When I hear the word “ teatime” … it brings back so many good memories . Growing up and having afternoon tea was a very important ritual we did and still do. I remember teatime was always at 4 pm after school. We had our tea with some cupcakes (muffins), popcorn, nuts, biscuits (cookies) or other traditional snacks. The one thing I remember is a host saying, “A good host always offers tea to her guests be it rain or shine ”.  

You might ask why tea out of all the beverages in the world? I remember someone saying “whether you are well off or not, everyone has water, tealeaves and sugar at home, and tea brings everyone together.”  

Having my daily cups of teas is one of the things I have carried from my childhood to adulthood. If you ask people close to me about my tea intake they will say, I am “90 percent tea and 10 percent water.” It does not matter what time of day or season we are in, you will find me with a cup or two of tea without skipping a beat.  

Why do I love tea so much? My tea addiction started when I was very young.  I remember my mother always giving me a sip of her tea when I was a baby, and I have been in love ever since. Why do I drink tea so much? For me a good cup of tea represents so much: it’s a warm hug, it sooths the soul and warms the body, it offers some type of comfort whether I am happy or sad. It’s also sign of welcoming someone to your home and finally it brings so many happy memories. 

Favorite tea and brand here

I know for some people when it comes to tea they can either take it or leave it.  My hope is that people who dislike it will give tea another chance. There are so many wonderful flavors and blends out there. Some of  my favorite hot teas are: black masala, Jasmine, chai Masala, and Early Grey. For iced tea I like: Pineapple tea with spices, mango passion fruit with lemon and ginger tea (if you want to call them a tea hahahah) but also very refreshing.  

Recipes:  

Black tea:  

• Black tea leaves 

• Ginger  

• Water  

• White pepper corns  

• Cardamom  

• Clove  

• Cane Sugar or sweetener of your choice (optional) 

Bring water and your ingredients to a boil for 3-5 minutes depending on how strong or light you want it.  

Chai Masala  

• 1 milk or plant milk  

• 1/4 cup water  

• Ginger  

• Cardamom  

• Star spice  

• Masala spices (could be bought online or local Indian store)  

• Clove 

• White pepper  

• Cane Sugar or sweetener of your choice (optional) 

 Pour your milk and water into a saucepan on medium heat. Add the rest of your ingredients and bring it to a boil for 5-7 minutes depending with how dark you want it. Please watch out for the milk as it will spill over if left unattended.  

Happy Teatime