Macroscopic Bits
The Best Teas at UCSC COSMOS
By Litong Deng
By Litong Deng
My family doesn’t drink coffee, so growing up, we never really had coffee in the house. As a result, when I need a pick-me-up before the Discovery Lectures in the morning, I turn to the tea that the John R. Lewis College’s dining hall offers for a caffeine boost. After drinking them each at least twice, here are my rankings for best tea, from worst to best, with scores on a 10-point scale.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed below are strictly my own. I am not in any way a tea connoisseur.
(Disclaimer: The views expressed below are strictly my own. I am not in any way a tea connoisseur.
#6: Breakfast Blend
I can’t believe it’s not water! Coming in at last place, we have the Breakfast Blend black tea. I struggled to take the pretentiously high-quality photo you see here, so it had extra time to steep. Yet, after my initial sips, I found myself thinking, I either have COVID and no longer have a sense of taste, or I put way too much water in my mug. The tea was decidedly bland and tasteless. However, it was a considerable caffeine boost for my morning, keeping me wide awake throughout the Discovery Lecture, well past lunch. Final Score: 2/10, +1 for best caffeine boost |
#5: Aged Earl Grey
Aromas are deceiving In the penultimate position, we have the Aged Earl Grey tea. It is one of two teas ranked as “high caffeine” (along with Breakfast Blend). After steeping, the tea had a comforting, sweet black tea smell. However, the tea itself wasn’t very noteworthy. The aftertaste also had some hints of spice. Maybe I’m just not a black tea guy, but the only reason this tea ranks above Breakfast Blend is because I can actually taste the bitter tang of the tea leaves. The caffeine boost was virtually non-existent, unlike the Breakfast Blend. Final score: 3/10 Note: Try warming up some milk and adding this tea bag to it. Milk tea, anyone? |
#3: Lemon Chamomile
When life gives you lemons, squeeze some into this tea The name is misleading - there’s not much of a tangy taste in this tea. The chamomile definitely stands out, giving the entire tea an aromatic floral taste. If you’re into non-caffeinated, flowery teas, this is the tea for you. As for me, I’ll take a homemade honey lemon tea over this any day of the week. Also, this tea is apparently supposed to make you sleepy because of the chamomile… I was able to make it through my afternoon number theory class just fine, though. Final score: 6/10 |
#2: Gunpowder Green
Transporting me back to Asia The Gunpowder Green tea is one of two green teas that the dining hall offers. It tastes great and gets stronger the longer you steep. If you leave your tea bag in your tea like me, the last bit of the tea may be a little bitter if you drink it slowly. Pleasant aroma and taste overall. Final score: 8/10 |
#1: Jasmine Green
I’m gonna miss this when I leave The Jasmine Green Tea is an absolute showstopper. It has all the best aspects of Gunpowder Green, with a little extra floral pizzaz. A truly enjoyable flavor experience. I wish I could describe it more, but its nuances deserve to be savored by each individual. Find this tea, and all the other teas, on the side of the cash register counter as you enter the dining hall. Final score: 10/10 |
Dorming at COSMOS: Zs and Homies
By Skylar Qian and Helena Spydell
By Skylar Qian and Helena Spydell
Some love it, and some loathe it: alone time. Personally, I — Helena— fall in a middle ground of sorts, where too much time outside leaves me feeling drained and exhausted, while too much time to myself makes us feel unproductive and sad. On weekdays, I have been getting just the right amount of alone time. However, on Saturday, I find myself with an excess of time to spare and not much for me to do. I mostly just whittle it away in my dorm all morning (and afternoon… I was not feeling very motivated). This week, to avoid that, I have compiled a list of things to do in the dorms to enjoy the time and be productive, instead of just watching YouTube in bed for hours on end.
First off, catch up on sleep! I — Skylar — witness countless classmates, faces planted on their desks, catching some z’s in lectures, to the point where this sight has become a trademark of the COSMOS experience. As we all heard from (and definitely didn’t sleep through) the discovery lecture about circadian rhythms, sleep is vital to the functioning of the human body and brain, especially in COSMOS, where the brain is indispensable. The average teen needs to get at least 9 hours of sleep, but many students here are running on 3 hours and a bucket load of caffeine. Even a fifteen-minute nap, preceded by a cup of coffee, can help restart your brain.
Any prepared COSMOS student (and I know you are one) would have brought multiple books to keep themselves occupied. However, if you find yourself lacking, you are completely out of luck — unless you ask a friend to borrow one of their favorites. Once you have acquired a book, reading is more productive, in every way, in comparison to lying around on your phone. In addition, try switching up the experience by changing the scenery! Go out to your floor lounge or to the quad for some iconic Santa Cruz sunbathing with a good book and your mood will automatically be refreshed.
If you are one of those who think that spending time outside with your cluster has drained your social battery, text your friends or ask your roommate to hang out with you! Even simple activities like watching TV, playing board games, or listening to music are so much more enjoyable with a friend. Also, don’t forget to contact your friends and family from outside! They miss you and would like to know how you are doing! Either way, I hope you found these tips useful and will implement them in your COSMOS life.
First off, catch up on sleep! I — Skylar — witness countless classmates, faces planted on their desks, catching some z’s in lectures, to the point where this sight has become a trademark of the COSMOS experience. As we all heard from (and definitely didn’t sleep through) the discovery lecture about circadian rhythms, sleep is vital to the functioning of the human body and brain, especially in COSMOS, where the brain is indispensable. The average teen needs to get at least 9 hours of sleep, but many students here are running on 3 hours and a bucket load of caffeine. Even a fifteen-minute nap, preceded by a cup of coffee, can help restart your brain.
Any prepared COSMOS student (and I know you are one) would have brought multiple books to keep themselves occupied. However, if you find yourself lacking, you are completely out of luck — unless you ask a friend to borrow one of their favorites. Once you have acquired a book, reading is more productive, in every way, in comparison to lying around on your phone. In addition, try switching up the experience by changing the scenery! Go out to your floor lounge or to the quad for some iconic Santa Cruz sunbathing with a good book and your mood will automatically be refreshed.
If you are one of those who think that spending time outside with your cluster has drained your social battery, text your friends or ask your roommate to hang out with you! Even simple activities like watching TV, playing board games, or listening to music are so much more enjoyable with a friend. Also, don’t forget to contact your friends and family from outside! They miss you and would like to know how you are doing! Either way, I hope you found these tips useful and will implement them in your COSMOS life.