Tea time!

My tea consumption has been somewhat ghetto for a while. In later summer, I basically used a pot without a proper handle to boil water, then I added 1 teaspoon of loose tea leaves to it. Then I poured it into a cup from the pot.  Very simple, but I've wanted something nicer for a little while, like a neat electric kettle, an insulated tea glass (like the Bodum ones a friend invested in), and a travelling flask.   Why?  To save energy, to prolong delicious warmth, and to have tea on the go.  That's not so superfluous, now.

Today, my favourite tea shop, Bon Thé Place, had a table on campus and were selling directly to the students.  I thought that was amazing.  Ever eagre to support my favourite tea shop ever, I purchased my first chai tea, Vanilla Spice Chai (to accompany my Earl Grey Cream, Bancha green tea, and Keenum/Keemun (:D) Congou Deluxe), and then saw a dream come true: a well-sealed travel flask with insulating jacket and built-in strainer!

Travel Buddy travel flask and new Vanilla Spice Chai tea

There it is.  The colour on that image is awful is because I have the camera set to sunlight mode.  HA.  The jacket is a very dark blue.  I'd rather purple, but oh well.  The flask is rated to handle temperatures from -30°C to 137°C. 

Flask without insulating jacket; note the strainer at the bottom

It has a beautiful strainer at the bottom.  So, I flip the flask upside down, I put tea leaves into the strainer, and then pour the hot water (still from a pot, no kettle yet) through the strainer to fill the bottle.  Then seal the bottom, and flip it back over and let it steep. :D  The straining is not very important to me as I don't mind drinking loose leaves, but I suppose it can be nice for cleaning.

Note the straw and the pretty bubbles

The straw is made of a rubber.  I just tried my first sip which unfortunately tasted like rubber.  I've poured most of the tea into a cup now and am drinking it from there, and will hope that the straw loses its rubbery taste after a few washes. :)

Finally, the flask can make itself effectively invisible when travelling in the jungle.  Often, jungle bandits, snakes, or tigers might stalk you for your tea.  Now, I can reverse the jacket to camouflage it with the surrounding jungle foliage.  That way, I may be mauled to death, but they'll never get my still-hot tea.

You can reverse the jacket into camo mode.  I bet you cannot sea the flask now!