It was only time

The "tea" shirt is amazing, isn't it? I'm not sure how the whole tea cup thing works or how I feel about it yet. Still, I had to share it with you.

[Still on the radar...]

Just in case you were wondering, I've had two cups of Cinnamon Heart (my favorite morning tea right now!) and a White Malibu iced tea latte today, so far. (I ♥ tea!) xo

My cup of tea

I wasn't always a tea drinker. In fact, there was a time I used to drink nothing but home brewed coffee with milk and sugar. (This was when I was a broke University student living at home and when those big plastic portable cups were all the rage). Then, a new kid came to town - I'll call him Tim...Tim Horton's - and I was all over him like a dirty shirt. For a couple of years I was all about Timmy's "extra large triple triple" and couldn't start the day without a visit to the drive-through to order one. I'd even visit throughout the day to feed this mild addiction. (Rumour had it that there was MSG in each cup.) From there, I found myself being seduced by the next big thing - the competitor who boasted trendy, sophisticated drinks with frothy foams, sugary syrups and fancy names like latte, frappuccino and misto. To boot, I had stopped consuming dairy and found that my new suitor offered lactose-free alternatives like soy. I was hooked. Soon, it was Starbucks and nothing else would do.

I'm not exactly sure when I began scaling back on my decadent coffee beverages...perhaps it had to do more with the fact that to feed this addiction I required deep pockets or the subtle hint of tightness around my waistline and the appearance of ill-fitting pants (these drinks come with a price, you see). Whatever the case, I found myself growing curious about liquid gold and began to develop a deep appreciation for the leaf and all of its varieties. I started off innocently with English Breakfast but soon found myself courted by the exotic black teas and lusting over the flavored pu’erhs. Most recently, I have fallen head over heels with organic Hojicha creme from David's Tea.

Of course, to keep my relationship with tea alive, I make sure not to discriminate and always keep an open mind to new blends and flavours. I've flirted with maté (I love its potency), spent time with oolong and rooibos (both lovely especially when enhanced with flavours) and experienced the smoky varieties of imported European teas (a wonderful surprise!). I'm always trying something new but I definitely have my favorites!

I'll drink several cups of tea a day. My routine (since returning from our recent travels) has been: a cup of Yorkshire tea with breakfast, two cups of caramel tea during the day and a special blend after dinner and perhaps again before bed (preferably Hojicha with soy milk and sugar).

I'm supplementing my tasting by also feeding my brain with books about the history of tea, the harvesting and processing, the traditions all over the world and how tea culture is making an impact these days. I especially love reading blogs about people's passion over the brew, tips about steeping and pairing with food (especially biscuits and sweets!) and reviews of different varieties. A recent comment posted by a Monsieur de la Cour has even inspired me to go on a tea tasting tour around the city. I think this would be fun!

So, whatever your cup of tea is - enjoy! I'll leave you now with this video on Tea Making Tips (circa 1941). Take care and talk soon. xo