So, yesterday I decided to mess around with something different in the kitchen, not my usual baking experiments, but brewing some Oolong tea. Yeah, I know, quite a leap from cakes and cookies, but hey, a guy’s gotta have his tea, right?

First off, I dug out this old teapot my aunt gave me years ago, which I’d never used. I always thought it was just for show. Turns out, it’s perfect for this kind of thing. Then, I grabbed the Oolong tea leaves I bought online. They looked a bit weird, all curled up and dark, not like the usual tea bags I chuck in a mug.

I heated up some water, but not to boiling. I remembered reading somewhere that you shouldn’t use boiling water for Oolong, something about it scalding the leaves. I poured the water over the leaves in the teapot and let it sit there for a couple of minutes. The smell was something else, kind of flowery but also a bit earthy. It was like having a garden in my kitchen.

• Rinse and Repeat: I poured out the first brew into a cup and took a sip. It was light and had this sweet aftertaste. But here’s the kicker, I learned you could use the same leaves for another brew, and another, and another! Each time, the flavor changed a bit, getting a bit stronger or sometimes more mellow.
• Experimenting: I played around with the brewing time and the amount of water. It’s like a mini science experiment. Too long, and it gets bitter; too short, and it’s like flavored water.

After a few tries, I think I’ve got the hang of it. I made a cup for my wife this morning, and she actually liked it. Said it was better than the stuff we buy from the shop. So, I guess I’m an Oolong brewer now? Who would have thought?

Anyway, it was a fun little adventure. It’s amazing how much there is to learn about something as simple as tea. I’m thinking of trying other types now. Maybe green tea next, or should I go for something darker like black tea? We’ll see. For now, I’m just enjoying my cup of homemade Oolong.