Those who've been regularly reading my posts, know that I prefer the bitter bean based beverage over the leafy kind, as the first has been primarily highlighted. That doesn't mean I don't savor a cup of tea once in a while though.
Tea for me is something nostalgic and brings me back to drinking it in my great-grandmother's kitchen or living room. Without sugar and no milk, because that used to be for "rich folk" in her time. And then there's the benefits of drinking tea: acts as an antioxidant, boosts immune system and fights off inflammation.
With that in mind, I ordered a plate of crispy Peking duck with cabbage and fried noodles - instead of rice - on the side and @rarej ordered the beef in Szechuan sauce, also with fried noodles at a walk-in restaurant we frequent a lot. The duck was crispy, juicy and umami and the beef dish on par as usual. After we finished our meals, I felt a little bloated and we had some time to spare before our next appointment, so I ordered a cup of Jasmine tea.
At first glance it didn't look like the price corresponded with what we got, as we received an ordinary glass of hot water with a regular (Jasmine) teabag. Nothing special. Only after sipping the hot leaf based beverage, we were reminded of the power a regular cup of tea has and I felt the bloaty feeling getting less and less after every drop.