’s not the margarine this time. China had it’s famous Thumbs Up in the 80s. Holy Tissue is sold out at justtoiletpaper.com, but the Virtual Toilet Paper Museum comes to the rescue with a large collection, including Capri, Cast-Away, Military Issue, Natural Value or Target, to name just a few. toiletpaperworld.com is happy to provide more unmissable facts on the subject, if you hadn’t enough yet.
What’s your favourite toilet paper brand name, fictitious or not?
Thoughts
China, Egypt, Tesco;
I learn something every day. Among the non-herbal teas, among those made from the leaves of the tea plant, I knew about black tea, and I knew about black teas. I also enjoy a variety of green teas, which often give me a much needed caffeine boost mid afternoon.