Tea Blog

Your usual tea might be a strong black tea blend, or something flavored such as Earl Grey or Cinnamon Black Tea, or even a green tea such as Gunpowder. But sometimes you just need a palate-cleansing tea in-between those regular cuppas. We understand. And concur.

Hubby and I have numerous “in-between” teas, often a bit of a leftover sample we’ve tried already and set aside for such a moment. The typical scenario is for us to steep up a 6-cup pot of strong Assam, have a cup while making breakfast, a cup with breakfast, and a cup after breakfast. About mid-way to lunch we need to whet our whistles again, but the Assam seems to heavy, so we go with a lighter tea next (some Ti Kuan Yin Iron Goddess Oolong or Steamed Darjeeling green tea). Sort of like a palate cleanser. By lunch time we are usually ready for another strong black tea, such as a black Ceylon or a nice Keemun.

The senses of taste and smell tend to get over stimulated. If they encounter the same taste and smell for awhile, they tend to get used to it, making the perception of that sensory stimulus have less impact on you. A great example is the various smells in your own home that you may not notice but a visitor will (litter boxes are a big culprit here). Switching to a new tea will give those tastebuds a change from what they were used to. Just be sure it’s a tea that tastes different enough. If you like flavored teas, have an “in-between” tea with a different base – a flavored green tea instead of a flavored black tea, for example. That way you keep those senses stimulated and get a more flavorful experience.

So, how do you get started? One option is to order some sampler packs (loose or bags) and switch around, having one this time, another that time. It makes your tastebuds happy and gives life a bit of variety!

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.

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