Obsession with tea

My relationship with tea has moved into an obsession for three reasons, 1) I prefer loose tea brewed in a teapot to bag tea 2) I time how long the tea brews and 3) I buy my tea at a snooty place in Carytown paying upwards of $8 for 2 oz. I have yet to measure the temperature of the water though which would move my habits from obsession to straight up craziness.

LSO's business travel seems to be feeding my obsession. Last year he traveled to India and brought me back some wonderful Darjeeling leaves. In May he is going to China. I am using the trip as an excuse to test out some teas. China is home to white, oolong, and pur-eh in addition to black (they call it red tea though due to the color of the tea when it is brewed) and green teas. I am trying oolong first. Tea research is so exciting!