Imagine my surprise when I asked for chamomile tea, which I'd never had before, at the loose tea store, and I got a pile of what looked like - and what was - dried flowers.

This is something I wouldn't know if I still used tea bags. Sure they're convenient, but the chamomile would be hidden inside bleached paper and probably squashed besides. But with loose tea, you suddenly realized what you're drinking: hot plant water.

In the case of chamomile tea it's hot plant water that tasted a little like apples. Very soothing and pleasant. I tried it for its medicinal qualities (it's supposed to be detoxifying as well as relaxing and antispasmodic), but I made more just because it tasted yummy. Very cold winter night-ish.