TBT - Business Trip to Malaysia

So I went on a business trip to Malaysia again a few weeks ago (and I'll be doing it a couple more times this year), and naturally, had a few cuppas along the way.

Here's how it went -

Due to some early stresses, my first cuppa was at the airport - Paris CDG. Disappointingly small terminal, but hooray for an EXKI. I really like that healthy takeaway brand.

Really, really decent sized cuppa for 3€. Enjoyable black tea, more reminiscent of Earl and Lady Grey than the stronger black teas, quite floral. Good and hot and just what you need after a stressful morning. (the moelleux cake was good too)

Posh linen teabag, a bit slow to infuse, but worth it. 

Oh, and the terminal has a Kusmi Tea shop! So much tea in one small shop! 

 KLM flight #1 - short mini hop from Paris to Schiphol - impressed they had time to go down the plane and hand out snack packs and drinks.

Small tea, quite strong, poured from a thermos. Good temperature. Wondered if it would be the same for the long haul flight as well. 

Pit-stop in Schiphol - managed to get into the KLM lounge thanks to a colleague - nice place, free tea!

No point showing pics of the long haul flight tea - it was exactly the same as the short haul. Shame. At least they had tea, and it wasn't crazy strong!

Then, in Malaysia, in the Sama Sama hotel - the rooms come with kettle facilities

I actually didn't get around to trying the tea bags this time (think they're still in my bag), as I went with some herbal tea I bought with me to help with the jet lag.

Down at breakfast, you get served hot drinks. If like me, you like a slightly weaker tea, make sure to ask them to put the bag on the side, or else it'll be very strong.

One morning, one of the waiters misunderstood me, and by 'on the side', they made sure the bag was sticking to the inside of the cup. :) 

 Have a token image of one part of the (very copious) breakfast buffet. I never went for these, enjoying their bircher muesli instead.

One small cup from work. Typical Lipton Yellow label. (that's an espresso cup's worth...)

The most disappointing tea of the trip was one I was in need of the most. After my 12 hours of flying, I had a couple of hours until my train home. I needed tea. So went to the Cass'Croute in the T2 Train Station. 3€ for a tiny tea. The picture doesn't really show it, but it was far from the large I'd hoped for (I even asked for a large). 

After the long KLM flights with mini cups of tea, I really wanted a decent one, and I remember how disappointed I was when I got this one (also, very hot! no cardboard holders here, just a lot of hand swapping until it cooled)

At least it was a delicious tea, and a Ceylan, one of my favourite varieties. 

De Bink - Sint Truiden

Today we were in Sint Truiden for a couple of hours, and, with the good weather, ended up on a terrasse on the Grote Markt to have a drink. It was busy out, being Saturday, and we just sat down at the first free table we spotted.

I was fancying something cold and refreshing, but when I saw the way the tea was being served, I thought it might be better to try their tea.

Also enjoyed when I asked for black tea, the waitress asked - just black tea? regular black tea? - indicating that they had more than just that. Should have looked in the menu before ordering, and would have seen the following -

The tea they served is from Limburg itself, called Pip's tea. (http://www.pips-tea.com/ for info) 

And they had plenty to choose from. Some I wouldn't touch, but some that could have been interesting. But too late, the waitress had been and gone and placed the order. 

The waitress brought green tea instead of black tea by mistake, but I realised I fancied some refreshing green tea anyway, so didn't bother to complain. I didn't have a particular craving this time. I was glad it wasn't Earl Grey. 

Pip's tea comes in sweet little boxes and the tea bags are the lovely clear kind that let you see all the leaves inside. 

You can see here how De Bink serves their tea (and other hot drinks) - on a wooden platter, with a saucer for the extras and a little cup for the tea bag. Lovely. 

The water was a good temperature, and the cup kept it warm for a long time, letting me slowly sip and enjoy the tea while hubby had a sandwich.