rabbysmom said

If another person comments on my "tea obsession" I might scream!!

Seriously, what is wrong with enjoying tea? Does it bother people? Hardly. It’s a hobby! I don’t see the difference between me enjoying learning about tea and someone who is a wine connoisseur. Does anyone else get this sort of reaction?

37 Replies
Cofftea said

Yep. My mom comments on how much I spend all the time. To her credit I do have more tea than I’ll ever drink by myself… but even if I didn’t, she still would- she does it w/ everything I buy (even Christmas presents). And my tea would go a lot faster if she’d help me drink it.

Cofftea said

My mother is also very hypocritical in doing this because she has always harped me for not drinking enough water. I’m sorry, but I have absolutely no motivation to drink something w/ absolutely no flavor. And now that I do, she still harps me.

rabbysmom said

Ah, mothers! I am one and probably will be guilty of this sort of thing later in life if not already:) But you are probably more hydrated than the average person who doesn’t drink tea, right? I know I am- or at least I think I am- wonder if caffeine offsets “hydration factor”?

Cofftea said

She does harp about the caffeine (and yes, caffeine does dehydrate you0. But she forgets that I resteep my leaves. I also drink coffee and she normally doesn’t have a problem w/ that… although I she does occassionally comment about my tall double shot double bagged dirty chai latte. And she nearly flipped when we went for my bday and I had a coupon for a free drink so I ordered a venti quad (no tea bags in that one, just a 4 pump (each) upside down caramel mocha)… but come on, it was free so not ordering a venti would be pretty stupid. I’m absolutely shocked she hasn’t asked about the caffeine content in matcha…

Carolyn said

Apparently the caffeine as a dehydrating agent in drinks has been disproven. From the Nutrition Diva (I’ve seen this cited several other places as well):

“Dr. Grandjean has demonstrated that if you regularly drink caffeinated beverages, the diuretic effects are almost negligible. In other words, if you drink coffee every day, your body retains the same amount of fluid from a cup of coffee as it does from a cup of water.”

Read or listen to the whole thing: http://nutritiondiva.quickanddirtytips.com/how-much-water-should-I-drink.aspx

Cofftea said

-evil laugh*-* Hehe! Yes! Ammo! Thanks Carolyn!:)

Grinnyguy said

Maybe you’re right, but I get very dehydrated, getting headaches and aching kidneys if I drink only tea and no water

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Carolyn said

In all honesty, wine connoisseurs get this reaction as well with an added dollop of an assumption of their snobbishness. Have you considered responding by grabbing one of your tea tins, cuddling it against your chest and murmurring “Precious, precious”?

I get this reaction with everything I become truly interested in, so I’m used to it. But yes, I am getting the same sort of reaction at work.

My beloved, who is used to my obsessive interests, is very supportive of this one. I think he feels that since there is no chance of injury with this particular obsession (in contrast to the “climb mountains alone” phase) and since it is not fattening (as my dedication to truly understanding the intricacies of chocolate was) and since I’m not suggesting that I quit my job and completely dedicate myself to tea (as with many other obsessions) he feels that this one is reasonably safe, cheap, and non-fattening.

As for everyone else, they don’t understand. But people generally don’t understand focused intensity unless it is their own focused intensity.

Cofftea said

My dad and step mom are the only ones who laugh at it. I gave him Adagio’s customer blend It’s Bacon! because I thought he might actually like it- not just because I like tea and he just laughed. I never felt so horrible- well til very recently, but that’s a whole can of worms. Email me if you want to know the story behind that one lol. But then again this is my dad. I still remember the Christmas I was 12. I gave him my wish list- a list of Christian CDs I wanted. His reply, “What can I get you?”. It’s like “Dude! Giving gifts isn’t about giving people what you like!” Although, I do tend to give tea to pretty much anyone who is sick and for people I have no clue what to get them- and the incodent w/ my dad is the only time even that’s backfired.

rabbysmom said

“But people generally don’t understand focused intensity unless it is their own focused intensity.”
So true and very well put- I’ll have to use that one:)

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PeteG said

People collect cars, stamps, cookbooks, rubber stamps, dolls, hats…there are those who take vacations to seek out their most favoured ‘tropical fish’in the amazon jungles…I may have obsessed about some of the previous obsessions…I don’t wish that this string become a rant toward mothers but when my mother asked for a cup of tea after dinner this evening I offered her something different…or should I say ‘original’…yes, tea was loose before that, that, THAT tea bag was invented!!! She did not want anything to do with it…I could tell by the tone in her voice and the look on her face…alas, she relented and accepted a luscious white tea…I thought(assumed wrongly) that this may be a nice time to discuss tea….was I wrong!
…enter stage right…make a loud noise and divert her attention…yes, what were we talking about…yes, the weather…we Canadians obsess about the topic of weather…I digress once again…I guess I should sit, contemplate the Tao of Tea, calm my mind and allow the spirit of the tea to surround my senses and just enjoy! I will try not to allow the “your obsessed with this tea-thing” get to me this year…I wonder how long I can live in this equanimity?

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rabbysmom said

Glad I’m not the only one :) Also glad we have steepster!

Carolyn said

Speaking of that, I’ve been thinking that if anyone is going to be razzed for their “tea obsession” it has to be our Steepster Overlords. Can you imagine being so obsessed by tea that you not only buy lots of tea but are driven to create an entire website devoted to talking about tea? Can you imagine what their mothers are saying?

Of course, I will be the first to thank our Steepster Overlords for their dedication to our tea-soaked cause!

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Cofftea said

I wonder what my ex’s mom would say about my tea obsession. She was born and raised in England. Unfortunately I didn’t start drinking tea til after I dumped her son. Maybe that would have gotten her to actually like me lol.

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gmathis said

I find it odd? ironic? humorous? that the non-junkies in my world think all tea tastes the same.

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Luckily my mother drinks 10+ cups of Lipton a day so she can never cast stones at my tea habits. She does shake her head whenever yet another package from China or Japan arrives though :)

Cofftea said

Which companies do you suggest? I’d love to order directly from China and Japan!

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Cofftea said

Does anyone get the “Why don’t you just drink groccery store bagged?” line? I think drinking tea some people get, but I don’t think a lot of people get drinking loose, making purchases online, etc.

Carolyn said

Since a lot of my samples come in little golden or silver bags, what I normally get is, “Wow! You have nuts can I have some? Oh wait, are you eating cheese? Is that vegan?”

When I tell them it’s tea, they back away. “Oh, tea. I guess that’s… Uh…Gotta go!”

Cofftea said

Haha! Too funny Carolyn.

LENA said

One of my friends found out that I drink tea and invited me over for a little tea party. I was really excited because I didn’t know that we shared the love of tea. When I got to her house she opens her pantry and it’s all grocery store tea bags. I was bummed and felt really snobbish.

My office is finally accustomed to my tea drinking now. At first they thought I was bringing in tins and bags of marijuana. Nice huh?

Cofftea said

Hey at least she shares your love for tea.:) Next time you have an occassion to get her a gift maybe you could get her a tin of loose leaf and paper filters.

Teaspoon said

The other day I was trying to explain to my other half why loose is a ’hole nuther world from bagged tea, when it struck me…I said " Its like your ciggarettes, you dont smoke generics because theyre made from what falls on the floor, its the same with tea..teabags are what they sweep up" ….she now “gets it”.

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rabbysmom said

I think it’s also the American culture mostly. Everyone is so into coffee here and tea seems so “foreign” to most people.

rabbysmom said

I remember fondly visiting England back in college and ordering a pot of tea- it was so normal!

Cofftea said

Is it hard to find tea other than black in England? All I really know about tea in England is English breakfast lol.

Grinnyguy said

Tea in the US is much more varied than tea in England. There are places that do more interesting tea for sure, but the tea scene is not a good one. White tea means tea with milk and tea without sugar sometimes gets commented on as being strange.
I mainly buy my tea online because there are so few good sources of tea on the high street

Cofftea said

Awww! That makes me wanna cry, Grinnyguy!:( So then maybe my ex’s mom wouldn’t be so impressed as I thought or hoped…

Cofftea said

@Rabbysmom, I agree- I think I get less flack for loose leaf than I do unsweetened iced tea.

Grinnyguy said

Well most people in the UK drink several cups of tea per day so it’s good from that point of view, they just don’t drink a large variety of stuff, and while most of it is nicer than Lipton, it’s not loose leaf or good quality

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although my mom is an avid coffee drinker and wont drink tea, she will always ask me “would u like some coffee or tea?” and she bought a teapot for when i visit so i can have tea. my father drinks tea and coffee. he’ll always ask “oo what are you making?” he gets interested. my 21yr old sister drinks as much tea as me so were like oo look what i got and we trade and share. my little sister (12 going on 21) doesn’t like the taste but wants to be like me so she will have hot cocoa when i have tea. my fiance doesnt care as long as it has a home in our home thats all that matters :) i have a very tea supportive circle around me :)

Cofftea said

Your post gave me warm fuzzies! How wonderful that your mom supports and encourages your tea drinking even though she doesn’t join you in it. It’s great that you have an interested parent as well as a sibling to join you (drinking tea alone is actually quite depressing for me a lot of the time). And what a blessing that you can be such a positive role model in tea and everything else to your little sister!

:D i have had my little sister try my teas because she is so interested and shes not one of those kids thats like “eww i dont like that im not trying it” she will try it and make a decision based on that. she likes my cinnamon w/ cream and sugar because it doesnt taste much like tea after the cream and sugar have been added lol.
ive been pretty lucky my parents have been very supportive of everything as ive grown up (they let me dye all my hair blue when i was 14. purple when i was 15. and pierce my ears a whole ton.) because of their supportivness i think i grew out of alot of things VERY quick (got over my “my parents are the worst people in the world” when i was 13)
i agree that drinking tea alone is depressing which is y ill always make my fiancee a cup of his fav vanilla when i make myself something even if he doesnt want it lol.

PeteG said

Cofftea, The blessing is You! And, as we sit alone sometimes by our computers with a steeming pot of tea and our favourite cup filled with the elixir of life we are not alone…just as you may take the time to say a prayer or two you know that someone else is saying one too – as with when we bring the edge of the warm cup to our lips and the hot broth fills our senses, remember this, that another somewhere in Steepster Land is enjoying the broth too….maybe alone, but not really. This cup is for those who do not understand our love for tea and the comraderie we feel as we come together.
Blessings – are the moments between every breath. Let’s enjoy!

gmathis said

Very, very, very well said, PeteG!

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