I'm a great fan of the cup of tea. My favourite is Earl Grey made with tea leaves and beaming with bergamot. I don't like it particularly strong. I take a little milk, but not sugar. I vividly remember my first proper tea party. I was six. We were invited to Auntie Enid's tiny flat, where she served the tea in tiny bone china tea cups. I had seventeen cups of tea. It was so delicious, hot and clear against the fine china. There were sandwiches and cake too, but the tea was the star.
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| Tea and cake, Lesley Beeton, 2012 |
My husband is also a tea drinker. We like it the same way. I can't remember who first decided this is the way we like it, but we are in tea-drinking harmony. Which is a good thing, because the rest of the family likes it strong and sweet. Granny was particularly fond of strong, sweet tea, with piece of cake, a scone or two, and a sandwich. She was so clear on her views that she planned the tea service at her funeral! With a list of who was to bake which cake. So I come from a family of tea drinkers and cake eaters. It's a miracle that I'm not the size of a house.
The first thing the District Nurse said to me after Mom died was 'Shall I put the kettle on?'. That would have been nice except that she had no idea where to find anything, and had so much paperwork to do, it was completely impractical. But it was the thought that counted.
And as Mothering Sunday approaches, our first without Mom, thoughts turn to special things to do on a spring afternoon. Your Lifestyle Angel has put together a lovely blog on Surrey tea's for Mothering Sunday. And Two Rose Bed and Breakfast Midhurst did some fine research for her her blog on tea rooms in Midhurst. Mouthwatering stuff, beautifully presented blogs for you to have a look at.
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| Afternoon Tea at Chewton Glen |
I have two favourite places for Afternoon Tea. The first is a bit special at Chewton Glen in the New Forest. Reservations required. The second is the old-fashioned Sussex Cream Tea served at The Grand Brighton on the Brighton seafront. Good for a beach walk after tea!
A new kid on the block, and very local to me, is The Cyder House, Shackleford. High teas will be served on Friday afternoons, how very quaint for a pub. Let's hope it does well.
Anyone for a cuppa?
Anyone for a cuppa?