“If he is English he would ask for second flush Darjeeling to show he knows what he is talking about.”
My recent revisions to Molto Mayhem have led my main characters to a tea salon in Salerno so I have found myself in need of tea facts. For date night this weekend then, my husband and I found ourselves at Tao of Tea, a tea house in Portland. After enjoying a lovely cup of relaxing and rejuvenating Ayurvedic tea blend called Vata-Dosha,we proceeded next door to the loose tea shop and were fortunate enough to encounter a wonderfully knowledgeable salesperson, Claudia.
Rather than make me feel like a bother for asking my myriad of tea questions, she seemed to jump right into the adventure, somehow nailing my hero’s character without me even describing him. Indeed, Aiden would have been thrilled to show off his tea knowledge and supreme Bristishness for Lucia.
Research like this is one of the reasons I adore writing. Later I asked my husband if the topic were interesting to him (rather than enduring my botanical tea information overload) he would ever enjoy this aspect of writing. I have tried for a while to convince him to write…. But have come to the conclusion that this happens only when someone is ready. Still, I’m not against a little persuasion, and this aspect of writing is often hidden from aspiring authors.
My characters have led me on many strange and wonderful journeys. I have paced the parking lot of an airport, written words in the sand at a beach, re-created a recipe of sardines and rare roast beef on grilled bread, chatted online with football fans about kicker training regimens, and spoken with grief counselors, along this journey. Along the way I have discovered things I never knew about each of these subjects or environments. Of course my favorite research is when I get to visit some of my most beloved places, like my trip to Montalcino, Italy. It is the subjects I am not expecting to learn about, though, that have the strongest impact on me and also end up being the ones that
strengthen and bind my stories.
In this case I never expected to find myself researching Hippocrates theory of the Four Humors of the body; never expected it would lead to learning more than I ever wanted to know about Culpepper’s herbal remedies; and certainly never imagined I would discover a tea blend, Vata-Dosha, which would, indeed, allow me a whole day of lightness, creativity and contentment with my daughter.
Do you have a favorite tea? Is it for taste or healing aspect? I’d love to hear all about it, so leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Happy Journeys - Deanne
My recent revisions to Molto Mayhem have led my main characters to a tea salon in Salerno so I have found myself in need of tea facts. For date night this weekend then, my husband and I found ourselves at Tao of Tea, a tea house in Portland. After enjoying a lovely cup of relaxing and rejuvenating Ayurvedic tea blend called Vata-Dosha,we proceeded next door to the loose tea shop and were fortunate enough to encounter a wonderfully knowledgeable salesperson, Claudia.
Rather than make me feel like a bother for asking my myriad of tea questions, she seemed to jump right into the adventure, somehow nailing my hero’s character without me even describing him. Indeed, Aiden would have been thrilled to show off his tea knowledge and supreme Bristishness for Lucia.
Research like this is one of the reasons I adore writing. Later I asked my husband if the topic were interesting to him (rather than enduring my botanical tea information overload) he would ever enjoy this aspect of writing. I have tried for a while to convince him to write…. But have come to the conclusion that this happens only when someone is ready. Still, I’m not against a little persuasion, and this aspect of writing is often hidden from aspiring authors.
My characters have led me on many strange and wonderful journeys. I have paced the parking lot of an airport, written words in the sand at a beach, re-created a recipe of sardines and rare roast beef on grilled bread, chatted online with football fans about kicker training regimens, and spoken with grief counselors, along this journey. Along the way I have discovered things I never knew about each of these subjects or environments. Of course my favorite research is when I get to visit some of my most beloved places, like my trip to Montalcino, Italy. It is the subjects I am not expecting to learn about, though, that have the strongest impact on me and also end up being the ones that
strengthen and bind my stories.
In this case I never expected to find myself researching Hippocrates theory of the Four Humors of the body; never expected it would lead to learning more than I ever wanted to know about Culpepper’s herbal remedies; and certainly never imagined I would discover a tea blend, Vata-Dosha, which would, indeed, allow me a whole day of lightness, creativity and contentment with my daughter.
Do you have a favorite tea? Is it for taste or healing aspect? I’d love to hear all about it, so leave me a comment and let me know what you think. Happy Journeys - Deanne
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