Many years ago, I decided that it was essential for my health that I start drinking green tea.

I knew the powerful health benefits of it and that many people swore by its antioxidant goodness, revitalizing powers and general well-being.

I found the flavour of green tea to be too bitter to start with and had to force every single mouthful down my throat. But, I persisted.

I soon learned after spending time in Thailand that I was doing it all wrong. I was trying to drink using tea bags. Ugh! Green tea just does not taste right drinking it through a porous paper bag.

I learned that the best way to drink green tea is by drinking the seeped tea leaves.

And so started my real love affair with tea.

I was excited to go to China to have more tea experiences, and I think I literally almost drank all the tea in China. Days were spent lazing around drinking copious amounts of tea, of all sorts of flavours.

I’ll never forget ordering my first tea in Yangshuo China. I decided to get adventurous and try something other than green tea. I ordered some sort of flowery tea and it arrived in a beautiful brown porcelain tea cup with Chinese engraved writing on it.

A lid was on top trapping inside all the brewing goodness. I opened the lid and remarked to Craig,

“Oh dear, Craig, I think they have forgotten to take the tea out.”

There floating on top of my tea was a giant orange flower that looked just like a daisy.

“How am I meant to drink that?”

“Tell them. I’m sure they can fix it.”

I called over the waiter.

“Um… Excuse me. I think there is a problem, there are still flowers in the tea.”

“Yes” he nodded matter of factly. “In China, this is how we drink tea. I can take it out if you like.”

“No, it is okay.”

I was very doubtful, but if I was going to be drinking all the tea in China then I wanted to do it like the Chinese.

I saw a Chinese medicine doctor who prescribed a special tea formula for me to help clean my blocked kidney chi and get rid of the dark circles that constantly shroud my eyes.

For the next month, I continued drinking cup after cup of Chinese finest tea concoctions, all with the bits and pieces floating around. I learned how to sip and navigate leafs and twig ever so deftly.

I don’t drink tea any other way now. People always remark to me

“You drink the tea with the leaves still in it?”

“Of course, it is the only way to drink it. That is how they drink it in China. Tastes way better.”

Of course, whether it tastes better or not is still undecided, but it is more the experience I am tasting if I leave the leaves inside.