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 who 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 color, 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!"

The Koala tea of Mercy is never strained

I guess that's "The quality of mercy is never strained" :?:

I've never heard that _expression_ -

The quality of mercy is never strained

It's from a Michelle Shocked song - I don't know if she got it from somewhere else.

The quality of mercy is never strained

It's from a Michelle Shocked song - I don't know if she got it from somewhere else.

It's from the bard himself -

The quality of mercy is not strain'd,
It droppeth as the gentle rain from heaven
Upon the place beneath: it is twice blest;
It blesseth him that gives and him that takes:
'Tis mightiest in the mightiest: it becomes
The throned monarch better than his crown;
His sceptre shows the force of temporal power,
The attribute to awe and majesty,
Wherein doth sit the dread and fear of kings;
But mercy is above this sceptred sway;
It is enthroned in the hearts of kings,
It is an attribute to God himself;
And earthly power doth then show likest God's
When mercy seasons justice...
Though justice be thy plea, consider this,
That, in the course of justice, none of us
Should see salvation: we do pray for mercy;
And that same prayer doth teach us all to render
The deeds of mercy...

from “The Merchant of Venice” by William Shakespeare