So I have about uh, 60 or some-odd varieties of tea, as is evident on my tea page, and we all know from the crack-like giddy state which most people experience the Erando-maniac in, that I’m well, addicted to caffeine. Not that I see anything wrong with this, mind you. The body adjusts to having that caffeine and compensates in whatever ways it does that, and the only drawback is the need for caffeine or facing the consequences: being more drooly and dreary and brain-drained than usual. At any rate, caffeine is my friend, and most of my teas have caffeine in them (excepting the whites, the oolongs, some of the greens, the rooibos, the mints, and the other herbals and tisanes). Since I’m working diligently on the thesis all-day long (evenings are for sleeping and EQ), I NEED CAFFEINE.

The problem has been that lately, I’ve been making bad cups of tea. 🙁 It’s horrific, but true. Oversteeping, water not hot enough, not enough sugar (although I generally go for a teaspoon or two at the most, so this is rarely a problem), or whatever–I’ve made some pretty lousy cups of tea the past couple weeks. And it’s not that I’m just using the same tea over and over or the same methods over and over. I’ve tried sachets, the IngenuiTea, paper sleeves, infuser spoons…the works! I nearly broke out the coffee pot to see if that might help, but I know it would be a worse solution to the problem. I’ve mixed up the types of tea I’ve been drinking too–oolong, black, green–all with the same result: bland, blechy cup of tea.

I’m getting pretty distraught by this dilemma. What’s wrong with me? I know I am capable of making good cups of tea; I’ve made some damn fine, kickass cups before. But now, I’ve lost my edge. You know what’s more pathetic than being able to boil water and stick leaves in it and have it turn out all right? Blogging about it. Oh well. Maybe it’s the stress of the thesis and class and work and money and all that. Maybe if I relax and let the tea come to me, it will get its beautiful bouquet back, it’ll rejuvinate me once more, and it’ll taste wonderful and pungent and pleasant once more. Ah, tea, how I love it so. Maybe I’m not showing my tea enough love, maybe it realizes that I’m just using it as a quick fix rather than appreciating it for its flavor and tranquility. Hmm, maybe I’m a loon. At any rate, I’m going to go make some second flush darjeeling now. Wish me luck!