My maternal grandmother (shown holding me) was born in Texas, but (perhaps to create a vacuum Stilly River Sage could eventually occupy?) moved around the year 1910 from Texas to Washington State. She was a famous consumer of and advocate for Red Rose tea. In those days (I'm thinking now late 50s to mid-60s of the last century) for us Langendorf Bread-type Seattleites, Red Rose was the only brand of tea generally available except Lipton's, and if she knew it was Lipton's Granny wouldn't touch it. (And I do think one could tell from the taste; don't think there was any way to steep Lipton's so it would taste like even a mediocrely brewed cuppa Red Rose.) However, at home as a child, tea was something we only drank if we were sick enough to stay home from school. This was back in the days when there were still A&P stores in Seattle. (My but I make myself sound old!) However, at some point in my grade school years I discovered and became quite fond of Sassafras tea (which, if it hasn't been mentioned in this thread, has been detailed at some length in previous BS Tea threads hereabouts). I've since heard sassafras implicated in certain cancers, so I may die someday. And in high school, I suppose, I grew fond of a good smoky cup of Lapsang Souchong (I have been hoarding that stash you sent, Stilly, to try it out on this year's Copper River salmon run). These days I prefer hoji-cha, or maybe a genmai-cha if I'm having sushi.

Haruo