Tea is magical. I just love it. I enjoy other beverages, including coffee, but I’m in a committed relationship with tea.
Tea engages so many of the senses. It warms your hands and your insides on a chilly day, yet it doesn’t make you too hot on a hot day. Beyond warmth, it provides comfort in a way that no other beverage has ever done for me. A good cup of tea can make a bad day seem brighter, can make a tender tummy feel better, and can instantly soothe frazzled nerves. Just the act of holding a warm teacup in my hands makes me happy.
My dad always had a cup of milky tea with his evening meal, which we always called “supper” growing up, but which everyone seems to call “dinner” these days. He would also drink tea with his favorite snack – peanut butter on saltine crackers. I can picture him sitting at the kitchen table with his cup of tea and his crackers, and it makes me smile.
When I married a Brit, I was a bit nervous about whether or not I was making tea correctly. If you’re thinking, “Make the tea the way you like it – there’s no right or wrong way,” you’re probably not British. There is ongoing debate as to whether the tea should go in first or the milk. This article sets things straight. Or provides further fuel for the debate. Not sure which. Then there is the good natured ribbing people give each other on whether they like their tea too dark or too light or with too much sugar, etc. Whenever Chris has told me that a particular cup of tea that I poured was really good, I have felt inordinately proud.
The one thing I love about British culture is that whenever you feel like making a cup of tea for yourself, you must ask everyone in the house whether they “fancy” a cup as well. This includes the person currently installing a new washing machine in the basement. I love the politeness and care for others that this shows. It warms my heart.
For a while I drank black tea with milk, but a few years ago I changed to (decaf) green tea and herbal teas without milk. Green tea of course has substances in it called polyphenols, and especially one polyphenol called EGCG, which may possibly fight against cancer, so I figure it can’t hurt to drink two or three cups a day. But I also love chamomile, peppermint, and ginger tea, among others. The thing about herbal teas is they smell so wonderful. They’re aromatherapy in a cup.
Beyond the tea itself, I love pretty teacups. A pretty teacup or mug can elevate the whole tea drinking experience to a new level. The Buddha cup pictured is my current “work” teacup and is a bit of a mystery. Where I work there is a kitchen and in the kitchen are cupboards with shared dishes and utensils. But people of course also bring their own stuff, and many of these items somehow find their way temporarily into the cupboards. If something is in the cupboard, it is fair game to use but not to keep at your desk. About two years ago I saw the Buddha cup and had to have a cup of tea in it. I went around asking if anyone knew who the cup belonged to, because I wanted to tell them how lovely it was and ask them where they got it. No one knew. I washed and put the cup back in the cupboard. No one ever took it out. I asked again. Still nothing. I work in a very small company, so this seemed unusual. So, I adopted the cup (well, I guess it’s more accurate to say I am fostering the cup) and will keep it warm and full until its owner needs it again.
Have a wonderful weekend, and I will see you again on Monday. Stay safe out there.
Tea – the best drink of the day.