The Magic of Tea

I come from a family of tea drinkers. Growing up I thought there was one kind of tea: Lipton. 

As a child I watched Arthur Godfrey show how a teapot should be filled with hot water that would be poured out. One bag for each cup and one for the pot. Then refill the pot. Only later in life were bags replaced by loose leaves.

So often I've found myself with a group of Brits drinking coffee as I sip tea. Cultural reversal.

It's easy to identify a novel/film/TV programme as English or Irish because someone is always putting the kettle on. The same in British detective shows...chances are one to many cups will be drunk.

I was working for a British firm in Switzerland. It was Saturday. I had a call from Boston. A friend had been murdered.

Although I had two adorable Japanese chins, I didn't want to be without human company. Knowing that staff would be in the office, I went in.

"What's wrong?" Caroline asked as soon as she saw me followed by, "I'll put the kettle on. The tea and hug were both welcomed. It didn't change the tragedy, it strengthened me to deal with it.

My housemates in Boston and I often drank a pot of tea at the end of the day when we planned what we would do for dinner and the rest of the evening. We had a number of tea pots which often reflected our moods or the description of the day.

There's maté, made of yerba leaves. I first had this in Syria when I was staying with friends. Whenever women got together which was almost daily, maté was served. The gourd or glass was half filled with leaves, a dash of sugar and cardamon sprinkled on top and then water was poured to fill the container. Silver straws were used to sip it and when the liquid was gone more water would be added again and again as news was exchanged. No glue created as much bonding as the maté. I have the spoons and can sometimes find maté in specialty shops.

There's the Arabic mint tea, so sweet. I love it when it is poured from high up into a glass. A perfect after couscous or tangine drink. We're lucky that the tea room around the corner serves it.

Curling up with a book and a cup of tea on a rainy or snowy day is pure heaven.

My wonderful husband brings me a bowl of tea each morning in my special bowl. When I lived with a French family morning tea was always in a bowl. Louise Penny has her residents of Three Pines drink tea from a bowl. 

My editor corrected my manuscript about a French family drinking tea from a bowl. I changed the word cup back to bowl and explained why. 

Later in the day I might drink tea out of a mug or even a cup and saucer. A beautiful bowl, mug, or cup and saucer just adds to the pleasure.

During my no buy year, I saw a Villeroy Boch cup and saucer in their distinctive style with writings from famous authors. I didn't buy it. I wish I had. I've searched on the internet and have never seen it. Maybe someday.

I've moved from just Lipton. Now I know there's all kinds. Things like almond and vanilla can be added. Also spices. We important Constant Comment from the States or have received gifts of it from the States.

I used to travel through Heathrow regularly. One shop sold tea in bricks with carvings. I was told that tea growers in China that pressing the tea into bricks it was easier to transport the tea to market. In a way it was a shame to break it up, but I did. I also gave bricks to tea lovers as an unusual present. I've no idea if the shop is still there as I try and avoid Heathrow if possible. There's a tea shop in Geneva, maybe I should ask them if they can get me a brick.

High teas in Scotland, England and Malta have been delights with their tiny sandwiches and cup after cup of brewed tea. 

Because the office staff members in my Swiss office were from various Anglo speaking countries, there was much debate whether tea was steamed, brewed, steeped or cooked until it was ready for drinking. Did we put milk in before the tea was poured or not if at all. One, two, three spoons of sugar or none. Brown or white sugar. Cubes? Maybe. The new tea room in town has circles of sugar. Bags or loose leaf? There was total agreement that there were times that nothing satisfied like a cuppa.

Between Gaza, Ukraine, the disintegration of the U.S. government and more it is hard for me to shake the heaviness of the world. Writing something light like this about tea, the good things that add to the quality of a day helps. It can give me strength to write pieces like a Letter to Jeff Bezos or other essays reflecting the dangers that the U.S. faces. That is the magic of tea.