Planning a tea party as a little girl, I would meticulously set out little plastic cups and saucers, completing the picture with a centerpiece of fresh picked dandelions. It was all about ceremony and loveliness.
The idea for the formal tea party is credited to a ninteenth century English duchess who so enjoyed taking tea in the afternoon that she invited friends to join her. Having elegant tea parties became very fashionable. Silver tea services and tea tables were status symols. China cups and decorative teapots turned out to be coveted collectables.
More and more, tea is becoming a poular choice over coffee, but most times, the microwave and mug replace the whistling kettle and bone china. Tea on the run is served in a paper cup. Have we given up on ceremony and loveliness?
In many cultures, tea is considered to be a spiritual and mystical connection to the soul. To the Chinese, it is often thought to symbolize the harmony and mysterious unity of the Universe. It was the Chinese who first discovered the tea leaf, not the British. Tea has played a role in literature, romance, world politics as well as cuisine.
As times and lifestyles changed, the popularity of the formal afternoon tea waned, but there are those who still consder "brewing a pot" an art. The Internet has given us access to teas from all over the world. With a click of a mouse, Black, White, Green, Oolong, and Red teas can be shipped to our doorstep.
One of tea's rewards is the blessing of slowing down to enjoy it. If you do it right, brewing and sipping a cup of tea can help you find stillness in even the most frantic of days. It is a simple, inexpensive way to do something really, really special just for you.
