Photograph copyright: DAVID McMAHON
I grew up in a family where tea leaves were stirred into a teapot of boiling water and tea was poured through a strainer into china teacups. But I have to confess that I have always bought tea bags, simply for convenience.
About fifteen years ago, I interviewed a member of the famous Twinings family, well known for their range of fine tea and the company that was founded three centuries ago. At the start of the interview, I mentioned that I had been to a boarding school in Darjeeling, the Himalayan town famous for its mountain views and its tea gardens.
So at the end of the interview, he said he had a question for me. Fire away, I said.
He asked me how I drank my tea. He said he was confident I drank it black, the way tea is intended to be drunk by connoisseurs.
Er, no, I confessed, I actually stir some condensed milk into my cup of tea. Being British, he was remarkably restrained in his reaction. He just raised one eyebrow. I didn't have the heart to tell him I don't use "real" loose tea leaves either.
(The Odd Shots concept came from Katney. Say "G'day" to her.)
