The other day I went and visited a friend for her birthday. I took her a jar of fresh black tea and a bunch of flowers. We sat around the fire and sipped tea and ate cupcakes with sugar flowers on top. It couldn't get more simple of more satisfying than that.
What is it about tea that allows your mind the time to really think about things? Is it the aroma as the hot water infuses the leaves? That warm leafy, hearty smell that makes you want to savour every mouthful before it runs out. Is it the gentleness as it warms your throat, or is it sipping from bone china cups that makes it feel like a fantasy?
My Grandma LOVED tea and she loved it strong (and that love has now made it's way through 4 generations). I always looked at her as the 'queen of tea'. Through my little people eyes, she was the expert, she knew so much, she knew how it should be made and how it should taste. I will never forget one time when she came to visit and I made her a cup of tea. I can still hear her words as she took a sip 'that's a good cup of tea'. As a child I could have burst with excitement that the 'queen of tea' thought my tea was alright!
Whatever it is about tea, it's what I love more than anything. I. Love. Tea. I love the way it makes me feel and I love how it always makes me slow down. And more than anything, I love that it brings everyone together.
Last week we celebrated a friends birthday with a little morning. I had so much fun putting together a sweet little 'desert table'. We sat, drank tea, ate mini cupcakes and lemon tarts, read magazines and opened lots of lovely and handmade presents. Nothing else was needed, it was just right!
