This is Not a commentary on official "Chado" but does contain some short helpful thoughts about Tea and many examples.

About a year ago I became very interested in tea. Due to "GERD" I had to consider not drinking soda, coffee or sweet drinks. The Chinese and Japanese teas then became an answer. As a matter of fact, I was so surprised at how appalled the Chinese are at adding sugar and milk. From mainly dumping soda, apple and orange juice, and coffee I now have lost about 20 lbs and feel better.
As a thought: Before enlightenment, soak leaves, drink tea. After enlightenment soak leaves, drink tea - but hopefully enjoy it more.

True Tea is is an infusion made by steeping processed leaves, buds, or twigs of the tea bush, Camellia sinensis, in hot water for a few minutes(1) The "herbal tea" should more properly be called Tisanes.

Tea Types are broken down into White teas, Green Teas, Oolong Teas, and Black Teas. All should be soaked for about 3 to 5 minutes. The black teas like 200f, Oolongs about 185F, the greens and whites about 175F.and 140F for fancy Japenese green.

I love Loose tea. Making tea with loose tea is relaxing and mediative. It is fun to see the tea diffuse through the water. Making tea is also easier at a desk. You don't need a coffee pot or even a water bioiler. A thermos of hot water will do!

A fun rough and ready way to get an off boil water seems to be to run the microwave on water for about 2 mintutes per cup of water. But I am told by friends at ls.net that I might do in my mcirowave coil, so they suggest a pot. The japanese even make a nifty water cooler pot.

You can find tea from the grocery stores, fancy whole foods stores, asian marts, indian marts, and online. Unfortunatly with many of the online deals you have to find a few of your friends to share because they ship in quantify.

And I love loose tea over tea bags. All you really need to get started making tea is a microwavable cup (even a pyrex measuring cup) and a clean for tea use only nylon coffee filter. But stores also sell tea balls and tea strainers and tea pots with strainers.

Some Tasty Examples:

White Tea

White tea without flavoring tastes a little bit like water with caffene in it. The flavor is so delicate. And although this is fancy, it isn't for me. But it might be for you. An example of some whilte tea that one cannot go wrong with is:
Rishi White Snow Bud

Here are two fine examples of a whilte tea with some flavoring. They really good. A teaspoon of leaves can be used twice making 2cups of tea. It needs no sugar, but with sugar. The Peach Blossom tastes better than the Snapple White tea product (which I like a lot). And the Plum Berry tastes much like plum wine without the alcohol
Rishi White Peach Blossom Rishi Plum Berry

Green Tea:

I love Jasmine tea, often found at resturants. A friend recommends these:
Numi Jasmine Tea Rishi Jasmine Tea

I am told that Dragonwell (Long Jing) is excellent. It is said that this was the personal favorite of the yellow emperor!
Numi dragonwell tea

An included for reference an example Japanese sencha tea:
Japanese Green Tea

Oolong / Wulong Tea

Oolong Tea is the same as Wulong Tea. Mainland China just changed how Chinese Characters are translated into English. Don't let anyone tell you differently! Oolong is in the news recently because two studies show that it has most of the anti-oxidant properties of Green Tea, is an appetite suppresent good for dieters, and has been shown to repair internal organ damage. Oprah also recently popularized it. Oolong Tea is a semi fermented tea. It has many variations from tasting like a green tea, to tasting like a black tea. I have read in many places that Roasted Oolong is Taiwanese comfort food. I started on the Oolong quest because I was drinking Ta-Hung-Pao .. a strong smoky mellow Oolong and a Taiwanese co-worker asked me what tea I was drinking. I answered Oolong. He replied .that's not Oolong ..or at least not Taiwanese Oolong. The Taiwanese green varieties taste much like green tea, but not as harsh. The golden Oolong varieties have a smooth mellow taste good for the afternoon.Ti Kwan Yin tea it is also an Oolong. Oolongs are good for lunch, afternoon,dinner or late evening. I find them strong for mid morning. Once in awhile one can score a huge bag, like listed below - good to share with friends!

Black Tea

We know these best as the English Teas served with milk and sugar .. but some drink them black as a new moon at midngiht! One cannot go wrong with Twinnings English Breakfast tea and some Half and Half milk. Or perhaps find an Indian Assam for richer flavor!

Morning Breakfast Teas often served with milk and sugar
Twinnings English Breakfast Tea
Twinnings Irish Breakfast Tea

Indian Style - also often served with milk and sugar
Numi Assam Indian Spiced Chai

Chinese Restaurant Style (also see the Jasmine tea above) - do not use milk and sugar
Twinings Prince of Whales Tea
Good Earth Black Tea with Apricots and Ginger

And for a truly unique tea experience, very dark and smoky - drink it black, although some say it can take milk
Twinnings Lapsang Souchong

ps.
Thermos:

I own and love the 16oz Nissan, and wished I had the 34oz one:
Nissan 16oz Breafcase Bottle
Nissan 34oz Breafcase Bottle

I desperately wanted a temperature controlled electric water boiler / tea kettle. After much searching, the only brand I could find that one could set the temperature was Zojrushi. I demurred.. I find I can do well enough with a Microwave or regular electric kettle and letting the water set a bit. Zojirushi is also famous for their rice pots. I would REALLY like one of these, a 3 cup model with Micro-computerized Fuzzy logic technology. They came down drastically in price so I might buy one:
Zojirushi 3cup Induction Rice Cooker

comments by Zojirushi.com on Japanese tea:
http://www.zojirushi.com/funfunfun/taste/taste_tea2.html
http://www.zojirushi.com/ourproducts/elepots/electricpots.html

Enjoy

1. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tea
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tisane