There was a man in England who was considered by all to be the world's foremost authority on tea. One day he was chatting with a friend of his that had just returned from a trip to Australia. This friend told him that he had heard of a tea brewed in a small town in the Outback named Mercy. The connoisseur scoffed at him, stating that no tea came out of the Outback, because there was no way to grow it.

"Oh, it doesn't come from leaves," remarked his friend, "they brew it from Koala fur."

This so intrigued the expert that he booked a flight to Australia the next day. After his arrival, he hired a guide to take him deep into the Outback to the town of Mercy. Once in town, he found the only pub, and ordered a cup of the mysterious beverage.

The cup was placed before him. He spent many moments noting the colour, the aroma, and the viscosity. He took a small sip. It was good! He then followed with a big mouthful, and was suddenly gagging and spitting, clutching at his mouth.

"What is this?" he exclaimed, holding up a handful of what appeared to be short, coarse threads.

"Oh, that's Koala fur," replied the bartender.

"You mean to tell me that you don't strain out the fur?" asked the expert, incredulous.

"Of course not," replied the bartender, "The Koala tea of Mercy is never strained!"