International Tea Day.
International Tea Day 21st May
Saturday was International Tea Day. I wonder is there any home in Ireland which does not have tea lurking in the kitchen. Now for me tea means dried leaves of the tea plant. Botanicals can be added but the tea leaves have to be the basic ingredient.
Tea is part of the Irish tradition. Each person, each family have their very own way of making tea. Whether it is so strong that you could “trot an elephant” on it. Or so weak one wonders why tea was actually used.
Then there is the question of milk. First or last? Whether tea bags should even be used in making tea? Also, there is the question of sugar. Then of course there is the question of whether the tea should be made in a tea pot first and allowed to brew? Is the taste better in a china cup rather than a mug? Whether tea should ever be served in a mug even? How about lemon? Should that be part of a cup of tea?
In Ireland however, there is another question “Lyons or Barry’s”? This is a fiercely disputed question and households remain fiercely loyal to the brand. May parcels wend their way around the world with either a box or two of Barry’s or Lyons’ tea.
While we in the 21st century have tea wildly available if you were living in the time of Jane Austen the tea was safely locked away as it was so expensive. Jane Austen loved tea and it was the center of almost all the social occasions in her books. I do not know if you are a lover of Pride and Prejudice? But in the book Mr Collins talks of Lady Catherine bestowing the greatest kindness of drinking tea with Elizabeth Bennet.
“Strange how a tea pot can represent at the same time the comforts of solitude and the pleasure of company” Author unknown. This is indeed so. The cup od tea can soothe relax, welcome, support and ease pain. It is a veritable miracle cure that aids one in life.The following sums the miracle cup of tea.
If you are cold, tea will warm you.
If you are too heated it will cool you.
If you are depressed it will cheer you
If you are excited it will calm you.
William Ewert Gladstone.
Does a cuppa need a little something to nibble on? think that is for another days discussion.
So, how do you like your tea? Generally for me it is made in a china mug with a tea bag. Then there are the times when I need a pot of tea. Sometimes a cup of green tea is called for but that is not too often. As for infusions I think my fvourite would be hibicus.
But however you like your tea I hope you can enjoy a “cuppa”.