Time For Tea
This is my day with a cuppa, and thank you to Gillards of Bath, tea merchants in the Guildhall Market founded in 1888, for their advice. Loose leaf where possible please, tea bags, whilst appreciating their convenience, especially for mass catering and a quick brew on the go, could be just fannings or sweepings, depending on their quality. Did you know loose leaf tea is very forgiving, just keep it dry and out of direct sunlight and it will last 2 years or more, as long as you haven't drunk it in the meantime!
I go for two mugfuls of water first thing in the morning without fail to get hydrated, and then plenty through the day depending on activity and temperature- yes that does mean the odd loo stop!
For breakfast my current preference is English Breakfast, a traditional blend of the finest of Darjeeling and Ceylon estate teas. They say best served with milk, but I like pretty much all my teas without and on the weaker side, thank you. I find Ceylon orange pekoe, or failing that broken pekoe a good alternative. By the way did you know black tea contains antioxidants which can help to reduce free radicals in the body, promote cellular health and ward off degenerative diseases like cancer. And why is it called Orange Pekoe you might ask? Well the Dutch royal family belonged to the House of Orange. The Dutch East India Company brought teas to Europe from the early 17th Century, setting aside the best black teas for the royals. The story goes that when this tea became accessible to the public, people nicknamed it the 'orange' pekoe for its association with the royal family.Orange pekoe means highest grade tea leaf and must be composed purely of the new flushes, it contains a moderate amount of caffine as well as a compound known as I-theanine, which can help to reduce anxiety and relieve stress. Anyway I digress.
In ordinary time around eleven, freshly prepared root ginger and slice of lemon in hot water, or fresh verbena leaves in season, goes down well with a plain digestive biscuit,chocolates ones feel a little excessive and could lead one down a slippery slope.
On holiday I'll look for freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast followed by a decent coffee then or at elevenses with croissant or pastry.
Earl Grey at lunchtime or in the afternoon with or without a slice of lemon, and especially with a cream tea is parfait. One of the key ingredients, bergamot, has become recognized as having many health benefits, so while it adds that delicious citrusy flavor, apparently it also has antibacterial properties that give your immune system a boost. Okay if I was out with friends, or on a good walk to refresh, I might have a beer as a treat, but look to finish with an Earl Grey.
Late afternoon I invariably turn to the 'champagne of teas', Darjeeling broken orange pekoe. Hailing from the foothills of the Himalayas, this is a prized tea for its delicate flavours and the broken pekoe allows for a quicker infusion time. Rooibos South African red bush is a great low tannin option and especially for anyone who pops in and wants a caffine free alternative; I gather its particularly good iced in hot weather.
By the way, I am ever mindful who's making, with my time in the police teaching me it's use in calming situations and building relationships. Some close friends love strong Yorkshire tea so that's a separate pot, and once a student staying took an hour to make a cuppa- she was Japanese and wanted to introduce us to the ceremony!
In the Winter as we draw the curtains and put the heating on, in our case hug the aga, maybe its time for a Lapsang Souchong. This is a unique and bold black tea renowned for its distinctive smoky flavour. It traces its origins to the Wuyi Mountains in Fujian Province, China. Legend has it this tea was born out of necessity during the Qing Dynasty. The story goes soldiers camped in a tea factory using freshly picked leaves as bedding. To salvage the tea, farmers quickly dried the leaves over pinewood fires, resulting in a smoky flavour that captivated taste buds and become a beloved tradition. Russian Caravan is a gentler less smoky alternative, and as the tea merchant contrasts the two, you are standing by the fire, instead of in it! There we go, digressing again, but interesting to know if you have time over a cuppa.
After supper a special Gillards Digestive mix of peppermint, Egyptian mint (Wintergreen) and Rosehip, goes down just right with a square of high percentage dark chocolate. And speaking of which, a hot chocolate would go down well anytime at elevenses onwards on a cold day or out in the evening with friends as an alternative to alcohol- you just have to be your own person!
Finally, you'll be glad to hear, if one is suffering, then it might be a hot toddie and to bed. However, at the end of the day, come rain or shine, in the happiest or saddest of times, I don't think you can really beat a nice cup of tea.
