Tea drop floaters

[Muadeeb]

I've been noticing something peculiar when pouring tea from my little pots. Towards the end of the pour, some of the last tea drops will float on top of the surface for a split second before coalescing into the tea:

http://flickr.com/gp/michaelklayman/YR9w36

Of course when I shoot the video, there's only a couple that do it, but there's one good one around 16 seconds in. I've done a little bit of research and it looks like it's possible to do this when the surface is moving, as if the drop hits the peak or trough of the wave and sticks there. I think it might also have something to do with the oils in the tea forming a barrier on the surface of the drop and repelling the water for a very short amount of time.

Has anyone else noticed this before?

[Suutej_Tsaj]

If I remember correctly, they are called "tea pearls".
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=16658
http://www.teachat.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=18307

[Poohblah]

Tea pearls are fun! try different kinds of teas; some form pearls better than others.

[Evan Draper]

Man, that video is kind of lewd....

[yalokinh]

if you leave the tea sit there for a while, you'll notice a film of some sort, which I can only imagine is the oils. maybe its that?