I can enjoy going to lunch with Tim, or one of the kids, or a friend, but there's something special about enjoying "tea" with someone. It creates an atmosphere of acceptance and familiarity that just doesn't happen over a sandwich and potato chips.
Today I had lunch with a fairly new friend. She heads up a group of homeschooled girls, aged 9 through 12, for monthly fun sessions. They've done food bank donating and helping, swimming parties, made homemade ice cream, and had s'mores around a campfire. Now we're planning a Valentine's Day tea for them in February.
Working in a tea cafe, I've heard so many wonderful stories from ladies sharing their favorite tea memories they've had with friends, relatives and loved ones. It's definitely a well-kept secret from the hustling quickly world. It's a great way to reconnect with those you care about, as well as simplifying your day to see things from a better perspective.
I really like how it makes you slow down, enjoy the food (as well as the presentation), relax with your company, and then I feel full from eating far less than what society says is normal these days. In a world where everyone wants things Super Sized, it's nice to enjoy quality in smaller quantities.
Today, I chose a red Jamaican Rooibos tea with my meal. We started off with toffee flavored scones. These aren't just any scones. They're the best scones you'll find anywhere! They're moist, and just slightly sweet, with the perfect texture. Next we had our tea sandwiches: chicken salad on white, turkey with a cranberry relish on flatbread, and wonderful cucumber sandwiches on the perfect herbed flatbread. The desserts were extra special today. One was a lemon bar topped with coconut. Then there was a nut bar that tasted like a gooey Snickers bar, and my friend Moni, the chef, made our final dessert a special treat, a chocolate-dipped extra-large strawberry drizzled with white chocolate.
If you haven't enjoyed tea with a loved one lately, go to www.teamap.com and look up locations for tea parlours in your state! Then come back here and let me know what you had, who you brought, how much you enjoyed it, and what new traditions it causes you to start.
