It's fall, which means that for me, it's tea season. I'm working my way through some teas I've had for a pit too long- I finished the Christmas Tea from Bejeteman and Barton that I received as a gift a while back, and I have to finish my very large container of rose pouchong from Harrods. I also finished my Typhoo- it's time to get a new pick me up tea. The Vietnamese green I have will help keep me awake, but it will be time for tea shopping again soon.
I'm thinking of getting a good Assam- I'm not sure if I want to get it locally or not. I may treat myself and go to Fauchon, or to one of the other tea shops in town. Or maybe I'll just work my way through my gren teas- for some reason I love green teas in winter, maybe because they remind me of warm fires, comfort, and a hint of spring. I also love English-style teas in winter- there's something about milk in tea that makes me feel like curling up witha good book. The same is true of tea with lemon. While my tastes have gotten a bit more sophisticated over the years, I still like Twining's English Breakfast (like being hit in the head with a soft brick) and Prince of Wales, and Lapsang Souchong (heavy on the milk and sugar, please).
Still, tea is a drink that is enhanced by having something with it. When drinking English-style tea, I like to have at least a cookie- arrowroot is nice and plain. If I want to get elaborate, I'll go for a piece of apple tart. With tea I like the tart to be very simple. recently I received a recipe that works well- a very light apple crostada with a light shaving of Cheshire cheese on top, sweetened with honey and turbinado sugar. With greens, I just like them alone, and usually in front of the computer on a very cold night, especially if I have to stay up writing. When I'm grading papers, I just want a Darjeeling or a good pekoe with sugar and lemon.
Right now I'm feeling tired- I had a busy day and I need to stay up and do some work. I think it's going to be one of the presentation teas I bought earlier this year, because I want to see the leaves unfold and think of spring again.