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candywife333 · 1 year ago

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There is Never A Right Time

Summary:

Jungkook hadn’t thought about the woman he had left for a long time. He had gotten secretly married to her, his judgement clouded under the influence of alcohol, and all it took was a shadow of distrust to make him abandon her. If the world questioned the sanctity of her character, then the world had to be right. Right? He hoped he was right at least. Because if he wasn’t , he had lost the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life. As he continued to work as a top idol, artist, and entrepreneur time went by. He had other women but they never lasted long in his life. When he attended an award show with the rest of the members, he saw a girl there. Another artist. Definitely someone he knew he had never seen or heard of before. Who was she? Something about her was familiar. Maybe her eyes. And then it struck him, making him go as cold as a corpse. He had seen those same eyes somewhere else alright, in the mirror when he looked at his own reflection every morning.

DISCLAIMER: The character written in this fan fiction does not represent the real Jungkook’s personality or behavior. All of this is fiction.

WARNING: Fic mentions noncon/rape (does not describe it explicitly in this part), please don’t read if this is a trigger.

This series is slated to be a trilogy. Here is PART ONE, hope you guys enjoy. Also, I will be creating a permanent tag-list for all my chubby reader fics, please let me know in comments whoever would like to be a part of that.

PART 1

The lady stood in front of him and the other members. She exuded a powerful aura, regal and dignified. These qualities were rather an unusual combination for idols, especially Korean idols so he was a little starstruck. Something that was rather unusual for any member of BTS to feel. She couldn't have been more than 18 years old though based on her appearance. The girl must be mixed race because she had very unconventional features for an idol. She had dark thick curly black hair that trailed to her hips and her skin reminded him of strongly brewed milk tea. The even more startling features were her plush lips, a prominent straight nose graced by a diamond stud, and double lidded eyes fringed with what seemed to be thick eyelashes.

She was sporting an unusual outfit as well; a customized skirt and bra set that he only saw gypsies and belly dancers wear. A gold belt adorned her waist sitting lower on her hips with a diamond belly piercing highlighting her lithe , toned figure. He couldn't stop looking at her because strangely enough something about her was familiar.

He made eye contact with her accidentally and what he saw made his heart palpate against his chest. He had seen those same eyes every day of his life in his mirror. Her doe eyes were too similar to his own. They say that eyes are a mirror to the soul, but her eyes were a mirror to his own.

Who was she? He felt a stir of panic as their eyes met and she bowed down low. She was of average height, but her presence seemed to envelope the room since other well known artists, idols, and staff greeted her politely. The stage director came near her bowing. To Jungkook’s surprise , she spoke in fluent Korean though she seemed to be a foreign artist.

The stage director and the girl were a few feet away from BTS when the stage director exclaimed , “How is your mother doing Cha-ya? She must be worried since you have only promoted up til now in the US, Thailand, and India. Are you having a comfortable time adjusting over here?”

The girl’s eyes lit up in glee as she responded with a little chuckle, “It has for sure been a different experience than the U.S. and India for sure. The stage is so organized and everything is so close by for promotions. I am enjoying it to the max. Mom told me to eat well and sleep 8 hours a day. You know how doctors are like. She’s constantly checking in on me to see if I am stressed out. Saiyan and Arang are also being such worrywarts since this is the first time I’ve been here.”

The stage director continued in mild surprise, “Are they your brothers? I thought you were an only child ?”

She guffawed in a cacophonous fashion which made several idols and artists look her way, in awe and confusion. Jungkook thought that she was a rather different type of artist. Very uninhibited by social norms. Clearly she had not been brought up in Korea.

“Director, we are actually triplets but both of them were born a few minutes ahead of me so they insist that they are my older brothers. We are very tight knit and they will be coming to visit soon. Saiyan is a pretty popular model right now and so he will be finishing his Engineering degree at Washington State and rush over here for Seoul fashion week. Arang on the other hand finished his MBA/Medicine dual degree, so he will be managing a chain of Health and Wellness Resorts over here. “

The director’s jaw slid open in an exclamation. He sputtered in disbelief, “ How are all of your siblings so well studied and managing jobs like that? You must be the only sibling purely in entertainment.” The girl deliberated for a second before responding, “Mom made sure we all had solid educations before pursuing these types of careers. She is always skeptical of fame, and she brought us up to be extremely disciplined, stable, and loyal individuals. I am actually finished with my course in Law (focus in international law) ,but currently all that is stalled for the time being because of my activities in entertainment.”

As Jungkook was hearing this conversation along with the other artists in the room who were curiously eavesdropping as well, the Director continued in awe, “Your mother seems to be an extremely strong lady. I knew she was a doctor who seemed extremely rich and well off, but she must literally be a goddess to give birth to such high achieving kids. What about your father, what does he do?”

Cha-ya scoffed with a quizzical, somewhat bitter look, “He actually left her before we were even born. We found out who he was when we all finished college. Our mother made sure our upbringing was never lacking. We saw him a lot on the Korean and world news growing up but never knew that he was our dad. You know, he is someone whose popularity never fades strangely enough. He sold his soul for fame, so it is to be expected perhaps.” The director looked so intrigued and invested as he prodded for more info, “ Who is he? Definitely we would know who he is? Is he a singer, actor, businessman in the industry over here?”

Cha-ya’s entire expression became rigid and mask-like as she replied in what seemed to be a disinterested tone, “ We do not consider him our dad, so neither my brothers, nor I would like to claim him. He was a sperm donor. That is the long and short of it. Who he is, is as irrelevant as what today’s weather forecast is. He betrayed my mother and trusted the world over her. She went through so much pain just to be by his side. And when she thought the pain would end, he left her. I have to be on stage, so if you will excuse me now Sir.”

She side stepped the director and went closer to the entrance of the main stage. Jungkook could feel the bile and vomit rising to his mouth. She had been pregnant when he had left her? He had three kids, that he never knew anything about? This grown beautiful artist was his daughter?And he had two more accomplished sons? His parents had grandkids? And how the hell did she brith triplets?!! Wouldn’t her vagina tear ??????!!!

His world was crashing down on him as the rest of BTS stared at him with stark grief painted across their faces. They all remembered her name, it was unforgettable.

Before he could process anything, he heard the booming noise starting up on the stage. Wait, wait up a minute! This track was the most popular pop/ rock release of the year all over the US. He saw his daughter he never knew he had on stage in an elaborate headdress dancing with precision and fluidity on stage. She had no backing track, the other idols could tell. This was live. Only one artist sang with no backing track in all her performances this year in the US. She was on MTV and all other award shows, becoming sensational, l hitting all headlines for singing with no backing track usually acapella . Shadow, that was her romanized name, but in all Asian countries she went by Nee-Da.

She had risen to the top for the past 3 years for her herculanean work ethic , creative marketing/business acumen. She was known for her cutthroat ruthlessness in the music industry, mostly aided by the fact that her mother was known to own and manage the world’s most innovative new security system, Poison. He did not know what to be more shocked about at this point? How could he not have recognized her? Seeing her in real life was different from seeing her on stage with all the makeup and ornamentation on.

She was the pop-star of the era, a business mogul with a net worth of close to 300 million dollars at such a young age due to her clothing and makeup line. She was his daughter. How could this even be possible? Jungkook could feel his identity crisis coming. How did he birth the most iconic popstar of this generation, who as of now hated his guts? What scared him even more was the realization of who her mother was.

The lady he had left, the woman he could never forget even in his dreams was her mother. And her mother owned the world’s scariest personal security company, Poison. The company had revolutionized personal security by founding a bracelet and many other gadgets that created magnetic repellant force fields around individuals. It was notorious for being marketed only towards woman and could only be activated when the device recognized the XX chromosome, so the device would never protect men.

Basically, women all around the world who had these devices now had a programmable magnetic forcefield around them which shielded them from the outside world. Firearms, Tasers, and aggressors were all repelled by this technology. Women could safely walk out in the middle of the night as long as they had a device, which was continuously made affordable at its very inception by the reclusive owner of the company.

With this technology ,the owner instantly became the most powerful business woman, icon, feminist, that the world knew. That is in fact all the world knew. That she was a woman. But nobody knew anything else about her, she was an elusive person who didn't show up to most media events. Her personal motto was that the products advocated for themselves. Her financial officers and other company higher ups showed up in the media, but she never did. Most people in the world didn't even know how this woman looked like, because of how reclusive she was.

All people knew was that she was Cha-ya’s mother and that she had two other kids.

What Jungkook got to know that made him almost go into a stroke was the sheer fact that Cha-ya’s mom was his Y/N. The one whose heart he had broken years ago.

Y/N was a billionaire of gargantuan proportions, a net worth that made his look like chump change. His daughter was the iconic popstar of the century, someone whose craze and popularity surpassed his own in his heyday. Which meant that his son Saiyan was the new model who had just walk in Paris Fashion Week as the face of Armani. The same one that Jimin’s daughter had raved about the other day. Which meant that his son Arang became the CEO of the exclusive wellness resort, Ellysium , a resort only catered to the richest of the richest. All this calculations overwhelmed Jungkook to the point that there was only one reasonable outcome. He fainted.

He woke up to the sound of his members whispering in anxious voices to one another. “Do you think he can handle this right now?” Jin asked Namjoon. “I have no clue bro, I mean he hasn't seen her in years and the last time he saw her, he treated her so badly that even I felt ridiculously hurt for her” Namjoon sighed in a rather morose tone of voice. Hoseok scoffed as he seethed, “Do you think she will even acknowledge him after all he had done to her? Jungkook left her to face a whole media circus alone while he impregnated her when he was inebriated, mind you. Then, to top it all of with a cherry he not only remembered nothing of the process, but she found him shagging a whole different girl the next day. Do you think that you would forgive actions as heinous as those”?

Jungkook felt dizzy as he struggled to sit up on the sofa. Jimin rushed to him with a frown on his face and worry painting his eyes, “You doing okay Kookie? Are you alright staying here for the rest of the award show, or do you want to head back home?” Still dazed from his fall, Jungkook responded pensively, “No it’s alright. I just need to catch my bearings and I can be there for the rest of the show”. Before the rest of the members could stop him Yoongi spit out bitterly, “You say you are okay attending the show. But are you sure you really want to? Cha-ya’s mother will be in attendance, flying out to see her babygirl win an award. You sure you can handle that Jungkook”?

Jungkook felt his heart racing, panic overtaking his mind. How could he face her? He had wronged her in so many ways? How could he show his miserable face to her after the way he had ruined her life? Y/n was never even his girlfriend or fiancé at the time. But, he had compromised her in the worst way possible and then had not even remembered his mistake the day after. She had paid for his mistakes by bearing children and caring for them when he had not even known they existed. Even if he had known , it was questionable whether he could've done anything signifiant. He had been embroiled in multiple scandals and caught in alcohol addiction during that phase of his life. He was living wild and no way would he have been a sober, or healthy father to his kids.

With the help of a few assistants , the group slowly trudged towards the celebrity seating quadrant of the award show venue. Cha-ya was up on the stage receiving the award for Most Streamed Artist from the hands of a veteran Korean actress. As Jungkook watched his daughter---as strange as it felt to say those words, receive the award with a blinding smile on her face, he felt his chest hurt. What type of crime had he committed in his previous life that he didn't even get to see his girl grow up? She was beautiful, sharing so many of his features, his bulbous nose, doe-like eyes, and rounded face.

She resembled him more than she resembled her mother. And before anyone could even expect it Cha-ya spoke into the microphone, “I thank everyone at VEX entertainment for helping me get to where I am today. I would also like to thank my staff and all the people behind the scenes who have pushed me to this position. I hope to make all of you proud. None of this would be possible without all of you”. She took in a deep breath as she announced, “But, most importantly I have to thank my mother. She brought me up to be the strong woman that I am today. She worked so hard to give us everything and never left us lacking. We never felt the absence of a father because she is both to me and to my brothers. I would like to call her up on stage, so I can dedicate this award to her. Please mom, come up on stage”.

Everything was moving too fast around Jungkook as he breathed in shallow pants. He felt like he was breathing too fast and his brain was not functioning. He felt paralyzed. Stuck. But he couldn't even catch his breath when he saw the mother of his children sweep into the area where he and the members sat. He could barely recognize the bold woman he was looking at. She looked lethal, powerful, untouchable ---the direct opposite of what she had been, a warm approachable girl.

She was draped in a blood red shimmering sari crafted with gold thread, an ensemble exposing a massive fire breathing dragon tattoo overarching the entirety of what seemed to be her left hip barely reaching to her belly button . The dress was close to backless with just a red resolute thread holding the top sleeveless jacket in place. You could tell she worked out, but she had all the feminine curves befitting a woman, a rounded stomach hidden by the shadow of the sari covering her modestly. Her face was covered with black sunglasses and she adorned her wrists with plain gold bangles, her neck laced with a simple gold chain.

She walked onto the steps leading to the stage in blood red heels as the entire celebrity section of the audience got a view of her back and tattoo. The lady was arresting to look at--all the way down from her aura to her body to her attire.

Y/N walked up to her daughter with arms opened, hugging the girl on stage with all the warmth that you would expect a mother to have for her child. A smile as radiant as a sunrise obliterated Y/N’s face as she spoke into the mike, “I am so proud to be here today to see my baby girl receive this award. She has worked so hard and all her efforts have come to fruition today. Thank you for allowing me to be on stage to celebrate this award with her”.

Both mother and daughter walked off the stage hand in hand as one of the MC’s for the award show started to walk up the stage. Collective gasps rang through the aisles as people saw who the next MC was. It was Saiyan. He had donned a simple Black Armani suit which highlighted just how devastating he looked. He took after Y/N more as he had slightly more defined cheekbones and huge eyes fringed with thick dark lashes to make any woman envious. He hulked onto stage, towering over his mom and sister at a height of 6′3. He laughed and hugged both of them, kissing his mom on the forehead, and strolled to the mike to present the next award.

Jungkook’s eyes felt like they were about to pop out his head and his head was about to fall off his body. All three of them were on stage looking like such a happy family, radiant and warm. He could tell how much love his kids had for their mother . Y/N kissed Saiyan back on his cheek and walked off stage with Cha-ya in hand, giggling with her. These were all the people who he should've had in his life for years, held closest to his heart, but his poorly made decisions or lack thereof had distanced him from his own flesh and blood.

Blinded by agitation and grief, Jungkook rushed out of the aisles, surprising his members as he absconded backstage to catch hold of Y/N and Cha-ya. But they weren’t alone. Cha-ya and Y/N were inundated by so many stage staff and artists who wanted to welcome them. His gut clenched as he saw all the men eyeing Y/N like she was the tastiest meal they had seen in centuries. He heard Y/N respond graciously to one staff member, “Oh, thank you for loving my outfit. It was designed by an upcoming Thai/Indian designer. She really went over the top with the gold motifs.”

Jungkook couldn't stop himself as he pushed people, shoving past them trying to get to Y/N and his daughter. Staff around him were startled as they saw him wading through the crowd to the center of the room, whispering in shock at his pushy nature. As soon as he got in front of them, he was finally able to process the magnitude of Y/N’s beauty. Y/N was shocked for a mere a second at his sudden appearance and to his great surprise, kissed Cha ya on the cheek walking away from him as she told her, “Baby, mommy will be in your changing room. I have to take care of something”. Cha ya nodded at her mother, her eyes glazing over with a coat of suspicion and bitterness. She bowed stiffly towards Jungkook , “Sunbae, nice to meet you. It is an honor to meet you”. Her eyes took up a hard glint as she saw the rest of BTS filter into the room. She faced them and bowed to all of them, speaking in a lackadaisical tone “It is an honor to meet all of you. I have grown up watching all of you”. Her face did not show interest in engaging with them and she looked at them with a rather disinterested attitude.

“Well I should get going. My mother is waiting for me”, she said as she glided seamlessly out of the room towards her dressing room.

Jungkook felt tears well up in his eyes and anxiety stain his mind as he could see how cold his daughter was being towards him, as though he were a stranger. She had greeted him as though he was just any person on the street, as though they didn't share blood. As though he meant nothing to her. Jimin and Namjoon closed in around him, steering him towards a secluded corner of the room as he started sobbing miserably as though he were not able to breath. His eyes were red, tears flowing down his eyes, wetting his cheeks as he understood the gravity of what sin he had truly committed.

He wiped frantically at his eyes, pushing away from his members as he ran towards Chaya’s changing room. He heard Yoongi scream beyond him, “Jungkook you better get back here! Don’t do this Jungkook, You need to calm down!!” Jungkook could not be reasoned with as he darted towards the room that a surprised staff had pointed at. He arrived in front of the door, barely catching his breath as he knocked in a hurried manner, desperate to speak with the most important people in his life that he had alienated.

Chaya opened the door in a pink satin robe, leaning against the door with a sigh, “I knew you wouldn't be patient. I told mom it was a bad idea for her to fly out. She did anyway knowing that she would have to contend with you.” She sneered as she bit out in a crisp manner, “Well, why don’t you come in Jungkook -sshi? Or will you stay outside and make a circus of our reputation? Funny how you are obsessed with keeping yours, but have no problem blemishing others. You couldn't stay away, could you? You managed to for so many years, but now you fail at what you claim to be best at. Not caring. How juvenile”. She snarked all this at him vindictively as she simultaneously opened the door, gesturing for him to come into the room.

The rest of the members stood outside as she sardonically queried, “Well, would you all grant us some privacy? I am sure we will have Jungkook-ssi out of the room soon enough. It shouldn't be a very long conservation. There isn't much to say anyway.” Yoongi’s eye twitched as he glared in silence at the rude girl who was literally the unexpected niece of all of the members.

She closed the door on their faces.

Inside the room, Y/N sat on the couch surveying Jungkook’s appearance with mild interest. “Why are you here Jungkook? Do you need to say something?”, she calmly asked. Y/N’s mind whirled in turmoil even as she looked calm on the outside. Why was he in front of them all these years when he himself had shunned her at her weakest moment? Jungkook was hyperventilating as he asked in a cracked voice, “I am not going to ask you the Stu-pid question of whether these kids are mine or not. Because I know that they are all the same age and I can see it in their faces and their mannerisms. They are mine”. He took a deep breath as he felt the panic overtake him, “But why did you never tell me about them? Why did you take me away from their lives. You know how much my mother and father wanted grandkids. Out of everybody in the world, you knew it the best. Why did you deprive me and my parents of them?”

In an infuriatingly placating tone, Y/N responded without a hitch in her voice, “Don’t you remember? You didn’t want anything to do with me because I had apparently betrayed our friendship by being a characterless bitch and luring you into fucking me when you were drunk. Can you not make a quick trip down memory lane? Or has it been too long for you to remember the lurid media details that tore me apart? You may have forgotten but I never will”.

She took a sip of tea as she tapped her nails on her lap, “You wouldn't hear me out when I told you that we had both accidentally gotten married when were drunk. Even though I knew that you never wanted anything to do with me romantically, you still initiated intercourse even as I clearly told you no. I begged you to let go of me. But in your blind livid anger of finding the marriage certificate lying on the couch later that night, you didn't do what most men do. You didn't do the practical thing, which is to rage and get over it. You didn’t tear the certificate and put an end to it there. You decided that I deserved to pay, and you fucked me even as I begged you to not ruin me. But, then again, why are you asking me all the gruesome details, when you were the perpetrator?”

As Jungkook clutched his head, bending it down in dismay and shame, she quietly drawled, “We could've simply dissolved the marriage. It was not done seriously. It was done in a compulsion, as both of us were under the influence. Influence that you forced down my throat if we are being truly accurate. But, why did you have to ruin my life even when you were in a sober state? What excuse do you have for that? Other than your ridiculously misplaced anger? So you forced me when you were sober, making me pay in the most pitiful manner.”

She laughed bitterly, eyes bereft of emotion, retreating behind a mask of forced complacency , “You knew, out of everyone else, since you were my friend at the time, that I had never even done it before. But you still treated me more pathetically than a piece of trash on the sidewalk. You degraded me as you violated me, taunting me with the most hurtful epithets known to man. You stripped me of my dignity. Don’t you remember jungkook? Don’t you remember any of it ? If you do, why are you forcing me to re-live it? I had kids, and I moved on from that pathetic, trusting, giving version of myself. You taught me that I must always pay the price for being kind. I will never forget it”.

The torture was too much to bear. Jungkook crumpled off the sofa, onto the floor as he started sobbing, remembering what he had done to her. He remembered how he had hurt her again and again. They had been extremely close friends at the time, and he had ruined their friendship by crossing the line when both of them were drunk. At the time he had loved another girl, one who showed him how disgusting humanity could be. Y/N had warned him against her multiple times when they were friends , but he stupidly enough had stuck onto that girl, having a toxic relationship with her.

When that girl had walked in on Y/N and him, finding the marriage certificate splayed out on the couch, she had broke up with him. In that frenzy of indignation, he had committed the vilest mistake of his entire life. He had forced Y/N, someone with no sexual experience, to suffer. He had degraded her verbally as he had humiliated and forced her. He remembered it as if it were yesterday. He remembered it everytime he looked at his reflection. When the violation was done, she had walked away pitifully, stumbling away from his form as she quietly uttered, “I am sorry for taking away your chance at happiness. You have punished me in a way I can never forget. I will never forget what you have taught me about our friendship. Now I know how much our friendship meant to you. Don’t worry, you will never hear from me again ”.

As cum and blood had streamed down legs, she had dragged herself out of his house, to go back to her lonely hotel room where she sobbed and cursed at her mother for giving birth to her. She cursed at god for her sheer existence. She would never trust again. He had damaged her forever.

An hour after she left his house, Jungkook had understood his grievous mistake and told his Hyungs the sin he had committed. They all stared at him in shock as Yoongi started beating him, “Is THIS what we taught you Jungkook? To be a rapist and a miserable excuse of a human being?!” Everyone else stared at him in shock. Namjoon went to Bang PD to ask him to contact their lawyer. What if Y/N launched a lawsuit against Jungkook and the group?

To all their collective surprise, they received news from Y/N’s friend Myrna, a foreign communications director at HYBE, that she had left for the U.S., going back to her home country. She had stopped at a hospital before leaving and handed Myrna an NDA drafted by a lawyer, before leaving, stating that she would not reveal anything that had gone down that day. The NDA also stated that she would like to never be contacted again, and that HYBE would face heavy legal repercussions if they ever attempted to do so. A divorce application form had been filled out and left in a pamphlet as well. All Jungkook had to do to nullify the marriage was to sign off on it”.

Jungkook lived through his memories once again as Y/N smoothed down her dress, “If you would like to get to know the kids, I will not stop you. In fact, I had reached out to your company regarding the kids when they were born. But, I never heard back from them since. I even personally tried contacting you and your members, but none of you ever responded. Regardless, bygones will be bygones. The past is in the past. Cha-ya, Saiyan, and Arang have been brought up to be kind, forgiving individuals. They are not ruthless like their dad. Though they are angry, rightfully so as of now, they will come around and try to get to know you eventually.”

“Now, I will leave the room and allow you to talk to Cha-ya and Saiyan if that is what you wish to do. Arang will be arriving in five minutes”.

As she got up to leave the room, she felt a firm vascular hand wrap around her wrist. She looked back to see Jungkook on his knees, head down, whimpering “I don’t wish to just know my kids. I wish to know the wife I never had”.

Y/N reached to remove his hand off her wrist, “You must not understand what the true definition of the words ‘too little, too late’ mean”.

TAGLIST:

@sporadicarcadebanana , @darkuni63, @jessicalynn85

#angst #jungkook x reader #eventual smut #fluff #super angst #groveling #jungkook x chubby reader #jungkook x y/n #jungkook x plus size reader #CEO Y/N #jungkook has kids #pregnancy Jungkook #bts x chubby reader #bts x plus size reader #sensitive topics #smut #yearning #idol jungkook

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ask-barbatos · 2 months ago

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A Guide to Camellia Sinensis

Dear students, allow me to share a small glimpse into the world of tea, a beverage that has brought comfort and joy to countless souls for millennia. The heart of true tea lies in the Camellia sinensis plant, a highly cultivated plant native to East Asia.

From the lush fields of China to the mist-kissed mountains of India, this plant has been cultivated with great care, its leaves steeped in hot water to create a beverage of unparalleled beauty and complexity.

The cut of the tea leaf plays a significant role in its flavor and character. Whole leaves, broken leaves, fannings, and dust each offer a unique experience, from the robust to the delicate.

Whole leaves, for instance, provide a full-bodied flavor and a long-lasting infusion, making them a popular choice for those seeking a traditional tea experience.

Broken leaves, on the other hand, offer a more intense flavor and a quicker steeping time, making them ideal for those who prefer a stronger brew.

Fannings and dust, the smallest particles of tea, offer a rapid infusion and a concentrated flavor, perfect for those who are short on time or simply desire a strong cup of tea.

Pictured above: Taylor's English Breakfast tea on the left and Taylor's Earl Grey on the right, to demonstrate the visual difference between whole and cut.

The preparation process, from the gentle steeping of Chinese gongfu cha to the robust brewing techniques of Western tea culture, can dramatically alter the taste and aroma of your tea.

Chinese gongfu cha, for example, involves using small, porcelain teapots and cups, and steeping the tea for very short periods of time. This method allows for a more delicate and nuanced flavor profile.

Western tea culture, on the other hand, often involves steeping tea in larger teapots for longer periods of time, resulting in a bolder and more robust flavor.

I invite you, students, to embark on a journey of tea discovery. Explore the vast world of Camellia sinensis, from the subtle nuances of white tea to the bold flavors of black tea. With each sip, you may find a new appreciation for the simple pleasures of life.

Now, let us delve deeper into the popular cuts of tea and their preferred preparation methods.

White Tea:

Cut: Often consists of young whole leaves or buds that have been minimally processed.

Preparation: Gentle steeping in cool water for a short period to preserve its delicate flavor and light color.

Flavor: Known for its subtle, floral, and slightly sweet taste.

Green Tea:

Cut: Typically consists of whole leaves or broken leaves that have been steamed or pan-fried to prevent oxidation.

Preparation: Steeping in hot water for a short period to retain its fresh, grassy flavor and vibrant green color.

Flavor: Varies widely depending on the specific type of green tea, but often characterized by a clean, grassy, or vegetal taste.

Oolong Tea:

Cut: Can vary from whole leaves to broken leaves, but is often partially oxidized, resulting in a unique flavor profile between green and black teas.

Preparation: Steeping in hot water for a longer period, allowing the leaves to fully bloom and release their complex flavors.

Flavor: Offers a wide range of flavors, from floral and fruity to nutty and earthy.

Black Tea:

Cut: Typically consists of broken leaves or fannings that have been fully oxidized.

Preparation: Steeping in boiling water for a longer period to extract its strong, bold flavors.

Flavor: Known for its rich, full-bodied taste, often with notes of chocolate, caramel, or spice.

Each type of tea offers a unique experience, and the best way to appreciate their individual qualities is to experiment with different preparation methods and steeping times. So, dear mortals, I encourage you to embark on a journey of tea discovery and savor the beauty of Camellia sinensis.

Various definitions:

First Flush: The first cuttings of the plant in early spring, often yielding a higher quality tea.

Silver Tips: A white tea made from the delicate buds of a tea plant.

Below is a table indicating steep times:

Notes:

This table provides a general guideline. Steeping time and temperature can vary depending on the specific tea and desired flavor strength.

Some teas, like white tea, benefit from multiple short infusions instead of a single long steep.

Experiment with different steeping times and temperatures to find your perfect cup.

Water temperature is crucial. Using water that is too hot can burn the tea leaves, resulting in a bitter taste.

The more water is heated, the more oxygen is released from the water. The oxygen is important to bring out the flavor of your tea, so please be vigilant as to not exceed your water temperature. A great tool for novices and experts alike would be a temperature controlled electric kettle.

In addition to the cut of the tea leaf and the preparation method, the quality of the water used can also significantly impact the taste of your tea. Soft, mineral-free water is generally preferred for tea brewing, as it allows the delicate flavors of the tea to shine through without being overwhelmed by strong mineral tastes.

A good starting point would be mountain spring water or filtered water, specifically with as neutral a pH as possible. Distilled water is not recommended, although neutral in pH, lacks the oxygen needed to bring out the sublime flavor in tea.

Hard water, on the other hand, contains high levels of minerals, such as calcium and magnesium. These minerals can react with the tannins in tea, creating a bitter or astringent taste. While some people may enjoy the added flavor complexity that hard water can impart, it is generally best to use soft water for optimal tea flavor.

If you live in an area with hard water, consider using a water filter or a mineral remover to soften the water before brewing your tea. This can make a noticeable difference in the taste and overall quality of your beverage.

Next subject will include flavor infused teas such as Jasmine, Earl Grey, and Fruit teas.

#long post #tea guide

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gelassen-in · 9 months ago

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The Enchanting Tale of Indian Tea

As we approach International Tea Day on March 21st, it's a perfect time to delve into the captivating history and rich culture of tea in India.

In a memorable scene from Bridgerton Season 2, Kate Sharma (played by Simone Ashley) crinkles her nose in distaste for English tea. Instead, she opts for a cup of masala tea, crushing cardamom to prepare it. This moment sparked a newfound appreciation for Indian tea across the internet. But what exactly is Indian tea, and can its diverse range of varieties be neatly categorized?

Unveiling the Tea Legacy

Tea garden workers in India

Tea has a deep-rooted history in China, where it was enjoyed for centuries before making its way to India. The British, known for their love of tea, sought to establish a trade route that would bypass China's tea monopoly. Recognizing tea's potential as a valuable commodity, they began exploring opportunities to cultivate it in other parts of the world.

In the early 19th century, the British East India Company turned its attention to India as a promising location for tea production. They began experimenting with different tea plant varieties and established tea gardens in various regions. One key figure in this endeavor was Robert Bruce, credited with discovering wild tea plants in Assam, northeastern India, in the early 1820s. This discovery laid the foundation for commercial tea cultivation in India.

A tea garden in Sikkim

Assam, with its favorable climate and soil conditions, proved to be an ideal region for tea production. The British started cultivating tea on a larger scale in Assam, and by the 1850s, Assam tea had gained recognition for its unique flavor and robust characteristics. This variety became a cornerstone of Indian tea production and is still highly regarded today.

Encouraged by the success of Assam, the British expanded tea cultivation to other parts of India. The regions of Darjeeling, Nilgiri, and Kangra soon emerged as prominent tea-growing areas, each producing teas with distinctive flavors and qualities.

Darjeeling, nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, gained renown for its delicate and aromatic teas, while Nilgiri in southern India produced teas with a smooth and mellow character. Kangra, situated in the scenic state of Himachal Pradesh, also contributed to India's tea diversity with its flavorful and fragrant offerings.

Tea gardens make for quaint holiday spots

Here is a listing of some of the best regional varieties.

Assam Tea: Grown in the lush valleys of northeastern Assam, Assam tea is renowned for its strong, full-bodied flavor, malty notes, and bright reddish-brown liquor. Assam tea is often used as a base for breakfast blends and is favored by those who enjoy a robust and bold cup of tea.

Darjeeling Tea: Hailing from the picturesque Darjeeling region in the foothills of the Himalayas, Darjeeling tea is highly regarded for its exquisite flavor and aroma. Unlike most Indian teas, Darjeeling tea is crafted from the small-leaved Chinese variety of Camellia sinensis, giving it a unique flavor and profile.

Darjeeling tea was also the first Indian product to be awarded a Geographical Indication (GI) tag, recognizing its origin and protecting its identity.

Darjeeling tea commands a global repute

Often referred to as the "Champagne of Teas," Darjeeling tea is characterized by its light golden color, floral fragrance, and delicate muscatel taste. It is often enjoyed without milk and is cherished for its nuanced and refined profile.

Nilgiri Tea: Grown in the misty slopes of the Nilgiri Hills in southern India, Nilgiri tea offers a unique and smooth cup. It is known for its bright, brisk liquor, balanced flavor, and gentle floral notes. Nilgiri tea is versatile and can be enjoyed plain or with a touch of milk. It is often used in blends and is prized for its refreshing character.

Kangra Tea: Hailing from the scenic Kangra Valley in the state of Himachal Pradesh, Kangra tea is a lesser-known but highly regarded variety. It is appreciated for its delicate, floral aroma, gentle astringency, and subtle fruity undertones. Kangra tea leaves are carefully processed to preserve their delicate flavors, resulting in a tea that offers a refined and soothing drinking experience.

Preparation A Vast Variety

Despite the metamorphosis of chai and chai-tea, there is more to tea in India than masala chai. The diverse tea varieties produced in India cater to different tastes and preferences, offering a wide range of flavors, aromas, and strengths. Depending on preparation methods, here are a few more variations.

Kashmiri kahwa is a traditional aromatic green tea

Kashmiri Kahwa: Originating from the picturesque Kashmir Valley, Kashmiri Kahwa is a traditional aromatic green tea infused with saffron strands, cardamom pods, cinnamon, and sometimes almonds.

It has a delicate flavor profile, with a pleasant blend of spices and a slight sweetness. Kahwa is often served with crushed nuts and is cherished for its soothing and warming properties.

Munnar Tea: Munnar, located in the Western Ghats of Kerala, is famous for its tea plantations. Munnar tea is known for its bright, golden liquor, aromatic flavor, and crisp character. The tea gardens in Munnar produce a range of black, green, and white teas, each offering a distinct taste and aroma influenced by the region's unique climate and elevation.

Sikkim Temi Tea: Grown in the hills of Sikkim, Temi Tea is a specialty tea known for its exceptional quality. It is produced in limited quantities, making it highly sought after. Temi Tea features a smooth, mellow taste with a hint of fruitiness, floral notes, and bright amber liquor.

Bihar Tea: Bihar, a state in eastern India, is known for its tea cultivation, primarily in the regions of Kishanganj and Purnea. Bihar tea is admired for its well-rounded flavor, medium body, and pleasant aroma. The tea gardens in Bihar produce both black and green teas, providing a diverse range of options.

Kangra Green Tea: Apart from Kangra tea, which I mentioned earlier, the Kangra region of Himachal Pradesh is also renowned for its green tea production. Kangra green tea is known for its delicate and refreshing flavors, with a milder profile compared to its black tea counterpart. It offers vegetal notes, a light sweetness, and a pale liquor.

Manipur White Tea: Manipur, a northeastern state of India, is gaining recognition for its production of white teas. Manipur white tea is made from young tea buds and leaves, carefully handpicked and minimally processed. It offers a delicate, nuanced flavor with floral undertones and a slightly sweet aftertaste.

#tea #darjeeling tea #black tea #green tea #Indian tea

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littlecarnet · 9 months ago

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I apologize for the sudden disappearance, I had to take some time away from social media. Nothing aimed at me personally, I just get stressed out with it trying to get my attention. I already have to deal with people doing this offline.

Its a new year and I'm being hit up again for knowledge about precious stones around the region. Naturally I'm wary about what I say and to whom, especially after a past incident, so I demand some kind of offering in exchange. Not monetary. The person has to do their research and get to know me first. It's the only way I can be sure I won't get taken advantage of again. I've rejected about three offers now, my gut and past experiences told me they were less than trustworthy.

The one offer I did approve of was a very young kid. Well..they're probably 20, but compared to MY age, that's practically a child. They're the first that young to seek me out, which they said wasn't an easy task. All the info they had on me was a link through a professor in Soccoro, but the information about my whereabouts was outdated, so they had to track down my brother to the local space museum, get a bit of his time, convince him to contact me, agree on a meeting place, then hunt me down up north, got lost going to said meeting spot, but eventually I met with them halfway.

Lol I felt so bad for them. Unlike the other other three, they went about it the long way around. I'm a very private person, made even more elusive since my extended family chooses to ignore my existence being the black sheep, and I've since cut ties with them long ago. So very few know where I am anymore. Top this off, my guard duties are strictly at night, so you can imagine this poor child being a bit apprehensive of meeting me nearly before dawn, since I'm asleep during the day.

But I made it up to them by treating them to the best coffee spot I know, and explained how I operate. We've since been keeping touch, and a few dats ago, they presented me an assortment of high quality tea ordered directly from India, and a beautiful pair of copper bracelets, which I felt was sufficient enough to tell them where they could find fire opal. I'd even take them there if they wish. It's a tad tricky as the road there is completely dirt with many switchbacks. It's very easy to get lost out there, if you know anything about a desert, is that everywhere looks the same. Last thing you want is to waste gas out there trying to find a way out. And there isn't a gas station for miles, or really any civilization.

We'll be going to that location once the snow clears, which might be around March. In the meantime, we'll keep in touch, and I might try to contact that professor they talked to. I know her. I haven't spoken to her in some time, not since her brother was caught up pursuing me. Heh. He was cute, I admit. I have a thing for redheads. Sadly it wouldn't have worked out at the time, I was going through hell with my mom's dysfunctional family drama. That's why I hate large families. Everyone fighting over territory, who's in charge of what, and petty grudges over things that happened centuries ago. I ain't about that shit.

But yeah, that's been going on as well as doing some spring cleaning, looking for paint to renew my room this summer, planting things indoors, cultivating dinoflagellates, and bracing for another winter storm from Colorado. I'm waiting for a shipment of henna as well, been wanting to decorate myself again.

#Update!#Yes I'm still alive

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maharani-chai · 9 months ago

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Sipping Perfection: How to Identify and Enjoy the Best Quality Tea in India

If you are wandering around looking for a tea that suits your pocket as well as your tongue. Stop wandering. Our top-notch premium tea leaves, which are the best quality tea in India are now easily available in the online Indian market. With every sip, these leaves add flavor and nourishment to your drink. Indian tea lovers love tea dynamically. As a result, tea companies offer various flavors to attract consumers. Maharani Chai is one of India’s most trusted tea brands. CTC tea, green tea, and black tea are some of the most popular teas available from Maharani Chai. We use hand picked tea leaves from Darjeeling and Assam to create our tea blends, giving them a delightful fragrance and flavor.

For more Information about best quality tea in India click the link below: https://maharanichai.com/sipping-perfection-how-to-identify-and-enjoy-the-best-quality-tea-in-india/

#best quality tea in India #best tea in India #best darjeeling tea #darjeeling tea online

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aadhunikayurveda · 2 years ago

Link

#Top Quality Manufacturer #top exporter #top supplier #Organic #Herbal #Natural #top wholesaler #Tea Drops manufacturer

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service-companies-in-chennai · 1 year ago

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#Buy Tea Dust online #Art of tea is online now #Buy the finest tea online #Premium Quality tea online at best price #Buy tea online in india #Tea powder online delivery #Best tea powder at best price #Grab the best tea online #Shop tea powder online #Enjoy the taste of fine and delicious tea

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best-tea-powder-at-best-price · 1 year ago

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candywife333 · 1 year ago

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There’s Never A Right Time

This story is inspired by Say Goodbye by Chris Brown. I was in my feels and had a nice dramatic set of ideas that made me feel like writing angst. It’s a one shot because I have commitment issues with finishing my fanfics in case you guys haven't noticed. It will be a pretty long fanfic. Here is the teaser. Hope you guys enjoy!

Summary:

Jungkook hadn’t thought about the woman he had left for a long time. He had gotten secretly married to her and all it took was a shadow of distrust to make him abandon her. If the world questioned the sanctity of her character, then the world had to be right. Right? He hoped he was right at least. Because if he wasn’t , he had lost the best thing that had ever happened to him in his life. As he continued to work as a top idol, artist, and entrepreneur time went by. He had other women but they never lasted long in his life. When he attended an award show with the rest of the members, he saw a girl there. Another artist. Definitely someone he knew he had never seen or heard of before. Who was she? Something about her was familiar. Maybe her eyes. And then it struck him, making him go as cold as a corpse. He had seen those same eyes somewhere else alright, in the mirror when he looked at his own reflection every morning.

TEASER

The stage director continued in mild surprise, “Are they your brothers? I thought you were an only child ?”

His world was crashing down on him as the rest of BTS stared at him with stark grief painted across their faces. They all remembered her name, it was unforgettable.

All people knew was that she was Cha-ya’s mother and that she had two other kids.

What Jungkook got to know that made him almost go into a stroke was the sheer fact that Cha-ya’s mom was his Y/N. The one whose heart he had broken years ago.

#one shot #oneshot #bts x reader #jungkook x reader #bts #angst #interracial relationship #tears #curvy reader x bts #bodyshaming #insecurity #body insecurity #relationship insecurity #trust issues #marriage #jungkook x y/n

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prismatic-melody · 10 months ago

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hi bestie, as someone who considers their tea knowledge level very high, I have a few notes:

the English custom of adding milk or sugar to tea is a result of the leaves being old and stale after months aboard ships in transit from China.

speaking of China, the reason tea is grown in India at all, and this is relevant because all types of black tea you mentioned save for lapsang souchong (I'm not counting earl grey since it's a blend) are Indian, is because britain sent in a spy to learn the production and horticulture of tea and steal the plants to grow in India. most tea types in China, including black tea, are made from camellia sinensis var. sinensis, a smaller leaved variety, with a few exceptions like Puerh tea in Yunnan which is made from camellia sinensis var. assamica, and Dian Hong, a black tea also from yunnan (also assamica)

which variety could britain get their hands on? Assamica. Thus, Britain rewrote the history books and many people today think that "Assam" black originates from northeast India and "Ceylon" (which is still assamica, to be noted) originates from Sri Lanka, which they do not. All tea plants are native to china, even Japanese tea which was more sociably aquired.

Back to additives: Traditionally, tea is drank as a product made from whole leaves, with no additives whatsoever. Besides the historically stale leaves I mentioned earlier, the reason tea needs any additives in the first place to reduce bitterness is because of the broken leaves and fannings in tea bags, which overextract incredibly quickly and become bitter. In Chinese tea, there is a tannic aspect to specifically black tea yes, but it's quite mild and serves to add to the character of the tea. Jin Jun Mei, Qimun, and Dian Hong are all lovely, smooth black teas when drunk straight due to their unbroken leaves. Another indicator of additives to tea being a quite recent invention is the fact that white, yellow, green, oolong, yancha, sheng puerh, shou puerh, and heicha are all drank straight. Hongcha (red tea, the original name for 'black' tea, named so because China's greater knowledge of tea processing led to classification primarily based off of the color of the teas Liquor rather than its leaf, and come on a large chunk of black tea leaves aren't even black, nor is hongcha as dark as heicha, dark tea, in liquor OR leaf) is too, of course, in its quality form black tea is not a bitter, unpleasant drink that needs to be fixed, it is richly sweet and malty and warming and delicious all on its own.

Moving on: White, green, and black tea are not made from different parts of the same plant, they are all made from the freshly sprouted leaves of the tea plant. There are a variety of picking standards within those categories, yes, but all sorts of picking standards are used to make all styles of teas. for instance, a highly restrictive picking standard like buds only applies to both silver needle, a style of white tea, and Jin Jun Mei, a style of black tea.

You're entirely correct that factors like terroir and the picking standard impact flavor, but none of those matter if you're drinking tea bags filled with broken leaves and drowning them in milk and sugar.

As for brewing temperature: black tea is almost always boiled, yes, (though there are styles that are commonly brewed at lower temperatures), but all high quality white tea is usually boiled as well. Green tea usually has more temperature variation, but high quality greens can handle being boiled and often taste delicious brewed that way! (a notable exception to this is Japanese green tea, which is almost never boiled, and in the case of Gyokuro brewed at temperatures as low as 40 degrees celcisus).

At the end of the day, though, your core point is entirely correct: the best way to brew tease the way that tastes best to you. It's just important for me to point out that the reason additives like lemon or salt are even being considered in the first place is because the tea is bad, and it's flavor needs to be covered up rather than enjoyed fully.

There is easy low hanging fruit here, especially about the US and salty tea. And I'm so SO tempted.

But also I'm super in to tea and I'm bored.

The perfect cup of tea is how you want to drink it, and if you do not LIKE tea then drinking it a different way, or a different kind of tea, vastly changes it.

A pinch of salt makes things less bitter, this trick also works with coffee. But other things that affect taste are tempriture, length of time it brews, where the tea was grown, the climate, the soil, and how big the leaves are. Some of the cheapest tea has little more than dust in the tea bag while more expensive teas you will notice have more structure to the leaves.

Tea brewed in colder tempeitures needs longer and creates a different taste. It may require more tea to get the specific flavour you want, and generally it is less bitter for it. Similar thing to spices where if you cook them, use them hot, toast them first, etc, you get a different set of flavours to using them cold.

Like wine, tea can have lots of flavour profiles and colours. Assam for example is very dark, malty, and strong, it can get quite bitter. Ceylon is much lighter. Darjeeling is good with lemon, but Assam is better with milk, in my humble opinion. Lapsang Sushong is very smokey. Earl Grey

Most people will drink a mix. English breakfast is usually a mix of Assam, Ceylon, and Kenyan. Earl Grey is flavoured with bergamot.

White, green, and black tea all come from the same plant, just different parts of it, treated differently. Black tea can take a higher tempriture, but boiling water on green and white tea will scorch the leaves and make it very bitter. Agitating the tea can also have this effect as it releases more tannin.

As a general rule there is a tea for everyone, and a way to drink it that you will enjoy, whether that's hot, cold, mixing it with spices, flavourings, fruit, milk, sugar, lemon, and yes, even a pinch of salt.

I would not, however, recommend tea that has been in the Boston harbour.

#teaposting #:3 #me

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