Poetry and fine sentiment
What do these treats have in common, besides being healthy and tasty?
All were given to me recently by friends who know how much I love a good cup of tea!
“There is a great deal of poetry and fine sentiment in a chest of tea.”
— Ralph Waldo Emerson
I agree with Emerson. Beyond the delicious taste and health benefits, tea provides a pleasant daily ritual that requires pausing for at least a moment or two in preparation, and hopefully a few more minutes of pure enjoyment, even if one is sipping in the midst of other tasks. Those little miniature breaks in the work day can provide a real mental boost that isn’t limited to whatever caffeine may kick in.
So many varieties of tea come in attractive packaging that complements its refined nature, and this adds to the delight I find in collecting different flavors. The artistry of the tins and boxes adds to the poetic appeal. As to sentiment, I am fortunate to have a collection that has come from many different friends and loved ones, and each time I indulge in a cup of tea that was generously given to me by a person close to my heart, it’s as if they are paying me a quick visit, saying hello across the miles by providing me with a few minutes of joy in my everyday life. My tea cupboard is chock-full of happy sentiment!
Tea has been around for centuries, and I think the traditions associated with it across so many cultures indicate that it must have been a favored gift for as long as people have been enjoying it. I imagine that Emerson had his share of memories linked to tea shared among friends, whether it was given to him as leaves for brewing, or as a steaming cup of hospitality on a chilly New England day.
As I am writing this, the weather has gone gloomy and overcast, which sets the perfect tone for writing a post about my favorite beverage. I invite you to join me in a few moments of fine sentiment as you sip a leisurely cup of whatever flavor suits you best. Feel free to wax poetic — or simply chatty — in the comments below. Santé!
This post was first published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.
- Posted in: Uncategorized
- Tagged: beverages, cup, drinks, enjoyment, friends, meditation, poetry, sentiment, take a break, tea, tea time, teapot, visits
Defeat Despair 
Good morning, Julia! Having just returned from sunny Florida to rainy Minnesota last night, today’s cold rain is the perfect backdrop for a day to reacquaint myself with what’s in my tea cupboard.
Since I don’t have any fresh groceries in house, I’m tending toward the matcha green tea chai mix I have. The mix includes some kind of powdered milk, so it’s more substantial, warming and energizing than most of the tea bag teas I have.
Sante!
Hi Susan, I’m glad you are enjoying some healthy and warming tea beverages! I never developed a taste for cream or milk in my tea (indeed I even prefer coffee black) but since my injury, I’ve been putting a protein/milk mixture into my coffee. But I still take my teas of various flavors without anything added (other than whatever is in the tea mixture already, for flavoring).
I hope the lactose is OK for you, and I’m glad that you’ve found a way to get more protein into your diet. I’m praying for your recovery and healing!
Susan, as long as I take my lactose tablets (easy to buy over the counter anywhere) I can enjoy my skim milk as I always have done. I’ve been more focused on nutrients than before my accident, though not quite as heavily as when I was on all soft foods. Thanks for your prayers. Slowly but surely I am making progress.