March 2018 - Tea With Katherine

It’s about Tea Time, Not Just the Tea

First, thanks so much to everyone who commented here about your favorite tea!

Now let’s have a conversation about Tea Time!

I do enjoy at least 4 cups of tea every day and I start tea-drinking early in the morning, so I think of myself as a dedicated tea drinker!

Having a wonderful cup of tea is not just about the tea. It’s about doing something nice for yourself.

It’s about taking care of yourself. it’s about taking time to use teas, cups, dishes and pots that you love to touch and look at. Tea making can be a satisfying life experience that you can have several times a day. You can have this wonderful experience with yourself only or with other companions.

And when you make and drink a cup of tea with others, it’s about doing something nice for all of you. It’s about having good conversation that is enjoyable. It’s about making a face to face human connection.

I get so much satisfaction when I drink tea with people who are special to me. When I take the time for good conversation and make a meaningful personal connection over a favorite hot beverage and an enjoyable bite to eat, I can feel happy and peaceful. And I hope that you do too.

My Favorite Teas

Tea with savory biscuit — My morning tea with a savory biscuit

As I write this, I’m drinking a wonderful cup of Harney & Sons Earl Grey Imperial tea. It’s now morning, so I like to have my tea with unsweetened almond milk. The delicious tea is in my vintage Buchan Thistle Pottery mug. A small cup is not enough in the morning. A larger mug is a better size! And a homemade savory biscuit is a wonderful addition to a hot mug of tea.

Black Teas

There are many enjoyable types of tea made from the tea leaf. Black, Green, White, Red, Oolong, and Herbal are all types that I have tasted.

My kitchen shelves with tea — The tea has taken over the pasta shelf!

My favorite type of tea is a black tea.

An example is the Harney & Sons Earl Grey Imperial that I’m drinking now. I like the bergamot flavor.
I also like a black tea with a flavor such as Cardamon tea. I’m currently happily drinking lots of Ahmad’s Cardamon Tea.
Taylor’s Tea Room Tea that we bought from Tea Pittsburgh Blue Monkey Tea in Pittsburgh makes a wonderful cup of tea that I enjoy, as well.
English Breakfast Tea makes a very pleasant cup of tea anytime, not just for breakfast.
And Bigelow’s Constant Comment Tea is always wonderful!

I’m always trying different types of black teas. I can buy a little of a new tea (new to me) in case I don’t like it. But if I don’t like it, there’s usually someone else who does like it!

My kitchen cabinets have two shelves dedicated to holding my latest purchases of tea. As I’ve just bought more Harney & Sons tea, the tins are happily sitting on the shelf which stores pasta and tomato sauces. Guess I’ll have to drink them soon!

Oolong Tea

We are so fortunate to have an amazing box of Oolong Tea from China that was a gift to our family. The Tea is amazing. I have to admit that it is such a delight to look at, that I haven’t drank that much of it. I need to move it in my mind from a visual art to a taste pleasure so I will drink it more!

Herbal Teas

My two favorite herbal teas are

ginger
mint.

We grow mint in our yard so there’s always enough mint for tea. (And for salads, and for cooking almost anything else).

I buy fresh organic ginger for tea. I slice it very thin and then boil it in water for about 20 minutes. I then strain it and drink it with raw or brown sugar

Caffeinated vs. Decaffeinated

I usually drink caffeinated tea which doesn’t bother me at all. Even at night. But that’s what is good for me, my brain, and my body.

Because so many people are sensitive to or bothered by caffeine, so many of the teas that we love can now be bought as decaffeinated.

Always listen to your body and do what’s best for you. That’s what I try to do.

Tea Time is about being kind to yourself.

For our next tea party conversation, please comment…

So now that we’ve talked about our favorite teas, what is your favorite way (or ways) to brew them? Loose tea or bags? In the pot and strained or in a mesh tea ball or filter? How long do you like to let them steep? Please comment on your preferred ways to brew your favorite cup of tea! What do you like to put in your tea, if anything? Almond milk? Raw sugar? Agave? If you like, make yourself your favorite cup of hot tea first. Then comment on your tea-making preferences! Let’s continue our tea party conversation.

Welcome to Tea with Katherine. That’s me. And I’m hoping that you’ll join me for tea. So feel free to make yourself a warm cup of your favorite tea in a special cup or mug. And then let’s talk about having a wonderful tea party!

Yes, you need to make your own cup of delightful tea (I do wish that you were here and I could make you a lovely cup of tea), but I’m hoping that this website will be a place for us to share ideas about brewing our favorite teas, making wonderful foods that are plant-based and cruelty free, and setting a beautiful table for you and your companions. And perhaps we’ll have some thoughts about soft and lovely background music.

This is about finding creative and practical ways to enjoy your special beverages and foods, your lovely table setting, and your pleasant companions. And having interesting conversations. Having tea with someone else, whether a beloved family member, an old treasured friend or an exciting new friend, is an opportunity to enjoy the company of someone who wants to be with you. Does this sound simple and old-fashioned? Perhaps. But if that sounds good to you, then a tea party with Katherine may be just what you’d enjoy.

This website can be that place for you to go when you want to have a cup of tea, relax, and learn some new ideas or share some trusted ideas to plan a special tea party.

Why a tea party?

Well, making a nice cup of tea and a delicious bite to share with others is an opportunity to enjoy the moment and be in the now. So be here now and let us know about your favorite tea. What is it? How often do you brew it? How do you brew it? What do you like to put in it, if anything? What about it makes it a favorite?

Then we can enjoy this tea with you! Perhaps we’ll buy it too, or perhaps just enjoy your description. We’ll see!

So let’s begin our tea party conversation about our favorite teas!