Sharing tea is a common custom and often elaborate ritual practiced in many countries around the world. In our travels, I have been lucky enough to enjoy this custom in many places. My mom set an early example of serving afternoon tea, for anyone who would join her, which remains a tradition when we visit each other now. Over the past several weeks, I have had several different friends over for afternoon tea and have decided it is a wonderful practice to nurture. It’s seems even more meaningful when shared in the comfort of one’s own home instead of a public cafe where distractions abound. Because I am still getting acquainted with new friends there is a lot to learn about each other and getting reacquainted with old friend’s takes time and attention as well. In addition, an unexpected death of a family friend recently brought my sister, Sandy, home for a visit during which good bonding time occurred over hot tea during a cold sad time. I shared a bottle of wine, which could easily have been a pot of tea, with a cousin this past weekend talking over hobbies and retirement plans. Finally, I had an old friend out for happy hour and homemade fish chowder Friday night and I think she would really enjoy catching up over afternoon tea, that is, if she ever retires. These experiences convinced me I must better practice this rewarding social ritual, especially through the fall and winter months when cozy gatherings are enjoyed and appreciated.
First one must choose a tea to serve; the choices are abundant in our house given Paul’s shopping habits and recent trips to China from which he returns with tea often given as a parting gift. I like to mix different varieties together, in either bag or loose form, which seems to be received well. Choosing a tea service is also an important step in the process but I keep it simple by steeping the tea in a French press and serving it in ceramic mugs. Tea steeping time is probably important but I haven’t studied up on that matter and I seldom bring out the cream and sugar which is probably a big gaffe in the ritual. I have a small cast iron red metal decorative tea pot with the small handle-less cups used in Chinese restaurants both of which require too much steeping and cup refilling for me so I seldom use them.
Another part of the ritual I need to step up is the serving of small sweet treats to accompany the tea. One friend brought over chocolate-zucchini bread to share which was lovely as I didn’t have anything around the house that day. I will have to make or buy some items to have on hand and try to forget they are in the pantry as I restlessly wander around the house at night. I think I will purchase some of those short bread cookies and/or make some cookies I store well and place deep in the freezer. Quick breads are also simple to make and probably not as tempting to unearth from the freezer in the night. I am particularly interested in perfecting a lemon version; maybe I’ll use the lemon poppy seed Bundt cake recipe I wrote about this summer. Yum!
We will see how I do with this plan during the upcoming winter months in Flagstaff but, I think it will be a better way to catch up with old friends than traditional evening group gatherings when conversations are less personal. We are all getting too old to be driving on winter streets at night anyway. Of course, upon our spring return to the lake, this whole tea ritual will be quickly forgotten and replaced by wine happy hours as the weather warms and the screened porch overlooking the lake calls out for enjoyment. In coming home, I really enjoy living in a more deliberate seasonal manner. Cheers…with your tea mugs!