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| Japanese tea ceremony. Photo courtesy of justfoodnow.com |
Ok so I already know that you love to make a nice cup of tea and cozy up to your computer to read the latest post at Kitchensforliving. You don't? Well maybe you should. Coffee gets enough press and I'm not knocking it but the "in" thing in hot beverages is TEA! Now I know I have your attention because chances are you're freezing your buns off right now if you're anywhere in the northern hemisphere. (If you're in regions down under just add ice and you're good to go.)
Tea is an art and a ritual. Japan has always been known for the "tea ceremony", a complicated ritual performed by geishas who attend school for special training in the art. If you are here in South Florida you can attend an authentic tea ceremony at the Morikami Museum & Japanese Gardens. Interestingly, Japanese do not add any sweeteners to their teas balancing the pure flavor of the tea by eating teacakes.
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| Tea stand in Pushkar Rajasthan, India Photo courtesy of bridgeandtunnelclub.com |
One the contrary, in India, you'll find a yummy form of tea called chai which has become popular in the west these last few years. To make chai, add milk, sugar and a pinch of a blend of spices called chai masala. You can also purchase teas with the chai spices already mixed in. Last but not least, let's not forget our dear friends across the pond. English tea is a classic and a concept that has provided the British with comfort and refuge through multiple wars!
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| A proper Englishman enjoys a "cuppa" |
A few blog posts ago I wrote about the amazing teapots at Teavana but now I want to talk about the tea. You can buy it online but the stores are downright seductive. My daughter and I were lured into one while Christmas shopping. We sampled the feature of the day and I HAD TO HAVE IT. Yes, it was inexcusably expensive ($24 for this special blend of two teas) but it was an indulgence. I was able to brew it so that it tasted exactly like the sample and of course I bought the German Rock Sugar to use as a sweetener. There's the aroma, the flavor, the warmth and it looks beautiful! A real feast for the senses.
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| My Youthberry & Wild Orange Blossom Blend from Teavana. Photo by Sabrina Brunk |
If you'd like to dip you toe into the world of tea without involving a major financial commitment try Shui Tea. I found out about this great online source for tea from one of my fellow bloggers. You can get samples (enough for a few cups) for as little as $2.00 each! This site is run by a crazy dude and features crazy blends of all sorts of tea.
If you have a tea habit tell me about it. C'mon I know you're snowed in with nothing better to do or maybe you screwing around at work because, let's face it, no one really "works" between Christmas and New Year's ;)
