Good morning, dear tea friends! This morning’s tea is a special, hand-crafted tea from an area nestled in the mountains of the Nilgiri district at the southern tip of India. Called Avataa Twirl tea, the name of this green tea means “fresh” in Sanskrit.

Grown at the Billimalai estate at an elevation of 6,400 feet, this tea is “specially crafted to form distinctive twirls, these vibrant golden green leaves brew to form a mildly astringent cup with a mellow and earthy aftertaste.”

The leaves are enormous and just stunningly full and intact. I steeped them for 3 minutes in 180F water.

Look at that beautiful leaf set!

As I poured my first cup, a fresh, clean vegetal aroma wafted up from my glass teapot. The greenish, straw-colored liquor has a strong vegetal flavor with a light undertone of fruit.

I love the pattern inside my wonky shaped teabowl. The color of this tea is so light that the “road” clearly shows as I enjoy my cuppa.

It’s a rainy weekend, perfect for curling up with a pot of tea and working on my web design class!

“Don’t wait for inspiration. It comes while working.” ~Henri Matisse