Today, June 12th, is unusually hot in Assam. Normally, temperatures here don’t cross 35°C until July. But as times have changed and our attitudes toward the environment have become more “modern,” it seems we’re speeding up climate change faster than we can adapt. Right now, my home thermometer reads 37°C, but it feels like 47°C. This is not a good sign.
I live near a national highway where most of the trees have been cut down during the road construction. Now, looking out my window during the day is almost painful because of the harsh sunlight. Even the nights are not much cooler. Street lights keep the surroundings bright, and our homes feel lit up all night. This only adds to the rising temperatures.
Sometimes, I worry whether my child and future generations, Gen Alpha, Gen Beta, and beyond, will ever experience the Earth as livable as we did in our childhood. Air conditioners were once a luxury, but now having an AC in every room seems normal. I wonder how birds, animals, and plants will cope with these rapid climate changes.
What about tea cultivation? Recently, I read a 2024 article that discussed this issue in detail. It explained that tea cultivation is highly dependent on climate, and the impacts of climate change are already visible in major tea-growing regions like Assam, Kenya, and Sri Lanka.
These are worrying times. While there are small steps and habits we can change, and perhaps we are already making some positive changes, it feels like individual efforts are not enough right now. The world needs larger, coordinated action from global organisations. Until then, let’s appreciate what we have and remember what we might lose in the future.
Today is a hot summer evening, and I’m sitting at my home office desk. These thoughts have weighed heavily on my mind, making it hard to focus. Maybe it’s time for a quick cup of hot tea. Black, with a slice of lime. The idea of drinking hot tea on a scorching day might seem strange to some, but ask any tea lover, and sometimes, a hot cup of black tea cools you down. Funny, isn’t it?
The other day, my wife showed me a meme: “Typical people drink cola, soda, or coconut water on a hot summer day. Legends get stuck in the kitchen just to brew a cup of tea.” I’m no legend, but I am a tea lover. Still, standing by the stove for long isn’t tempting in this heat.
So, what do I do? I use the fastest way to prepare Assam Tea possible. Here’s how:
- Boil water in a kettle.
- While the water heats, put a teaspoon of Assam tea leaves in a strainer.
- Place your cup under the strainer.
- Once the water boils, pour a little over the leaves and let it drain into the sink for 2 to 3 seconds to rinse the leaves until the leaves give out their colour.
- Pour the rest of the hot water over the leaves and let the tea brew directly into your cup.
- Enjoy!!
Last time I checked, this took me just 30 seconds. It’s hard to make tea any faster! For comparison, the Guinness World Record for making five mugs of tea is 11.20 seconds. While I’m not breaking any records, my method gets the job done, a hot cup of Assam Black Tea, ready to sip and savour.
Give it a try!!
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