On my first day here at Tulane SPHTM, I have come to the fast realization that tea is hardly welcome. Lipton iced tea is OK, loose leaf tea us not! The cafe staff seemed perplexed that I was seeking hot water and conveniently realized there was a hw spiggot on one of the coffee makers. I can slip behind the counter and take a hit of water but jeeez it is HOT! I don’t think a Starbucks barista could have provided a less tea friendly water! I only filled half way and let it steep for 70 seconds then dumped in some filtered water I brought in a water bottle. I think I may have found a balance but the process is definitely more involved than it might be in a tea/coffee centric location. Worse still, the next closest location is the med school and hospital cafeteria. After that… One mile down Canal St to a coffee shop in the French quarter. I can see a whole string of tea related posts down the pipe.

As a side note, the Irish Breakfast tea from The Green Grind in Redmond WA was incredible for the first three steeps and lost it’s flavor come number four. It was great and a happy deviation form the typical Irish I drink. I am currently on a mug of Pelindaba Jian Green tea with fresh organic lavender. It is a staple in my diet and the lavender settles me from some of the cultural frustrations. I can see how adaptation IS a skill for survival of the fittest. I have arrived at Darwinian references to my coping mechanisms, a new low.