It's a Classical Life

Are you a tea drinker? With winter coming to an end (and endless cups of tea drunk), I can truly reflect on how special this tradition is. We've chatted about the ritual of tea here before on the blog, but I thought it was worth mentioning again. It seems that coffee around the country (I'm not sure about the rest of the world) is going up in price, like many other groceries. Visiting a coffee shop isn't always an affordable option for social visits anymore, with some studies suggesting that the future of coffee is quite bleak due to climate change. I love coffee, but ultimately tea is my drink of choice and today I want to share some of my favourite ways to enjoy a cuppa. These are all free or cheap ways to enjoy tea, and with everyone watching their budgets closely I think it's important that we still find joy in this old-fashioned tradition.  1. Sunrise tea This is my favourite way to partake in tea. I get up early in the morning, before the rest of the family wakes...

Tea has been a ritual enjoyed not only by the British, but also the Japanese, Chinese, Turkish, Argentinians, Indians, Uruguayans, Australians, and Americans amongst others. In each of these cultures, 'tea' is a ritual based around not only the drinking of tea (in whatever form it may take) but also in enjoying a few snacks, relaxing and at times socialising. Taking the time to brew the tea can be a lengthy, elaborate step, such as in Japanese and Chinese tea ceremonies, or it can be as simple as pre-heating the teapot with hot water before adding the tea to brew. Common to all cultures is time. Taking the time to sit, rest and enjoy tea is the beauty behind the ritual. It is something that we can all make time for in our daily lives, to help us slow down and savour a simple, classical life. Sharing tea with others is a perfect symbol of hospitality and permeates many of the motivations behind the ritual and  is reflected in many British classic novels.  Cranford  by Eliz...