How could Russian Caravan Tea have eluded me for the 300-some years? I’ve only just discovered the stuff, and I’ve been a tea-drinker my entire life. (British parentage, don’tcha know—been on the hard stuff like English Breakfast and Earl Grey since the womb).

Bought a half pound of loose Russian Caravan at Willoughby’s on Grove Street Saturday and brewed my first pot the following morning. Strong and dark, but doesn’t get bitter after a few hours as a lot of tough teas do. This is important to my regimen because for Christmas I got a huge teapot (not to mention a coffee table). I fill up that immense kettle in the morning and sip from it all day.

Looked up Russian Caravan online and besides how I just described it, it’s apparently supposed to be “smoky.” One of those tea (and wine, and cheese) words I don’t understand. Am I supposed to light it on fire? Did I buy incense, thinking it was tea? Do I have to chase down some long-departed caravan to find out?