My favorite memory of home is of having tea. It is comforting to serve tea to guests, to visit with family over tea, and to watch sweet little girls enjoy playing with tea sets.
When we are blessed with pretty china cups, we feel rich. There is something soothing and relaxing about sitting down to a neatly decorated table and being served hot tea in a pretty cup. It is even sweeter to drink tea while visiting and eating a few delicate cookies.
Have you ever tried Lorna Doones? I was introduced to them two decades ago, while in the hospital, after the birth of one of my children. Late at night, a nurse brought me a few of these delicious cookies. I loved them! To this day, eating Lorna Doones still bring me a nostalgic smile. They are a rare treat. I love to have them with my tea.
A few years ago, I was in a Cracker Barrel restaurant in New Hampshire. They served English tea with my breakfast. To me, it was just like being at home. I felt comfortable and happy. I wonder if hot tea is a New England tradition? Because when I was a teenager, I traveled to Alabama. We went to a restaurant and when I ordered tea, they served me a tall glass of iced tea. I did not understand. (smiles) I had thought everyone in the world drank hot tea in pretty china cups.
Blessings
Mrs. White
From the Archives -
Encouragement - What Sundays Used to Mean to Housewives.
Homeschooling - Education Must Not Be Rushed.
When we are overwhelmed - The Homemaker's Despair.
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13 comments:
Hot tea is, indeed, a New England tradition! Because it is an English tradition, brought to this "New World" by our English transplants :-)
When I was in college in Boston, every Friday at 4pm was "High Tea." Granted, it was a women's college (Simmons), but all the colleges (including Harvard, where my now dh was a grad student) had tea somewhere on campus! For us at Simmons, each dorm had Friday Tea at 4pm. We all made a point of coming back to the dorm at about 3:45pm, and we cleaned our faces, brushed our hair, put on our nicest clothes (usually a skirt and blouse or sweater) and our nice shoes, fresh makeup, and then went down to tea in the dorm living room. Often there would be a professor visiting, and he/she would "pour," which meant they were an honored guest.
I attended high tea once at Harvard, and it was an elderly woman from the Cambridge community who poured. There was a guest speaker, and they had a sterling silver tea set. It was quite lovely!
In my dorm at Simmons, there was an old photograph (greatly enlarged and beautifully framed) of the young women from the dorm gathered around the honored guest at tea in our living room...the guest was Elinore Roosevelt!
So yes, New England carried over tea from across the pond! I'm glad they did...it's a wonderful thing!
Blessings,
Lori
I remember only too well my first visit in the US yielded a glass of ice tea when I requested tea in a restaurant! Add to that ice cubes floated in my glass, something few Europeans like (it drowns any favour).
But a cuppa always goes a long way to soothe worries!
Blessings,
If hot tea is not on the beverage menu at an Alabama restaurant, you should specify "hot tea." Otherwise, you're apt to get a glass of iced tea, like you did.
Sweet Iced Tea is a very popular beverage in the South, Alabama included!
Dearest Mrs. White, Lovely having tea to get refreshed and fired up for the rest of the day!
I like the way china sounds when it clinks while being used.
Sweet Autumn day to you,
d
I adore "high tea", such an elegant way to display our beautiful tea sets no matter where they come from, be it English, French, German or Chzech, like a couple I have, etc. Loved your post. Have a nice weekend. FABBY
Beautiful delicate cups and snacks are a fall delight. I love tea, but on a brisk blustering afternoon, it is the best.
HPS
LL
I love tradition and having a cup of tea in a pretty teacup with family or friends is a lovely respite. The wallhanging is very pretty and that is what drew me here to your blog. It's very nice to meet you and Happy Pink Saturday. Wishing you a delightful weekend.
Blessings,
Sandi
I live in OK and don't many hot tea drinkers. You are right that iced tea a big favorite in the south, especially if it is heavily sweetened.
I prefer my hot tea with sugar and my iced tea just plain.
Tea has been a favorite drink of mine since a young age. Here in the "north" or Midwest (Ohio) one must specify whether you want "hot tea" or "iced tea" when ordering in a restaurant - we have both! I drink hot tea at home every day, but not always in a fancy china cup - sometimes just a ceramic mug! Happy Pink Saturday!
Cindy @ Art, Books, Tea
Warm tea is a "northern" tradition, because in the south, it is generally too hot for it. Many people drink it here, in the morning in place of coffee, or in the dead of winter, which is Jan. and Feb. Otherwise, it's iced tea, and that usually is "sweet tea". I have my warm tea moments, but it has to be flavored...preferrably cinnamon or a fruit flavor, with honey. I prefer coffee, myself, though. (Carolyn, from Texas)
Tea time has always been my favorite, too. And, while I've never been to New England, I do think hot tea is a northern thing. Most places here in the Midwest do not serve it, but head north, and as soon as you hit the Minnesota border, it's hot tea at every restaurant...every service station...and not just one kind of tea, but several. It's wonderful to be in Northern Minnesota and have hot tea available 24/7! :)
(Note: I live in Missouri, but we have vacationed to Northern Minnesota since I was a little girl. It's my second home! :)
You are so true and your sentiment here rings deep to my soul. I host a weekly tea meme every tuesday if you would ever link to join or just come for inspiration. So many great offerings each week. This made my day - so glad I cam over from Pink Saturday!!!
I loved playing with a miniature tea set when I was young. I too think having a drink in tea cups with cookies is sweet moment.
Blessings to you and thanks for a few memories.
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