Apart from loving Tea, I also enjoy being outdoors and in the garden where tea plays a vital role in the day of working on garden tasks. In fact one of my favourite tea moments is sitting on a garden bench, piping hot cup in hand, taking a breather after heavy work, and collecting one’s … Continue reading “Tea, garden. Tea, garden. Does a good morning need anything else?”
The phenomenon of paddock to plate is continuing to build in Australia as we live more mindfully and sustainably. Being more aware of where our food is grown, by whom and the story behind the farmers and producers of our commodities is one way to be more proactive about food ecology and ethical values on … Continue reading Tea… from the farm to the cup
It is heartening to realise that there are millions of people throughout history that were as fussy, and demanding in their tea drinking habits as I am. Not only in the past but now in the modern contemporary world of art, music, film and literature, ardent tea drinkers abound. Who would have thought Mick Jagger, … Continue reading “Who would not spout the family teapot in order to talk with Keats for an hour about poetry, or with Jane Austen about the art of fiction”?
The simple act of putting the kettle on to make tea has been written about, quoted, and even sung about millions of times and yet remains a highly significant and worthwhile task. We do it naturally at the pauses during the day, to comfort others, on waking, when we come in from the garden or … Continue reading Put the Kettle On…
Many of us have enjoyed the Regency splendour of shows like Bridgerton with the elaborate tea settings in glorious palaces and stately homes lately. Together with popular shows, The Crown, Sanditon, Downtown Abby, or The Queen and Pride Prejudice have given rise to increased interest in many of our everyday objects; tea sets, vintage delicate … Continue reading You can never have too many teapots..
We can never hope to attain the perfection and beauty of blue china aptly expressed by Oscar Wilde. He said he found it harder and harder to live up to his blue china in the abovementioned sentiment, and I wholeheartedly agree. Blue and White are unequalled; fresh and bright, charming and delightful, elegant and forever … Continue reading “I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china”.
Is there anything more invigorating, comforting and refreshing first thing in the morning than a hot cup of Tea? The quote above says it all. Do I wake to drink Tea, or does Tea wake me up? There is a fine line between the two at times, and like coffee drinkers, tea drinkers love the … Continue reading I don’t drink tea to wake up. I wake up to drink tea.
The design and aesthetics of everyday objects have always been fascinating to me. It is no wonder that I enjoy collecting cups and saucers; the endless array of designs, decorative styles, embellishments, colours and shapes. Whether vintage from fifty years ago when it was common to collect the ‘best set of china’ and later pass … Continue reading “The Mere Chink of Cups and Saucers Tunes the Mind to Happy Repose”
What exactly is Earl Grey Tea? Earl grey is a flavoured Tea scented from the oil in the rind of Bergamot oranges, that grow along the coast of Italy and the south of France. Adding the oil from the orange rind to black tea gives the tea an aromatic, zesty flavour that, according to Twinings, … Continue reading “Earl Grey is really more of a ‘Sense and Sensibility’ kind of tea”
I like to live with the philosophy of “my door is always open” attitude and there is nothing I like more than to cook for loved ones – family and friends. Sharing a meal around the table or a tea is a joy and I always like to use my fine China collection at every … Continue reading “Come and share a pot of tea. My home is warm and my friendship is free”
My mother used to have a day now and then where she would stay inside, read books, drink tea and, because her hands were rarely idle, do knitting or handiwork all day. These occasional days she called ‘a nightie day’, meaning she stayed in her nightie all day. Rather than a common habit, ‘nightie days’ … Continue reading “Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”
What is the perfect cup of Tea? tea noun ( tee) an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water. Can diminish your troubles,calm your nerves and revive your brain cells. Tea is best made with fresh, good-quality tea leaves in a pre-warmed teapot of your choice with boiling water and served … Continue reading “Nobody can teach you how to make the perfect cup of tea. It just happens over time. Wearing cashmere helps, of course”.
We are all being urged to stay home across New South Wales and Victoria, so this week in a clearing out frenzy I pulled out a tea set I had bought in the 1980s. The set is comprised of four cups and saucers, creamer, sugar bowl, a large Teapot and also two well-loved large breakfast … Continue reading Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!
Well designed objects fulfil our desire for art and beauty and are a natural source of pleasure every time we use them. A ubiquitous Teapot is an object that is not only practical in providing a way to serve Tea but can also be a source of memories, a promise of an interlude, a symbol … Continue reading The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people.
Although the much-loved song from A Sound of Music says ‘Tea with Jam and Bread’, Tea is terrific just on its own or with piping hot scones fresh from the oven, a teacake or other morning tea treat. Our universal yet varied customs, traditions and habits of drinking Tea are often titles, and lyrics in … Continue reading ‘Tea – a drink with jam and bread’
Elevenses, morning tea, chai, char, te, teh, tae, thee, or te all are words around the globe that describe taking Tea. A pleasurable pause in life for a liquid refreshment we most commonly call morning or afternoon tea. Legends tell us that Tea began in China in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was … Continue reading Taking Tea
Tea lovers are notoriously pedantic about their tea-drinking habits, and I know this because I am one of them. As obsessive tea drinkers our customs, rituals and tea habits are likely to be annoying to others. Although it is human nature to create habits and both coffee and tea drinkers consider their daily rituals as … Continue reading “A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.”
Our long days of self-isolation and being confined to our homes for all but essentials, provide an opportunity for us to think about what we value most in our lives. A chance to reflect on priorities and spend more time doing the things we love. But when we consider how small after all the cup … Continue reading “The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement.”
George Orwell, the famous English critic, writer and essayist, loved a cup of tea as much as any of us. First published in the Evening Standard in 1946, he writes about the correct way to make tea and on reading his list, I have to agree with him. In his essay ‘A Nice Cup of … Continue reading George Orwell Musing on Tea
There is a fine line at present in these surreal times of keeping abreast of the current situation, monitoring our own risk and navigating lockdowns with a degree of happiness or normality. Being positive, talking of happier times, and our daily rituals and habits are very important. A ritual is defined as “an internally motivated … Continue reading “Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”
The quintessential treats to enjoy with a cup of tea are always scones. Loved the world over and called by so many different names, they are nonetheless, delicious for Afternoon or Morning Tea. Whether you like to say Devonshire Tea, Cream Tea, Devon Cream Tea, Cornish Tea, Tea and Scones or High tea, follow these … Continue reading Tea and Scones
The Silver Teapot 