@jamahir, God bless you, fellow purist. Forgive me, and thank you for pointing out the errors of my ways.
There are three twinings boxes actually, top shelf left is masala chai, quite potable, fine if you're in a hurry and just want to drop a teabag into a mug or small pot. Middle shelf right is a classic earl grey loose leaf. Decent enough, well balanced. Bottom shelf right is a ginger green tea, technically quite low in caffeine, but as you might know, ginger has that wakeful effect, almost lasts as long as caffeine at that.
How could I forget suleymani chai! That's made from dried Persian lemons is it not? I've a bottle of those top shelf right :-B
In terms of South African tea, roiboos isn't the same plant, it's a caffeine free red bush. If you're going to try it, my recommendation would be a blend that includes almond flakes and coconut to offset the oddness of the thing. Its a herbal tea, though. Fine in the evening. David's carries some great roiboos blends, please avoid pomegranate roiboos, it's heinously astringent.
Incidentally pomegranate is the key ingredient in Grenadine, that syrup made from Persian or lebnani anaars. Extremely astringent, though 1-2 drops with honey in your Persian chai eliminates the need for sugar.
The device depicted is a Cuisinart automatic kettle that boils water at temperatures correct for all types of tea including white, delicate, green, oolong and black. It is a must for those too lazy to use thermometers. Its a modern take on the samovar, in the sense that it does have a hold warm function. It just lifts off the base, no need to unplug. Solid instrument, only complaint is the blur LEDs, jarring and tacky. Would rather these be green, Amber or purple. Would not be averse to selectable colours.
What a glorious place Bangalore sounds like for the tea man. A place that understands the culture of the thing. Though it is regrettable that a place with a name as legendary as infinitea was lost to the ravages of time. It must rise again from the ashes, like a phoenix.
I shall bravr the elements of the frozen doom-scape that is Montreal in these hostile winter months, as our fallen brethren no doubt did on their donkeys along that ancient tea house road connecting India to China. I shall document my favourite emporiums witth care and deliberation, and if you're reading this, I invite you to do the same in your fine city, town, or secluded mountain village, where, doubtless wonders abound.
Always,
Dropkix
all those silly coffee shops opening up... 
but tea lovers in bangalore will find a few tea houses still, including "cuppa"... and "woody's" on commercial street makes good masala tea ( go to the top floor seating area, good quiet atmosphere, drink and talk ).
![MuZammiL Dr. s[1]n](/data/avatars/s/32/32258.jpg?1370382459){kind=avatar}
