Heavenly Tea in Chinatown
We had already spent a day in the Wine country. We went to as many tastings as possible. I actually found a wine that was sweet enough for me. Of course it was a dessert wine. I didn’t care. I was going to drink it whenever I wanted to.
It had been a perfect trip. As usual, Fred, travel agent extraordinaire had planned a reasonable trip. We were en route to Hawaii. We could save hundreds of dollars by laying over in San Francisco. This would add the opportunity to visit with friends and family on the way. My dad’s youngest sister, his mother and one of my college friends lived in the Bay area.
We decided to go to the Wine country. Since my mother was looking for a tablecloth or something of that nature she asked us to go to Chinatown too. I was looking forward to eating Dim Sam. I also wanted to try a new tea.
The tea shop was quaint. I couldn’t read anything in the shop, nor could I speak the language. All I knew was my love for tea. I was one when we left Asia so I don’t think the love for tea developed back then. My dad used to drink tea before he made the coffee switch. Perhaps it was the visits to Chinatown and the Japan Center. Who knows?
No matter what city I am in, if there is a tea shop, I am there. I love all types of tea. There were some people sitting at the counter sipping tea. I decided to join them. The shop owner brought several teas for us to taste. There was a tea that I will never forget. A few seconds after drinking the tea, there was a sensation like a sweet, flowery burst of perfume in your mouth. I was in heaven.
Eventually, the shop owner wrapped up the tea. He said, “Mr. (Can’t remember the man’s name) would like to thank you for sharing his tea.” The man and his family looked at me and gave me a reverse whatssup. You know when someone kinda leans their head back to say whassup? Theirs was the opposite and quickly bowed their heads. They left with their tea in tow. I was a bit confused. I think instead of sampling tea for sale, I was drinking a tea that a man had purchased and was enjoying it with his family.
Instead of saying, “Don’t you see I am sitting here with my family enjoying tea until you brought your ignorant butt up here and started drinking with us.” He allowed me to save face and just gave me a cup. When I asked to purchase the tea with the powerful aftertaste, I found out that an ounce which is smaller than a box of Bigelow teas from the grocery store was worth about $ 120.00 in the early ‘90’s. Needless to say, I left Chinatown with only the memory of the heavenly tea.
