The Other Hot Liquid

Previously I was dedicated just to coffee, but have recently been introduced to tea. At first, it like an "either-or" situation; I could only love one, not both at the same time. But fortunately, it is just a beverage choice not a debate over boyfriends.

My first experience with tea and its mysterious world was in Seattle. One of my dearest friends was getting married there and the rest of our girlfriend group gathered for the event. In our free time, we explored the downtown area and found a tea room. Two of my girlfriends are dedicated tea-holics, and acted as our ambassadors into this new world. We sat at the counter while the shop owner, a small wizened Chinese man, explained the different teas - how certain teas had very delicate leaves so a short brewing time was critical to good flavor and avoiding bitterness, how certain teas are grown high in the mountain and they had previously used monkeys to pick the leaves, which teas are good for curing sore throats, and the descriptions went on. I felt like I had stumbled into an Eastern apothecary.

We all sat together at a long bar with our hands cupped around little ceramic vessels of steaming liquid whose aroma was enticing. Fearful of making a etiquette faux pas in this new situation, I followed the lead of my fellow sippers and did not add sweetener. It felt a lot like wine tasting; that you needed to sample and study the liquid solo before pairing it with anything else.

As our bride-to-be friend was also a tea lover, we asked the shopkeeper about a wedding gift for her. Like a chemist, he gazed upon the glass vessels on his shelf, finally selecting a container. Setting a clear stemmed glass on the counter before us, he transferred a pod-like ball into it from his chosen container. He poured hot water into the glass, and gestured for us to watch the transformation.

The small sphere first floated and then slowly took in water, giving off small air bubbles, finally sinking to the bottom of the glass. Then it bloomed. The little globe opened up and became a flower, complete with petals. We were mesmerized.

It brought back a childhood memory of purchasing the promise of "magical miniature sea monkeys" from the back of a Highlights magazine. Within minutes, a small package and a glass of water had caused a small aqueous world to appear. The later realization that they were brine shrimp, not monkeys, did not take away from the thrill.

As we continued to watch the newly opened flower, we were startled. We thought the presentation as over. But a small plant-like figure slowly unfolded out of the center of the flower. The shop proprietor said "That groom. He wait for bride." Transfixed on this ordinary glass of water, we squealed with delight as we watched a matching organic stalk appear out of the bloom. "Here come bride" our host announced in a gleeful sing-song way. What was one was now two at this watery makeshift altar. He then revealed the secret; this entertaining orb was actually a blend of flowers, a real chrysanthemum being the base and other tea producing leaves being embedded within. Wow. A drink and a show.

We HAD to have these tea pods. They would undoubtedly amuse the bride and groom with their unexpected underwater ceremony. We asked our host the name of these curious tea tricks. He replied in his adorable Chinese-accented American speech: "At First Sight....Love Balls."

Love at first sight, indeed. This enchanting introduction into the world of tea surrounded by good friends is why I now love not just coffee, but tea also. Not for the flavor, not for the aroma, not even for the show; but for the experience of sharing a moment in time with people I love.