New Delhi, April 5 -- Standing before my cupboard, I spy an unopened packet, an Assam GABA tea (Tailor Made Teas) I got from a tea swap I did a few months ago. I have not had it before but it came with the promise of a story, and that was enough.

My starting brew for any tea is almost always the same: 2-3g ( 1-2 tsp) of leaves, boiling water, steeping time of 3-4 minutes. Based on how this tastes, I make any further adjustments-more tea, longer or shorter steeping times or water temperature. This has always worked for me, unless it's a green tea, which needs less steeping time and lower water temp. I brewed the GABA Assam oolong in my usual way. As oolong, it is semi-fermented but had dark well rolled leaves. But the flavours reminded me...