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I’m not reviewing much lately – more than anything, it’s because I currently produce so much text on a daily basis that writing more feels like a chore, plus Steepster has been a bit wonky lately. Not to mention the fact that I just haven’t been drinking that much tea at all. I’ve had exactly this: one pot of Forgeron & Blanc’s jasmine, plus one cup of the same, one pot of the Kiwi Vanilla from Kränku, plus one cup of the same, plus one more cold-steeped pitcher (it’s all been very kiwi around here), and one pot of Mariage Frères’ Thé des Impréssionistes.

Then when I was in Turkey, I brought two bags from Le Palais des Thés because I didn’t check any luggage (please take a moment to be in awe of this accomplishment) and they’re not in tins and a good size for my carry-on. (Some of you asked what I named that very bag ages ago, and I forgot to respond – it is known as The Great Otter, because that’s what it looks like – dark, fat and sleek, yet with a surprising air of delicacy. In addition it swallows anything and is fine with getting wet. Ergo – otterbag.)

So then I had some of the Thé du Hammam rooibos with some new tea frens, and then the Green Vanilla for breakfast every day. And, of course, every day the breakfast guy at the Richmond laughed at me because I didn’t know how to make Turkish tea (the actual tea pot is balanced atop the hot water dispenser and then you dilute it as much as you want) and then I had to demonstrate the delights of green tea and much sniffing and oohing and aahing ensued. I hope it wasn’t the same guy every day, but I honestly couldn’t tell and maybe we were just playing a really funny game and I didn’t even realize.

And then obviously the compulsory apple tea, but that’s not really tea as much as super-sugary granules. And, finally, the amazing new addition to the airport lounge – a tea garden, where I had something like six pots of garnet, jasmine, carnation, and whatever else they had in terms of tea. They had little individual tetsubins! (Tetsubi?) I was there for hours.

Now I’m back in Rome, though, trying to get back into the habit of… habits. This is a reliable Lupicia green – fresh, natural-tasting and delicious. I put some in the fridge to cold steep while I was at it. Again, I’m impressed by how well Lupicia’s greens age – I can’t really tell any major difference between the ones I got in 2012 and 2013, and a full year’s worth of storage can really make a difference for some teas, in my experience. Yet another reason to love Lupicia.

You and me, Lupi – forever.