I come from a long line of tea drinkers. Don’t get me wrong, I adore my coffee in the morning.
So much so that I get strange looks from my family in Europe on extended stays when again and again, for the breakfast table, I choose a cup of coffee to their pot of tea.
My Dutch grandmother poured hot water on black tea leaves in her silver pot precisely at 3:30 every afternoon, there was nothing a hot cup of tea couldn’t fix in her {and therefore my own} mind.
Did you know that tea is the second most consumed beverage only next to water? Brewing tea and drinking it is an important part of the day for people in almost every culture.
More than just a hot drink, brewing and sipping tea is a celebration of every day life, of taking a little time to smell the roses.
Brewing tea, smelling its delicate scent, and savoring each sip of the delicious, hot liquid encourages us to take a little break in the middle of the day.
To enjoy the moment, and really concentrate on the beauty of our day.
Drinking tea encourages thoughtful, peaceful thoughts, it brings a sense of peace and calm to an otherwise hectic day.
And these days, pretty much all our days are hectic if we let them be.
Tea asks us to slow our pace, to sit for a while, and be grateful for our homes and lives.
Drinking that beautiful cup of warmth out of an heirloom tea cup makes it all the more “special”, doesn't it?
I have a collection of special antique tea cups, some remind me of the people who gifted them to me. When I pull out one of those cups, to drink my afternoon tea, I remember the special friendship or family ties I have with the person who gave that cup to me.
I am hoping that my daughters and granddaughters, and my darling little grand-boy too, will have sweet memories of me and tea time at our house long after I'm gone. And that they will relish drinking their own tea out of the antique cups they inherit from us.
There are as many different tea blends as there are people, finding one you love is not difficult. The calming blend of herbs and spices can restore health, promote a sense of well being, even cleanse our bodies of toxins.
Making tea a ritual in your days allows you to appreciate your surroundings, it's a small luxury and a large grace note. It's also a wonderful way to treat yourself to a beauty break.
I love home design books, and BEAUTIFUL, by designer Mark D. Sikes does it's title proud. I often take just 10-15 minutes to sit and enjoy glancing at some of the pages while drinking my cup of tea.
I was fortunate to win this gorgeous book from my dear friend Shirley, who blogs at Hospitality Designs. Shirley shares her love of decorating and her love of making her home a haven for her family in such a charming way. We had the opportunity to meet each other in person this month, and it was best-friends-at-first-sight. {Don't you love that?}
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE KIND OF TEA? {For me, there is nothing as delicious as Earl Grey tea, with its delicate balance of heady and refined scents and taste.}
SHOP TEA CUPS {we have heirloom cups starting at 49.-}
24 comments
Peggy, I’d forgotten about Constant Comment, so thank you for the reminder. It has such a lovely taste, especially im the autumn. And a touch of local honey brings a beautiful sweetness, I’m sure. Happy weekend!
We don’t drink hot tea year round, but starting in fall and through the winter, we usually have a cup in the afternoon with a cookie or two. My favorite is Constant Comment with a touch of local honey.
I so remember my very first “tea ceremony” and thinking that yes, it is a celebration of precious tea, but yet a celebration of life itself. As you know, my mom is Japanese and covets her tea. I often wondered in my early years why my mom would insist me sitting down and having a cup of tea with her when I was so busy doing something…and then i realized, it was her way to tell me to stop and smell the tea and the roses too. Thanks my friend for the lovely shout out….you are a treasure and would make anyone feel like they have been your friend for life! xoxoxo’s P.S. Why does tea taste so much better in a beautiful tea cup? I guess it is all about making us feel special. Beautiful, beautiful images/photography as always!
Your post reminds me of a mistake I made when I hurriedly had to. I’d inherited my mother’s things. She had a lovely collection of cups and saucers which went to Salvation Army along with everything else. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve regretted not taking more time to keep some of what was donated.