Tea Time with Alaina Claiborne
There is little more relaxing that sitting down with a cup of tea and a good book in the garden or a quiet place where no one can intrude. Those precious moments of peace and solitude have the power to restore one's peace of mind in a world filled with chaos. Herbal tea and water are my beverages of choice while writing, but getting away from the computer and making a real effort to be in that cherished moment of leisure is truly a gift.
“There are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.” Henry James, The Portrait Of A Lady, (1880)
Did you know that one use of tea is to "rub slightly damp leaves on uncovered areas of skin, in order to keep mosquitoes away"? I didn't know this, but I will certainly be trying it.
The Victorians called a tea service a tête-à-tête, which consisted of a teapot, sugar bowl, and a cream pitcher.
In wealthier households, tea time was often a social occasion, while for others it was merely a way to fill the long gap between meals. There were two types of tea services: high tea, or afternoon tea, and low tea. Low tea was practiced by the upper echelons and was served with dainty snacks and more conversation mid-afternoon, while high tea was enjoyed by the lower classes and accompanied by more substantial fare, when it could be afforded, and served in the early evening.
Did you know that Queen Victoria reportedly mentions tea 7,000 times in her journals? Not having read all of her journals, I cannot personally verify the statistic, but it is not difficult to believe. In Alaina Claiborne, I recall the number being closer to seventeen mentions of tea.
I hope today, and every day hence, you take a few minutes for yourself with a restorative cup of tea and an escape into a good book. We all need a little time to relax in our busy lives.
The Tea: Mountain Tea by Traditional Medicinals
Scones: Raspberry with Lemon Glaze (variation of the recipe at end of post)
The Book: Alaina Claiborne, book 1 of the British Agent series. Read an excerpt >
Blueberry Lemon Scones
About Writer in the Kitchen, aka MK's Cookery: I love to be in the kitchen. Once upon a time I was going to be a pastry chef, and though my life took a different path (glad it did), my love for baking and cooking has never gone away. You can always find more on my Recipe page.
Enjoy, and thank you for visiting!
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