Loco Location

I have made Chinese tea in some strange circumstances.
While I have never made it in the grand canyon or while riding a bicycle, I have made it in hotel rooms, using the coffee makers to heat the water and a cup-warmer to get a little extra heat. This is not a recommended method — this is an example of “desperate” circumstances!

When using coffee makers to heat tea water, it is important to take away all components that have old leftover essence of coffee, for example the attachment that holds the filter. The lid to the coffee pot must be removed as well.

Of course the taste of the tea will definitely be compromised in these circumstances. I was limited by airline weight restrictions on luggage, as I have so much equipment to pack for work. When traveling, if I can bring my little electric tea kettle, the quality of the travel tea is greatly improved. If I can get decent water, it is just like home.

Today in the trailer at the circus I had to use a microwave to heat the water. I do not have a tray here, so the dribbles go all over the table. The tea, however, turned out well, and I had about 12 cups throughout the morning and afternoon. I have come to love my cup warmer.

I will have to bring my electric tea kettle to the trailer here, though, since I really don’t groove on the microwave thing. There is no vessel here in which to heat water on the stove, and the propane supply is inconsistent.

Once I stayed in a hotel where there was not even a coffee maker. Before bed I set up my cup warmer. I put pu-erh tea and cold water in my yixing tea pot, and left it on the warmer for the night. In the morning my tea was hot and strong…yumm..only one little pot full, but better than no tea at all.