However we take our tea... or our coffee... it's how we take it that counts.
It would seem that we all have our own little foibles about the way we prepare and enjoy our cuppa's... That is such an Aussie word, by the way... ' come around for a cuppa' or... 'let's meet for a cuppa'... I am not sure if this slang word is used in any other country... but I haven't heard it much in England and certainly not in France!
As I said yesterday... I love a mug of green tea in the morning in a Japanese stoneware mug... that has been made in an iron teapot... but if I am drinking tea later in the day I prefer to drink from a porcelain cup... It makes no sense, but there is no way to solve my idiosyncrasies... not at this stage... I think we are all a little the same... we like it how we like it... and when it comes to tea and coffee... I think we are all a little particular... I know it's not polite to be so fussy... but in the comfort of our own homes... I say let's be fussy... We have our ways of preparation, the flavours we prefer, the brands we choose and the teapots, coffeepots, machines, cups and saucers that we rely on...
My husband is mad for coffee... especially Nespresso... he loves it so much that I bought him a Pixie for Christmas so that when he is travelling to some of these far flung destinations of his, he can wake up and have a decent coffee first thing... I am not entirely sure I should have encouraged his habit... but how could I resist?... And as a former coffee drinker I was partial to Nespresso... For purists it's not the real thing but it comes pretty close...
Back to tea...
There are herbal teas and then there are herbal teas... Sometimes packet teas smell sweet and delicious but have no taste... I feel as if I am drinking colourful hot water. My preference is for fresh leaves and flowers from the garden... mint, lime blossom, verbena, sage, thyme... Sage and thyme are my winter favourites... mint, verbena and lime blossom perfect for summer... I pick the leaves straight from the garden and infuse them with hot water. Fresh thyme is wonderful for the respiratory system and sage is a marvellous digestive... Hibiscus and rose-hip, the dried flowers, make a refreshing summer tea especially with freshly sliced lemon...
When I'm lazy and in search of a tea bag... and there are times when only a tea bag will do... I generally pick peppermint or camomile... they seem to be the most flavoursome of the pre-packaged herbals... and for the green teas... I have particular favourites... nothing fancy... but I like the taste... some would say an acquired one...
Here are my suggestions for a cup on the run... I will leave the loose leaves alone... as those are far too personal and many to mention...
Oolong Weight Loss Tea... don't know if this really works... but I like the taste and the thought...
Bonomelli Camomile... Full of real dried flowers... the best...
Twinings Pure Peppermint... not exciting, but always good...
Some pretty 'vintage style' porcelain cups to drink that perfect brew from...These I love...
These cups would look gorgeous mixed together... sometimes different patterns of china make the best table settings... I would also mix them in with the plain white Pillivuyt that I have...
For husbands like mine... or for those with a love of the single shot... the Pixie...
and for frothing milk there is no better than the Aeroccino... this is amazing for coffee and hot chocolate... so easy, so quick and it makes the perfect professional fluff every time...
Happy 'cuppa' today... and please let me know some more of your favourite teas... I would love to try them... xv
P.S Apparently 'cuppa' is an English expression too... so I haven't been listening enough!
P.S Apparently 'cuppa' is an English expression too... so I haven't been listening enough!
The only herbal tea that I actually like is the kind made with fresh leaves. Especially lemon verbena, with a little mint.
ReplyDeleteAnd tea, the organic kind grown in Queensland, I live on the stuff.
Ah but coffee...that is my absolute weakness...the joy of a good coffee...nothing like it!
I'm a tea addict - I mean real tea: black tea, not green tea or herbals. Drinking green tea at breakfast almost makes me sick, it's better in the afternoon on a full stomach but I don't enjoy it much. Only in summer when it's really hot will I favor green tea.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite teas from a few brands: By Betjeman & Barton "orange douce" (perfect for breakfast) and "gentleman à Deauville", by Mariage Frères "Marco Polo" and "fall in love", by Kusmi Tea "anastasia", by Palais des Thés "thé des moines".
Yes "cuppa" is an Australian word. I like Earl Grey and Lady Grey but you have given food for thought. I have all kinds of herbs in the garden and I'm going to give my Moroccan Mint a go.
ReplyDeletePretty porcelain cups are the only way, I think, to drink certain teas such as Earl Grey! It's absolutely true about the Aeroccino - an amazing invention and as for Nespresso I'm an addict - so many varieties too.
ReplyDeletehttp://missbbobochic.blogspot.com/
Well, we are on our second pot of coffee this morning so that probably is quite telling! One fun thing to try with coffee is to make it Zanzibar style by adding a bit of cinammon and cloves--great antioxidants too. For tea, I am lazy and buy the bags of green tea--I did find one that I love especially: Ginger and lime. It keeps me warm when the mistral blows!
ReplyDeleteHave you tried caffeine free Redbush tea? I am also partial to Fennel tea and Ginger (suffering as I always have from digestive complaints).
ReplyDeletePeppermint is also one of my favourites, as is Earl Grey with Lavender (a new find) but my favourite spoil myself tea is Jasmine tea. It has the most uplifting wonderful aroma.
For me it has to be a China tea cup (otherwise known as porcelain). I cant bear a heavy crockery mug as it really affects the taste.
Oh and I thought the word 'cuppa' was an English term (which was a northern phrase). My mum and I always say, pop around for a cuppa, or shall we stop (usually shopping) for a cuppa. My mum is a northern lass so I grew up with that term and just associated it with tea loving northern folk (I know Yorkshire folk who even drink tea with their dinner in the evening - not sure if that is usual). Anyway, strangely my mum lived in Bunbury near Perth for 5 years or so of her life, so maybe thats how the phrase appeared in my daily vocab. I had never thought about it, but now I am intrigued and will have to ask her.
Enjoy your brew today - whatever tipple you decide to have.
Give me a cup of good old English Breakfast with a dash of milk first thing in the morning, Vicki ..... that's the English way. Then a cup of the same in the afternoon and an herbal tea before bed.
ReplyDelete......and, I do believe that the word 'cuppa' is used by many. We say it all of the time as do my friends and family. I think it is Irish in origin. XXXX
I'm a tea person. I drink almost any kind of tea, but when I can choose I pick white tea, verbena, something from Marriage Freres, Fortnum and Mason's Earl Grey, herbal infusions and green tea from Yogi... Paper cup with a lid when I like to walk at the same time, nice china when at home.
ReplyDeleteI just added some pics of cupcakes on my blog... a cupcake goes so well with a cup of tea...
Have a great Friday!
Tibs
Once the ferry touches Dieppe, all bets are off for finding a decent cup of real tea.
ReplyDeleteI do not like any tisane - too medicinal. Green tea is tolerable with Japanese food. China with Chinese food.
But in the morning nothing will do but proper English tea with milk in first - another debate. I prefer the thinest china cup possible.
My daughter loves her Pixi. She has always loved coffee. Even as a little child she would sneak sips from her grandmother's cup. I can't stand even the smell of it. For the same reason I don't like plane chocolate - to me it tastes too much like coffee.
When we lived in England, our village was rather posh and I don't remember anyone using the "cuppa" expression. Only on TV comedy shows with people stopping at roadside tea stands.
concerning origin: Here is what the Urban Dictionary has to say on the subject -
http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=cuppa
Cheers for a fun post
Priscilla
I am mad for Steven Smith's teas from Portland OR and Big Hibiscus is my absolute favorite, hot or cold .. http://www.smithtea.com/ ... Fortnum & Mason has good tea bags as does Mariage Freres (I love their little fabric pouches), their lapsang souchong is great ...
ReplyDeleteI used to get this smokey green tea by the bulk at the Japanese department store Takashimaya, but they left NYC. They had every possible green tea, I don't know how to get more. I have never heard cuppa used when in England, but when I see Brits over here, they often say cuppa so it must be part of their lingo.
Have a great weekend Vicki ...
From NZ I love my 'proper' coffee but sometimes a real old cuppa is called for - nothing flash just tea When i want specific tea it's either green tea or white tea but other times its just a Bell tea or a "cuppa' especially when it's dunked with a gingernut!!! How disgusting but great!!
ReplyDeleteHands down my favorite peppermint tea is Taylor's of Harrogate Organic Peppermint Tea. So delicious (especially with a slice of chocolate banana bread). Love your post!
ReplyDeleteI have gotten into the habit of sitting down every day at three pm and making myself a pot of tea --two cups. The only tea is the kind you make with tea leaves. I do it very simply: boil two cups of water in microwave for three minutes. Add three teaspoons of tea to tea pot. The one extra teaspoon of tea leaves is for the pot. Let it seep for five to six minutes depending upon how strong you want it. Living in the States I found a company called The Tea Table out of Colorado that has many varieties of loose leaf tea. My ultimate favorite is Earl Grey Rose and Lavender. The fun thing to do is keep trying new brands which they will send you a free sample with each different tea you order.
ReplyDeleteI am a big fan of all sorts of teas, depending on the situation. My go-to is a light green, buttery sort of spring tea. However, I am learning the wonders of true tissanes since moving to Switzerland, as opposed to, as Vicky so adequately describes 'colourful hot water'.
ReplyDeleteI do love Fortnum and Mason's tea counter in London, and Marriage Freres whilst in Paris. However my absolute favourite tea shop I've stumbled across is in Toulous, called Saveurs et Harmonie. Not only is the sales lady friendly and knowlegeable, the selection amazing, and the quality high, but each tea cannister has it's own handmade watercolour lable, and when you buy a little package, you get a smaller version of the aquarelle. A trip to the boutique reminds me that there really is an Art du The.
Also, if you ever get the chance to attend a traditional Japanese Tea ceremony, that is quite a remarkable experience.
'Cuppa' is a totally British saying too. Fancy a 'cuppa Rosie lee' (tea), is a popular saying, as is 'fancy a cuppa' or 'a brew'. I usually enquire with the following when serving tea ... 'more tea vicar'? This seems to go down well as it amuses those I'm entertaining (it amuses me too!)
ReplyDeleteThat is a gorgeous shot of the cup..
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear Vicki for stopping by chez moi...always a pleasure to see your comments!
And isn't that interesting, I'm the same way...I like a substantial mug in the morning (something so cozy about that), and my Lomonosov porcelain any time after that.
I love Kim's suggestion Of Taylor's of Harrogate for bagged tea...they do use whole leaves, and theirs are some of the best I've had.
Bon weekend!!
xoxo,
- Irina
I love that little china cup! But sigh...I wolf down some very strong coffee first thing in the morning. Talk about routine, I love everyone's little ceremonies! I have a three cup, chocolate brown little pot I bought in Italy years ago to which my husband tossed out the little top (no idea why!) so every morning I brew the pot full with a Melitta filter and I use French or Italian roast, or espresso and add cloves, one or two star anise and a few peppercorns for spice. Then I heat the milk and combine the coffee and the milk into a mug.
ReplyDeleteI drink teas in the summer and herbal fruit varieties in the evenings...I'm so glad you mentioned lime blossom for the garden, I shall try growing some in New Jersey!
One mug of decaf coffee in the AM and china cup of Mariage Freres in the PM. I am such a creature of habit. xxpeggybraswelldesign.com
ReplyDeleteCoffee is my absolute first thing every morning. AND my second, truth be told :)
ReplyDeleteStacy
I've been drinking a lot of Ambassador brand Egyptian Hibiscus Tea lately because my blood pressure's been high, however, my quickie herbal tea of choice is Celestial Seasonings Honey-Vanilla Chamomile served with almond milk. The almond milk gives it a creamy deliciousness. For black tea I love a good Indian Assam, and for a special coffee treat I like to make Illy brand decaf-cappuccino's. They're a nice after-dinner option.
ReplyDeleteI guess we'd all agree there's nothing like wrapping your hands around a warm cuppa somethin' - very primal!
For some reason we often call tea 'British Rail', meaning a strong cup of mainstream tea, as in "Do you want Earl Grey or British Rail?". More on my mind yet again is how here in California people can invite you into their house and then (wish I could do italics) not offer you a cup of tea! It even happens with dear friends and it floors me every time.
ReplyDeleteThat is the sweetest little teacup I've ever seen!!! Just waiting for a tiny sip of rosy tea, if you ask me.
ReplyDeleteMy mother has a Nespresso Pixie machine. I got her the accompanying milk steamer for her birthday last year. She has to drink decaf for health reasons, but she's completely devoted to her machine - it's whirring all morning long!
I made the mistake of planting lemon balm IN the herb garden instead of containing it in a pot in the ground. Now it's sown itself everywhere - but it does make a lovely, fresh cup of tea on weekend afternoons.
I love a strong, small cup of Melita drip coffee! But sometimes I like to take a break and have a cup of tea. I have come to love a Japanese tea called Genmaicha which is green tea with toasted rice - it is delicious. Has a wonderful toasty flavor with the mild green taste of the tea. It's comforting, soulful and tantalizing all at the same time!
ReplyDeleteI love a small, strong cup of Melita drip coffee, usually in the morning and sometimes in the mid afternoon. If I want to take a nice break from coffee I love to have a soulful cup of Genmaicha tea. It's a Japanese tea made of green tea and toasted rice and it is absolutely delicious. I'm not a big fan of herb teas (except maybe peppermint or camomile) but the Genmaicha has a wonderful toasty flavor that I usually can't get enough of. I have a travel cup that has a strainer on the top so that I can put loose tea in the cup, add water (and for me, a touch of sugar) and sip. I usually add water a few more times to get all the flavor-love it!
ReplyDeleteWe have a local special foods market that sells loose teas by the pound, and my all time favorite is jasmine pearl. The flavor is superb and really complements macarons.
ReplyDeleteI always add a bit of cream to my tea; however, I do have some thyme, lavender, spearmint, and lemon balm growing in the garden. Perhaps I should try adding some herbs in place of cream.
And I agree, the cup from which you take your tea does make the experience all the more pleasing!
Bon week-end,
Mandy
Vicki,
ReplyDeleteI was searching for an email address on your blog to send you a private message, but I couldn't locate it.
I did the drawing for the free year's subsciption to Parisienne Farmgirl Magazine yesterday, and your number is the winning number.
Please email me at alaparisiennedesigns@gmail.com and I will connect you to Angela for your free subscription.
Félicitations!
Mandy
Lovely follow up post from yesterday! As I said I'm a coffee addict but reading your post and the comments I think I'll have to try some of these teas! making tea from herbs in the garden sounds lovely as does the Earl Grey with lavender.
ReplyDeleteSharon
I love the photo. I've never had green tea - I'm a coffee drinker - I guess that I'll have to try it.
ReplyDeleteVicki,
ReplyDeleteI haven't used my china cups and saucers in ages...how uncivilized, right? I am getting them out and enjoying me evening tea in them starting tonight. Thanks for the inspiration!
Karen
Hi Vicki, I do know that I am a little nuts: I adore coffee and when I'm home I must drink it from a porcelain mug. Not a cup!! And when I broke the next-to-the-last porcelain mug of a set that I adore, I went into true grief. Drinking from porcelain or crystal makes the day right. Have a super week-end. Mary
ReplyDeleteVicki, It is all about the ritual isn't it. When you said your husband is mad about coffee it made my heart skip a beat. Jim adored his cafe press. I'm fond of green tea with honey in the mornings, a healthful affectation I picked up recently. The cup, as you say, must be "just so". My current favorite is a simple cream colored ceramic mug with a black interior and a black monogrammed "S" on the front. Thank you for dropping by Joy today. Shiree'
ReplyDeleteJe suis une véritable théière ambulante... Je ne bois pas autre chose dans la journée excepté le thé... Un peu comme vous j'aime le cérémonial du thé qui n'est pas le même au cours de la journée et des saisons...
ReplyDeleteLa forme et la finesse de la porcelaine sont très importantes en ce qui me concerne tout comme la soucoupe, indispensable !!! le thé n'en est que meilleur !
Une publication pleine de charme... Gros bisous
Well Said. I could not have said it better. Being a serious tea drinker and having my own line of teas and my own herbs going in the garden, it is a true blessing for me when I sit quietly and take in my thoughts about life. It's funny how things become a little bit more clearer :) I use my china everyday...because who is more special than me?
ReplyDeleteOh how I love tea.Like you, there are different teas and different ways to have tea during the day.I am a black tea fan.
ReplyDeleteFirst thing: Twinings Simply Tea Bag in a large porcelain mug.
Mid morning: Russian Caravan in a pot in a pretty china cup
Afternoon: Earl Grey Blue Flower (no peel flowers only) leaf tea in small fine bone china mug.
15 yrs ago husband and I shared a house. 5 people - 5 different ways to make black tea. Including 4 types of milk, sugar, honey and mixture of tea bag and leaf tea and different strengths. Hilarously we are all still friends but other than different milks now (skim, full fat, rice and soy) we all like the same tea - yay!
We say "cuppa" in Canada, too! I have one or two cups of freshly brewed coffee every morning and one or two cups English tea every afternoon. Of course, in china (porcelain) cups! For me, Typhoo is the best tea.
ReplyDeleteAs an Aussie girl I live for my cuppa. I simply cannot start the day without a Green tea brew. Irish/English breakfast or good old Billy campfire brew are my go to's for the remainder of the day. Peppermint tea I will imbibe for an upset tummy.
ReplyDeleteAll sipped from a nice cup of course.
xx
I love a cuppa or twenty. Irish breakfast in the morning, English breakfast and Japanese tea during the day and evening, but no tea-bags please.
ReplyDeleteBonne weekend
I am as serious about not running out of my supply Nespresso pods as my medicine prescription!
ReplyDeleteI am a huge Nespresso fan, and have to start my day with my fav green pod. The reast of the day I enjoy
A local tea which I can highly reccomend for it's healing qualities and in fact
most babies here in South Africa have black ROOIBOS or RED BUSH tea diluted in their bottles, also excellent for babies that are alergic to milk.
It is a tasty tea to use as base for Ice Tea and hugely popular in South Africa. It's origen being Clanwilliam- South Africa and exported worldwide, known for it's high qualities of antioxcadants.
As always, enjoying your posts.
Colette x
Hi Vicki, Linden tree blossom tea (czech national tree) is my very favourite herbal tea ... it is out of this world ...love using my eclectic vintage cups that are all different for myself and / or company, I even created a special behind glass cabinet for them in the kitchen ...so we see them and use them! have a nice weekend, Z
ReplyDeleteWhat an exquisite cup and flower, Vicki. Beautiful. As for cuppa, I thought it was an Australian expression, too. There's my something new for the day.
ReplyDeleteI would like to drink herbal tea, but I just have not developed the taste for it yet, so I stick to earl grey, english and some T2.
ReplyDeletexxx
Hi Vicki, I am a seriously addicted to beautiful tea addict! I only use bags in extreme cases and much prefer real leaf tea blends from my favourite tea salon. Earl and madame grey are my best sips- my tea salon always uses plenty of bergamot flowers in the earl grey- no flavoured oils and the smell from the tin is heavenly. That said last week we did a high tea for my daughters' 8th birthday and being a little girl we had plenty of shades of pink in the decorating and food. I discovered Dilmah do special teas in cloth bags and the pink box took my eye. It was Vanilla and rose tea and it smelled and tasted like turkish delight! Yum ! If you can get it over there give it a go. Enjoy xxCorrina.
ReplyDeleteYou have captured the essence of drinking tea in this one photograph. Heart stopping beautiful. I have a tea cupboard and choose my tea for the particular moment. Today I'm drinking a tea from a shop in Paris Mariage Freres, Rouge Sahara. It's perfume is so intoxicating I want to dab it behind me ears like perfume. Virginia
ReplyDeleteLOVELY PICS:)in here.... I really like your blog and will happily follow.
ReplyDeleteIf you want some swedish decor inspiration, you can check out my blog:)
Have a great week.
LOVE Maria at inredningsvis.se
(Sweden)
You have to try Genmaicha ... Japanese Green tea with roasted brown rice. That's my afternoon favorite!
ReplyDelete