One of the highlights of my time in China was learning how to make green tea.

We spent a week in Lin's home village, a very, very small town on the outskirts of Nanjing. Every time I visit, I feel like I've been transported back to a simpler way of life. Lin's family has a small plot of land where they grow tea, and I'll probably share more about the village in another post, but for now... tea.

I've always loved green tea, but this experience gave me a completely new appreciation for what goes into each cup. We spent hours in the sun picking the leaves, then several more hours preparing and roasting them by hand.

The final result was the freshest green tea I've ever tasted.

We were able to bring home about a half pound, which lasted roughly a month. Every pot became a small reminder of Lin's family, their village, and the time we shared there.

Next time, I'll be packing less clothing and more tea.