The pleasure of tea

Tea refreshes, revives and restores your spirit, particularly during difficult times.  I can still remember my first cup of tea after Emma was born.  And the kindness of the nurses who brought us tea a few minutes after Dad died.  My children don’t understand why I drink tea when the weather is warm.  It cools you down in a way that cold drinks may not. My first instinct when returning home from work or holiday is always to sit down for a cuppa!

In Hong Kong I was introduced to Jasmine tea, by my new friend Sue.  It has all kinds of health-enhancing propoerties.  She encouraged me to buy some beautiful little cups to make drinking more of a pleasure. I realise that there is an art to it too, as the assistant showed me.

And I recently started making my own peppermint tea from a plant that Stewart grew for me from seed.  It’s really delicious.  Tear the leaves first and add a few tiny grains of sugar or a little honey.

Here is a poem I like.

A Cup of Tea

When the world is all at odds
And the mind is all at sea
Then cease the useless tedium
And brew a cup of tea.

There is magic in its fragrance,
There is solace in its taste;
And the laden  moments vanish
Somehow into space.

And the world becomes a lovely thing!
There’s beauty as you’ll see;
All because you briefly stopped
To brew a cup of tea.

Tea helps our head and heart.
Ted medicates most every part.
Tea rejuvenates the very old.
Tea warms the hands of those who’re cold.

(J. Jonker, Amsterdam, c.1670)