Tea
Posted by Fiona Nevile in Cottage tales | 13 comments
Friday night. I’ve been working outside all week with no radio. That’s fine as I tune into the pattern of sounds in our village. The girl that tacks out on a coloured horse every afternoon. The heavy breathed joggers. The trail of mothers and children that venture to school and back at tea time. And the intermittent traffic, usually driving far too fast.
Our cottage is set back from the road in a dip. It’s a secret place. On a tight bend, people just don’t notice our home. We have double glazing and a deep drive. We could be on the moon
I am working at a house opposite. This wonderful house is set a good ten feet higher in an acre of garden. Inside it is quiet and the heavy doors shut with just the right whisper. Phut. But this afternoon, working outside, I was almost knocked off my ladder by the orchestra of lawnmowers. From Anne Mary’s sit-on steed to the mini Flymo in the garden next door.
I didn’t hear the call for tea but my decorating training means that I can lip read. As long as it’s a simple word. Tea has a 100% response rate.
Tea is my fuel.
I tend to shy away from a tea break. I generally opt for a mug on the job. Tea should be savoured and ideally be constantly at hand.
I used to be a “Twinings 1720” freak but now I have discovered Assam. Perhaps it just works well with our water but when I twigged that I had only 4 bags left I began to get a bit twitchy.
On a job I’m generally offered two types of tea.
“Builder’s or Earl Grey?”
I generally opt for the former. I’ve consequently carried out a blind tasting of most of the supermarket blends on the market. I quickly came to the conclusion that Twining’s Assam is a race apart.
Beware. If you try this tea there probably will be no looking back and what will you do with the surplus of insignificant tea bags?
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Hi Fiona
Just had a clear out in my “larder” cupboard as the top shelf was sagging dangerously in the middle. Thought it might be prudent to move the heavy jars of pulses to the supported ends of the shelf. In the process discovered that I have 10 different types of tea in there, including 3 boxes of my favourite “tisane” from France which I stock up on whenever I go there. I was introduced to Verveine – is it verbena in English? – nearly 30 years ago on an exchange and I have been drinking it ever since. There was no “ordinary tea”. I never buy milk as I don’t drink it and it really throws visitors through a loop as they rarely drink anything other than white tea or coffee (which I don’t like either). When you have to cut a basic food from your diet it helps to think outside the box. My brother and I are currently investigating mail order loose leaf Darjeeling. It’s very complicated and expensive!
Hi Kate(uk)
I love it but after reading all these comments, I think that I might venture out and try some different ones now.
Hi Jan
Good point – tea leaves releasing better flavour. Also the roses love the tea leaves.
Hi Kay
I must look out for that and dust off my tea pot!
Hi Pamela
Useful to have feedback from someone who can taste the tea raw, so to speak. Thanks.
Hi Michelle
Bergamot gives Earl Grey a superb flavour.
How to make a good pot of tea using loose tea leaves. I feel a post coming on! Watch this space.
Hi Michelle
I think I might try Dargeeling!
Hi Magic Cochin
Lots of food for thought here. Rooibus sounds tempting.
Hi Natasha
I™ve always found that Clipper teas are good. I™ll check this one out. Thanks.
Try clipper organic fair trade earl grey. It has a very clean, refreshing taste that is a great early morning reviver.
Natasha
Hi Fiona,
Tea is my fuel of choice – it powers my day!
Twinings Everyday is my choice at the moment – it comes in big boxes. Before Cliff gave up caffine we were a Twinings Assam household! A magnificent tea!!!! (But I’m not sure plumbers and builders appreciate it – we’ve had comments!)
I agree with Pamela – Rooibos Earl Grey by Dragonfly Tea is my choice when I’m overdoing the cups-per-day of the strong stuff. Now I’ve discovered loose-leaf rooibus by The Red Bush Tea Company, brewed in my new 2-mug teapot, the soft flavour is lovely. Very refreshing on a hot day.
Celia
I’m a Darjeeling girl myself but always open to exploring new territory. I’m going to try the Assam next time I’m at the tea company!
Hi Fiona,
Ah, tea! I am a recient convert since I found out that dairy is now taboo for me. Since I’m in the states and we all tend to be coffee mad over here, (and what is coffee without cream?) it took me a while to find something that I really liked, since there is no milk to hide behind. A local maker is what I settled on, Stash Tea Earl Gray. A generous helping of bergamont makes the flavor so nice.
Now, this is a bagged tea, so does anyone have any advice for a novice loose tea brewer? I’ll have to start at the very begining, since I have no clue how to get on.
Rooibos Earl Grey by Dragonfly Tea is my current favourite but I really like fennel tea too. Twinings Lady Grey is great. I can’t drink milk in my tea at all as I have lactose intolerance so I find the flavour is even more important and therefore cheaper tea just doesn’t do it for me. That said mostly I just drink water – hot, cold or any temperature in between. people generally just find it weird.
Oh my goodness, another thing we have in common – but I drink the Whittards Assam loose leaf – gorgeous stuff, but very pricey.
My favourite tea is a 50:50 blend (loose tea, natch – much better flavour) of PG and Earl Grey.
I agree- Twinings Assam is GOOD- and I don’t really like tea!