Any tea purist will tell you that traveling with tea is an adventure. Imagine a customs official, empowered but woefully leaf-challenged, mistaking our beloved camellia sinensis leaf for another type of illegal leaf.
Before any scoffing ensues, please know that in some countries this mistake may lead to the traveler going to jail or worse. After carefully calculating this risk against the possibility of drinking a foul liquid masquerading as tea… enough said. We tea aficionados learn to pack well.
Travel = Trip + Time
For all travel teaches us about ourselves and others, it is worth the effort. Travel, however, requires determination to reach the destination. Remember when both domestic and international travel were very simple? For example:
- Pick a destination
- Pay for airline, train and/or bus ticket
- Carry a passport
- Go
Now we add these travel security upgrades:
- Receive travel disruption notices after ticket purchase
- Facilitate undergarment scan via shoes and belt removal
- Pray to avoid overexposure to cancer and/or scan photo sale
- Carry an enhanced drivers license and a passport
- Answer all questions respectfully without sarcasm and/or humor
- Run
Finding Tea (Trouver Du Thé)
After a safe arrival there is a keen sense of achievement (and relief). Now… where’s that tea?
Thankfully, there is a global contingent of tea drinkers willing to share their favorite tea locations. For example, I asked my Twitter tea family about the Montréal tea scene which led to a post-worthy tea experience.
Some individuals prefer to do loads of research and planning. Others prefer spontaneity. I’m balanced and let my fingers do the walking across my iPhone. Here are a few favorite tea travel apps:
- Twitter (www.twitter.com)
- Zagat (www.zagat.com)
- Urbanspoon (www.urbanspoon.com)
Here’s hoping that wherever your travel plans lead, may the destination include a pot of refreshing tea. Cups up!
