With streaming there is now a cornucopia of British programming from which to choose. I particularly enjoy the mysteries and detective shows but I’m open to romance and history as well. I’ve virtually gone through the streets of London to follow the antics of Sherlock and looked back in history at theories about who Jack the Ripper actually was. I follow several different guides who design walks through different areas of the English countryside. I’ve become familiar with terms like “bent cops” and even learned how to unravel Scottish and Welsh accents with the help of closed captioning. I smile whenever a character asks, “Would you like a cuppa?” knowing immediately that they are offering my favorite beverage to still the beast in any situation.
A cuppa seems to be the panacea for virtually any difficulty. It soothes the anxious or terrified soul and brings friends together in peacetime and war. It’s the national drink of Englan and my all time favorite beverage as well. I never have a day without a nice brew of hot tea. Sometimes I cheat and just pop a pod in my Keurig or push the button for hot water to use one of my many different varieties of the elegant brew born in the east but I know that taking more time brings far superior results.
When I am really invested in the moment I bring out one of the many teapots that I have collected or received as gifts over the years. I take time to heat the water in a kettle and warm the pot before pouring water over the aromatic leaves. I bring out special china cups and cookies or biscuits to accompany the ceremony.
Over the years I have had teatimes with my grandchildren and my nieces as well as some of my students. We make a grand show out of the experience with lovely linens and tea towels. I have people asking me all of the time to invite them over for a cuppa along with some serious conversation. It never fails to make us all feel better.
One of my students always has a cuppa ready for me when I arrive at his home to teach him Algebra. There I have learned about new blends like Lady Gray and Biscuit to go along with my favorites at home. I think the Earl Grey is one of the best flavors ever and a twist on that idea is Cream Earl Grey. Of course English Breakfast tea is a staple around here and Irish Breakfast tea isn’t so bad either. I have tea from the Empress Hotel in Victoria BC that is to die for and I brought back tea from Yorkshire that was supposedly a favorite of Queen Elizabeth. I enjoy a chai tea latte now and again after being introduced to it by a dear friend from India. I have a ginger green tea that is nice for the evening without the caffeine that might keep me awake. It is also an anti-inflammatory that makes my tummy feel calm and ready to settle down for a long night’s sleep.
Most of the people that I know prefer coffee over tea. It’s not always easy to find someone who wants to sit with me sipping on a cuppa. I often dream of living in England where my daily pleasure is seemingly appreciated by most of the people there. There is something quite special about the process of making the tea in lovely porcelain pots with a leisurely manner that invites calmness even in the face of murder. (At least that is what is intimated in the programs that I watch.)
My husband’s granny, Mary Isabella, was an immigrant from Newcastle. I never had the pleasure of meeting her but she handed down her tea time techniques to my mother-in-law. She showed me how to brew a perfect pot of tea and she and I consumed many a cuppa together on Sunday afternoons. I have to admit that I was a wee bit disappointed when she told me that her mother’s favorite blend was ordinary Lipton tea. Nonetheless I love to imagine the beautiful woman that I have only seen in photos meticulously following the process for the most perfect cup of tea.
I used to have regular tea times before Covid when all such things came to a screeching halt. The youngsters who used to come seem too grown up to want to revive that tradition but recently I had a request from one of them to recreate our ceremony one more time before he leaves for a job in Austin, Texas. I think it would be a fun way to send him off with good memories and a warm belly.
I laugh when I think of the many times a cuppa tea has save the day on those shows that I watch. I recall one World War II film where a military man was coming unglued because every possible thing was going wrong. He felt as though he was surrounded by lunatics while his men were dying. All the while his equipment had not arrived and chaos was ruling the day when his aide came in with a pot of tea. When the soldier asked what good a cuppa might possibly do, his aide replied, “It couldn’t hurt.” So it is! A cuppa may be just what the doctor ordered in any situation. I urge you to try it out.
All It Takes Is A Little Love 