Tea Leaves

Just one of many mouth-watering stops on the Epicurean Trek through Perth County is Tea Leaves – a close encounter of the tea kind. Karen Hartwick (in red) is a member of that most rare fraternity of “Tea Sommeliers” - and to spend some time with her in a tutored tea tasting, as I did, is a revelation. White Peony, Organic Precious Eyebrow, Japanese Sencha, Organic Phoenix Oolong, Soom Darjeeling, Yunnan Black Needle, Al Shan oolong and 2 year old Pu-erh…all different in taste and colour from each other, and all immensely superior to your average cuppa. The amazing thing is the wide variety of taste that comes from essentially the same plant leaf. The secret is the environment in which the plant grows and the way the tea is picked and handled……