Put the kettle on…

Tags

#whatsinmycup, etiquette, food, tea

“Leonard: Howard’s gonna sleep here tonight. He had a fight with his mother.
Sheldon: Did you offer him a hot beverage?
Leonard: No.
Sheldon: Leonard, social protocol states when a friend is upset, you offer them a hot beverage, such as tea.
Howard: Tea does sound nice.
Sheldon: You heard the man, Leonard. And while you’re at it, I’m upset that we have an unannounced house guest, so make me cocoa.”
Big Bang Theory, Season 4, Episode 16

“I’ll put the kettle on.”  It’s become protocol, a cliché…to offer someone a cup of tea when they are upset or sad. And I cannot find any information on where it originated. Is it from the Victorian era, when tea was a socially acceptable beverage to offer guests, particularly a lady? Let’s be honest, there aren’t too many depictions of highborn ladies sucking back a brewsky.

http://www.Pinterest.com

I said there aren’t too many – I didn’t say they didn’t exist!

Was it during prohibition when tea was more accessible than hooch? Was it with the dawn of television? In the living room of I Love Lucy as a spunky redhead wailed to her beloved friend Ethel over the latest calamity?

* * *

In a crisis, the “fight or flight” response kicks in, suddenly releasing adrenaline into the bloodstream. Oxygen to the brain ad muscles increase to allow our bodies to cope with the impending threat. But the result can leave a person jumpy and emotional, with a reduced ability to focus and make decisions. Taking the time to cool and sip a cup of tea gives the body time to settle, and the person time to process and decide on their next course of action.

According to goldenmoontea.com, tea also has an amino acid called theanine, that reduces stress. With the addition of caffeine, it boosts brain activity and mood, increasing a feeling of relaxation. Theonine also helps boost white blood cells, which helps prevent illness.

Whatever the reason, there is something soothing about the invitation to sit together and to talk through troubles, while savouring a hot beverage. It’s time to put the kettle on…

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea. – Bernard-Paul Heroux

* * *

Do you have a theory? I’d love to  hear it!

 

 

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Pink Roses

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, pink, tea

I believe in pink. I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner. I believe in kissing, kissing a lot. I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day and I believe in miracles. Audrey Hepburn

3-footed Reticulated Rose Design Castle China, Made in Japan

Demitasse tea cups originated in France in the 1800’s. Demitasse means “half-cup”, and was meant for drinking stronger coffee like espresso or cappuccino, typically served after dinner.

In addition to the glaze inside the cup, which reflects a rainbow sheen in the right light, this tea cup and saucer has a gold, or gilt edging. This luxurious detail was often painted on the edges of plates, cups, bowls, and other pieces. Depending on the age and condition of the piece, the gilt edge may be worn or spotted.

At one time, in an effort to create unique designs for upper class tea drinkers, designers added pedestals or feet to their teacups. Little feet (3 or 4) were a delicate addition as they were pieces added by the potter, and more prone to breaking off. They certainly became a conversation pieces to impress “sophisticated” guests.

* * *

My mother-in-law passed away suddenly this weekend, and we are all in shock. She was a sweet lady with a wonderful giggle. I shared many cups of tea with her over the past 20 years and she will be sorely missed by her family. It only seemed appropriate that today’s post would be pink roses, because of all the colours in the rainbow, her favourite was pink!

Resources:

http://demiq-demitasse-cups-saucers.blogspot.ca/2011/03/history-of-cup-saucer.html

https://blog.englishteastore.com/2013/03/26/why-do-some-teacups-have-feet/

Queen Anne Yellow Roses

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, tea

Queen Anne bone china, footed tea cup and saucer – Yellow Roses pattern.

Anne (1665-1714) was Queen of England, Scotland and Ireland (which changed to Queen of Great Britain and Ireland under the Acts of Union, when England and Scotland merged as a single state) from 1702 until her death in 1714. She married Prince George of Denmark in 1683, but despite being pregnant over 17 times (and giving birth 12 times), she died with no living heir.

* * *

This tea cup belonged to my Grandmother, who always loved yellow roses. It was produced by Shore & Coggins Limited of Longton, England. The firm, Shore & Coggins Limited of Longton, England dates back to 1887. It was in the late 1940’s that the Queen Anne trade name was introduced and was used until the firm closed in 1966.

The rose is the flower and handmaiden of love – the lily, her fair associate, is the emblem of beauty and purity. – Dorothea Dix

Cheers!

Ice, Ice Baby

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, humour, tea

Fall may officially be here, but it seems Summer isn’t ready to release it’s grip. For the last year, I dreamed of sitting by a pool in my new bikini, a good book in one hand, and an ice cold glass of tea in the other. Where was this glorious sunshine during my one week of holidays?

The temperature soared over 30C this past Saturday, and with no kids in the house to scar for life, it was my last opportunity to enjoy a taste of Summer. If any of the neighbours were looking, they only looked once…because I blinded them!

Nothing satisfies quite like a chilled glass of homemade iced tea on a hot day. You can control the flavour and the amount of sugar to suit your own tastebuds, using whatever tea bags you have tucked into your cupboards!

It’s important to use enough tea bags to get a strong flavour, and better an extra bag than a longer steeping time. Tea that has steeped a long time tends to be more bitter. A green tea or an herbal (like Tetley’s Pina Colada), will require more tea bags in order for the flavour to come through.  Canadian Living Magazine recommends 2 bags for every 3 cups of water.

Allow the water to cool naturally before chilling it in the fridge. Tea that is put into the fridge when it is hot tends to become murky.

Iced tea can be sweetened or flavoured with sugar or lemon. I don’t sweeten my iced tea but if you do, add the sugar to the water when it is still hot in order to dissolve it. Alternatively, make a sugar syrup and add it to cold tea.  Lemon wedges should be added once the water has become tepid or squeezed in just before serving. Fresh lemons are always preferable to artificial lemon juice from a plastic squeeze bottle!

I like my tea really strong, so I don’t add a lot of ice to my glass. As the ice melts, it dilutes the flavour. Chill the glass before adding the chilled tea, and it’s just as refreshing! Cheers!

“Iced tea! Nothing is half so refreshing as a glass of black tea piled high with ice! More than a quencher of thirst, it is a tamer of tempers, a lifter of lethargy, and a brightener of smiles. It is a taste of Winter’s chill, magically trapped in
midsummer’s glass.”
― Paul F. Kortepeter, Tea with Victoria Rose

 

 

To China or Not to China…tea cups

Tags

#whatsinmycup, tea

Growing up, tea at Nana J. was always served in a tea cup with a saucer. She told me (more than once) that tea should always be served in a china cup. I’m certain she wouldn’t be impressed with the paper cups and stainless steel travel mugs I carry with me every day. But before we answer today’s question, To China or Not to China, what is “china”?

“China” or “porcelain” is mostly fine kaolin clay, which lacks flexibility and can crack and deform when it is subjected to rounds of high heat for long periods of time. The end result is a strong, chip-resistant product that appears smooth and delicate. Bone china is even  thinner (and therefore more difficult to produce), and milky white because it has an extra ingredient, bone ash. Bone ash comes from incinerated animal bones. Yummy! But while bone china appears more delicate, the softer glaze on it makes it more resilient to chips and cracks.

 China is non-porous, a very important detail in the “to china or not to china” debate.

Professor Andrea Sella from University College London studied the chemistry of tea. He found that the smooth surface of china “ keeps the natural tannins in the tea from sticking to the side”. Tannins are calming and balance the stimulating effects of caffeine. They are present in organic matter, including leaves and relate to the antioxidant benefits of black or dark teas.

When we eat or drink, we taste with all of our sense.  Porous materials absorb and retain flavour and aroma, which can alter the intrinsic bouquet of your tea.  A non-porous or smooth cup allows the undiluted and unadulterated essence of your tea to float freely.

China cups have thinner walls and a thinner rim, which lets the tea pour smoothly onto the whole tongue, exposing more taste buds to the warmth and flavour of the tea. And despite being a delicate material, china cups keep tea warm longer. And we know warm tea invites long, warm conversation.

China tea cups may not be practical when it comes to everyday use, but there is something special about sitting down (alone or with a friend) with a pretty cup and saucer. In our casual and increasingly busy world, we don’t take time to savour these beautiful things. Plus the sounds, such as a teaspoon clinking against its  surface are fun. 🙂

“The daintiness and yet elegance of a china teacup focuses one to be gentle, to think warmly, and to feel close.” – Carol and Malcolm Cohen

Regardless of how you choose to answer the question “To China or Not to China”, Dr. Tom Stafford, psychologist from Sheffield University, says, “It might be irrational or arbitrary but it’s absolutely true. Your daily brew tastes better from your favourite mug”.

Cheers!

***

Read more:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2337545/An-end-storm-teacup-British-scientists-work-make-perfect-cup-tea.html#ixzz4sxwfbNtL

https://www.goldenmoontea.com/blogs/tea/106692423-how-the-wrong-teacup-can-ruin-your-tea
http://noritakechina.com/what-is-china

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/4981229/Tea-really-does-taste-better-from-your-favourite-cup.html

 

What’s In My Cup?

Tags

#whatsinmycup, food, tea

Happy Monday! It’s tea time!

Making a cup of tea should be simple. All you need is a cup, hot water and tea bag, right? One would be inclined to think so…until you start to dig a little deeper.

Apparently there are a number of variables to  consider when brewing the perfect cup of tea – the flavour of the water, the temperature of the water, the vessel the tea is being made in, the steeping time, and the vessel the tea is being served in. Scientists have researched them all. They’ve also tackled the debate of adding milk before adding the tea or after adding the tea to your cup, as well as the advisability of sweetening with lemon or honey.

Then there are the different types of tea to consider – black, green, white, red, pu’erh, oolong…is anyone else feeling overwhelmed?

If man has no tea in him, he is incapable of understanding truth and beauty. (Japanese Proverb)

It’s a lot to take in and I have a lot of research to do. So here’s what I think we should do! I think we should all boil our kettles and make a pot of our favourite tea in our usual pot, and serve it in our usual cup or mug, and reconvene next week!

So what’s in my cup today? I’ve just brewed a cup of my usual Red Rose black tea in my usual red teapot, served in my usual flowered china mug!

Next week, we can start to unravel the mystery of making the perfect cup of tea together. Deal?

I think we should start with: To Be or Not To Be China.

One thing experts all agree on, however, is that  making the perfect cup of tea requires patience. With that in mind, cheers!

Welcome to “What’s in My Cup”!

Tags

#whatsinmycup, family, food, tea

Summer is over and quite frankly, I feel kind of cheated and tired, and totally unprepared to swing into action. Welcome to September! I need a cup of tea!!

Every Monday this Fall (and longer if it’s a success), I’m going to indulge in tea (& warm socks) and share them with you! “What’s in my Cup?” will be a composition of tea reviews, tips & trends, recipes, quotes and photographs.

It was my Nana J. who poured my first cup on a Sunday afternoon. We were sitting around the table after a hearty meal (that almost always included pie) and she poured me a cup of “calico tea” – a teacup of milk with just enough tea to colour the milk and take the chill from it.

Tea is synonymous with the comfort and security of family.  Growing up, we had tea at large family gatherings, and when my grandparents just “popped by for a minute”. I have shared endless pots of tea and deep conversations with my Mom, and I have laughed over cups of tea with girlfriends. It’s the first thing I reach for when I drag out of bed in the morning, and the first thing I want when I’m tired or I’m sad. I lose cups of tea in odd places in my home. Tea is an integral part of my life, and this feature just makes sense.

So I’m inviting you to pour yourself a cup of tea and join me in making “What’s in My Cup?” an indulgent and integral part of your Mondays!

Cozy Indulgence: “All you need is tea and warm socks.”

***

(Feel free to share “What’s in your cup” – your tea stories, tea topic requests, and photos too!)

WPC: Satisfaction

Tags

Photo Challenge, photography, tea, Weekly Photo Challenge

You can’t get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me. – C. S. Lewis

To get more “Satisfaction”, click here.

Happy Day!

She’s a Lady?

Tags

Being a lady, humour, tea

“I have bursts of being a lady, but it doesn’t last long.” – Shelley Winters

My husband is always telling me I’m so “lady-like”. I live in a house full of men, with all the stereotypical sights and sounds. The only exception is Chloe, our guinea pig, but she eats her own poop so I’m not sure she counts. Once in awhile it’s nice to make an effort at being a lady.

It’s not that I don’t appreciate my men or enjoy spending time with them. I do! Feed me strawberry soy ice cream though, and I would be crowned the Queen of Farts!

This weekend, I enjoyed browsing in the comic book store with Big Guy, and swapping stories with Little Guy. We ate pizza, watched America Ninja Warrior and capped the weekend off with a trip to the theatre to see Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie. I think I enjoyed it the most!

But last night was about being a lady. I hosted dinner for 5 of the women who now make up the executive of our Ladies’ Outreach ministry, and they are all class acts! So I pulled out all the stops! I used my Grandmother’s Royal Albert “Country Roses” china and my good silverware. I had pale plum napkins decorated with dainty teapots on them, and stemmed glassware with cranberry-cherry punch. The table looked perfect!

The perfect hostess will see to it that the works of male and female authors be properly separated on the bookshelves. Their proximity unless they happen to be married should not be tolerated. – Lady Gough, Etiquette (1863)

I cleaned the house, even the bathroom light fixtures (which required “hot yoga” on a stool in my nightgown and twisting behind the back corner of the floor behind the toilet, where a strong stomach is required). The house looked…respectable.

With seconds to spare, I managed to pull on a little black dress as the first guest arrived. I know she would have overlooked my short shorts and my Game of Thrones t-shirt, but I didn’t want her to have to do so.

Your dresses should be tight enough to show you’re a woman and loose enough to show you’re a lady. – Grace Kelly

I spent hours carefully chopping vegetables, pickles, meats and cheeses for 3 different salads. I picked radishes. I baked fresh bread. Someone brought a garden salad with fruit and fresh Parmesan cheese. Someone else brought a crunchy cabbage salad. Two others contributed key lime cheesecake and strawberry shortcake on a skewer. The meal was delicious.

There was no time for photos, but plenty of time for fun! Before our meeting, each lady ordered tea from my Tea Menu, which boasts 36 different kinds of tea. I like tea, and firmly believe that somewhere in the world, it’s Tea Time!

This morning, the kitchen counter is stacked with antique serving bowls, fine china, and memories. Purple gerbera daisies grace my empty dining table (a lady never arrives at a party with empty hands) and I felt a moment of happiness for having reconnected with my feminine side.

 

She’s got style, she’s got grace, she’s a winner
She’s a lady
Tom Jones, She’s a Lady

Then someone (who shall remain nameless), farted and promptly blamed the guinea pig. Moment was over.

Happy Tuesday!

It’s Friday…

Tags

coffee, humour, sweets, tea

It’s Friday…

…and this one goes out to my one-eyed love!

Happy Weekend!