[Gesturing to the counter next to him, as he tips small portions of various tea leaves into little cups.]
And see. The differences are visible. With the exception of these two- all of these tea leaves came from similar plants. The differences between a green, a black, and a white tea are how the leaves are treated.
Too complicated. But knowing helps you understand how to steep them. See the white tea? It's delicate- incredibly delicate. This one has a little peony in it. So, it steeps in cool water, for only a few moments.
[He adds water to the white tea, before going to place the pot back on the heat. Enough for a few sips each.]
The green teas have a little more variety- this one is made with entirely the leaf of the plant, so it's much more fragile. It only needs the water a little hotter than this. The next one is infused with jasmine. Look, you can see the white flakes- those are the petals. Smell.
[She's listening, though, and when he offers the cup she takes it delicately, ducking her head to close her eyes and smell. The slight smile she affects is unconscious. It reminds her of home, the scent of the tea shops she'd passed in Ba Sing Se, and she brushes her thumb affectionately against the handle of the tea cup.]
[He reaches for the teapot again, now that the water is warm enough for the greens.]
The other three are a black tea, a rooibos, and a chamomile- they should be steeped at boiling point, so we'll try this while the water warms the rest of the way.
I see people go home all the time, but it's hard to imagine it ever actually happening.
[That's her agreeing with you, Break. She nods at that second part, watching the water, before looking back up to him and smiling a little lopsidedly.]
Maybe I'll manage to remember some of this and impress Iroh.
I believe we go home. There are no doubts in my mind about it.
[That's the thing about Katara. Her often unflappable determination and hope is typically pretty steadfast, and sometimes annoying. She means what she says, though. After a moment, she perks up and smiles at him.]
This is really delicious, Break. Did you learn it growing up, or was it something someone in Adstring taught you?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[offline]
[Immediately going to his cupboard. Break has amassed quite the collection of tea leaves over the year.]
[offline]
That's an impressive display, considering what Adstring usually gives us to work with.
[offline]
[He explains, selecting down a few tins.]
Tea is not simply tea, Katara.
[offline]
Then what else is it?
[offline]
[Gesturing to the counter next to him, as he tips small portions of various tea leaves into little cups.]
And see. The differences are visible. With the exception of these two- all of these tea leaves came from similar plants. The differences between a green, a black, and a white tea are how the leaves are treated.
[offline]
And you treat them yourself?
Re: [offline]
Too complicated. But knowing helps you understand how to steep them. See the white tea? It's delicate- incredibly delicate. This one has a little peony in it. So, it steeps in cool water, for only a few moments.
[Reaching for the only-just steaming kettle.]
[offline]
How long have you been here, Break?
Re: [offline]
[He adds water to the white tea, before going to place the pot back on the heat. Enough for a few sips each.]
The green teas have a little more variety- this one is made with entirely the leaf of the plant, so it's much more fragile. It only needs the water a little hotter than this. The next one is infused with jasmine. Look, you can see the white flakes- those are the petals. Smell.
[Offering her the cup of leaves.]
[offline]
[She's listening, though, and when he offers the cup she takes it delicately, ducking her head to close her eyes and smell. The slight smile she affects is unconscious. It reminds her of home, the scent of the tea shops she'd passed in Ba Sing Se, and she brushes her thumb affectionately against the handle of the tea cup.]
I had no idea.
[offline]
[He reaches for the teapot again, now that the water is warm enough for the greens.]
The other three are a black tea, a rooibos, and a chamomile- they should be steeped at boiling point, so we'll try this while the water warms the rest of the way.
[offline]
[That's her agreeing with you, Break. She nods at that second part, watching the water, before looking back up to him and smiling a little lopsidedly.]
Maybe I'll manage to remember some of this and impress Iroh.
[offline]
[Break... isn't convinced. But he strains the white peony, and offers her the cup.]
Someone properly invested in it would have all sorts of ceremony- I just like the taste.
[offline]
You think home might not be where we go?
[offline]
[offline]
[That's the thing about Katara. Her often unflappable determination and hope is typically pretty steadfast, and sometimes annoying. She means what she says, though. After a moment, she perks up and smiles at him.]
This is really delicious, Break. Did you learn it growing up, or was it something someone in Adstring taught you?
[offline]
[Offering her the first green.]