Readin' the tea leaves

While Jordan thinks I'm a typical domestic beer swillin' redneck, I must admit I am attempting to "rethink my drink".

I have been a Mountain Dew drinker for at least three quadrillion years, and unfortunately, it started to show. In addition, a recent checkup showed that my cholesterol was a bit too high, which from all the consumption of corn syrup and carbonated water, I wasn't too surprised. So, I swore off my once best friend (except for once on the weekend).

But, how to cure the headaches that commonly occur when coming off that sugar/caffiene high? My new found friends are the folks at Gong Fu Tea in the East Village, and their magic tea leaves.

Back in February I stopped by to check it out. I came home with a sampler pack of various teas. When I swore off the yellow, I started consuming the tea for breakfast. Soon I ran out, so yesterday morning I placed an order online. Today in the mail I get a nice box with my purchases. Turkish Tea, Kilimanjaro, Marrakech Market, and Mao Feng - haven't tried them before, but they smell and look great. Sure, the stuff costs more than tea you can get at the local store, but each cup is still cheaper than a 20 oz Dew.

I like the way the Gong Fu guys do business - high quality products with great service. They include handwritten instructions on the packages to get the most out of your tea. It is obvious they love their work.

Does this mean I'm becoming a foo-foo cityfied liberal? Is a Prius going to replace the Chevy 3/4 ton HD 4x4? Not a chance. I'm willing to try something different once in a while. Just because you're conservative doesn't mean you're an intellectual neanderthal, right?

Maybe some Mao Feng with a tall boy of Miller High Life, eh?