Tea

[Kleotide]

We are running low on money right now. It's only because of timing. In January we will be renting out two homes at the same time. So money is tight. As a result we have canceled a few bills that are not essential. Other bills may be cut out soon as well. I'm not worried about being able to eat, or keeping the lights on. We are blessed enough to have people who love us, and are willing to look out for us despite my pride in the matter, should it come to that. The one thing I keep thinking about is tea. It's only for a month or so, however I am going to be missing tea.


My love affair with tea came when I was a young girl. I had just been reunited with my mother after a long period of not seeing her. Every morning she would come in and wake me up with a cup of black tea. It was always made perfectly too. Water heated until it was almost boiling, one sugar cube, and the tea seeped until the water had almost stopped steaming, milk added until you could see it swirling to top of the mug, add a spoon and stir. It was a magic brew that prompted us to awaken with it's scent and the ebb of caffeine in our veins to make us move. I'm still not sure how she had the time to do this every morning. She was a single mom sometimes straddling two full time jobs and taking care of three teenage girls. How would she have time for tea? But there it was every morning. Waking me up.

My favorite sound in the world (besides my daughter's laugh) is the sound of a tea kettle whistling. That sound is a promise of a yummy yummy hot brew about to be created.

I'm not as skilled as my mother with the creation of tea. I let my water boil, and I almost always forget about it when it is steeping so it comes out slightly bitter. I'm doing my best now to pass on this delicate love affair to my daughter. Instead of juice she gets tea. In the morning as soon as she is up I make her a cup of tea. Because she's only two she gets herbal tea, with no sugar. There is a tea shop not far from us, the New Mexico Tea Company. Their selection of loose herbal teas is something that is to be marveled at. Whenever I can I pick up more for her. Our most recent tries were Red Rooster, and Cherry Pomegranate tea. It's wonderful seeing her run though the house holding her sippy going "Tea! Tea!" as the pinkish red concoction drizzles down her chin, followed by a huge smile. I do wonder if she will like the black teas as she grows older though. Will earl gray remind her of being a teenager, paining the basement as it does me?

 Will the scent of chai flowing through the air bring back memories of home and of her father, or mother as they whisper the secrets of the family chai recipe into her ears, watching as star anise, cinnamon and other spices are combined creating the most delectable aroma in the world? Will the watery taste of Lipton sun tea remind her of her grandmother? What memories can I recreate for her - What part of this love affair will I be able to pass down? Will she miss it as much as me? If the world were to disappear tomorrow, if it were to fall apart, life as we know it were to crumble, I would miss big things like indoor plumbing, electricity, and antibiotics, but right after that there would be tea.

My husband drinks coffee - I don't get it.

So here I am frowning at my tea jar, knowing that I only have five cups or so left, and that I really shouldn't get more. And I am wondering how will I be able to go through two months (or one month for that matter) without tea. It will be a learning experience that is for sure.

[daye62]

Dec. 9, 2010 at 7:10 PM

I,too,was gifted with the tea obsession.How much of it was cultural and how much of it is in my genes I know not,but a day without tea is something I cannot conceive of.If I were you I know what I'd do,which is count it as part of my essential food budget.Nothing fancy,mind you,but certainly some Earl Grey at least.(By the way,my DH recently gifted to me a fancy chocolate bar which is made of high quality dark chocolate with Earl Grey mixed through...ahhh,I love that man...DH that is,not Earl Grey lol) Anyway,good luck with this dilemma.I hope you don't have the caffeine withdrawal headaches.Maybe you should cut back gradually.