Nothing replaces my cup of Hangzhou green tea

Nothing replaces my cup of Hangzhou green tea

Among the rituals I observe every morning when I arrive bleary-eyed to work, nothing perks up my senses more than the moment I open the little cobalt blue canister in my desk drawer and take that first whiff of West Lake Longjing, or " dragon well" tea leaves.

The aroma of those lightly roasted leaves recalls memories of fresh tea on the bushes while meandering through high mountain fields in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Even just wandering through those fields in my mind, prompted by the sight and scent of longjing tea leaves, delights me on the most dreary of days.

My allegiance to the stuff runs so deep that I always prepare a stash of it whenever I travel, eschewing the free Lipton bags in hotel rooms or morning brews at a breakfast buffet for a steaming cup of this treasured tea.

Blame it on my husband Jun, who spoiled my taste buds by introducing me to what has long been his favorite morning ritual.