Saturday, 2 November 2024

A Medicine?

 Things that go through my mind when I can't sleep. The other night one of my thoughts were...when did they start drinking tea in Britain? I remember studying about the spice trades and the journeys from the Asian continent and I remembered it was 1650's when it arrived in England.

When I looked it up I found that it is suggested that tea is the most popular beverage in the world after water. It's a simple preparation of pouring water over cured leaves of the Camellia Sinesis plant, and was first recorded in the 3rd Century AD

But then I thought I only drink de-caff these days, so what about that tea? I lie there awake.. then I want a cuppa, when it gets to about 6 to 7- ish, I whisper to Dh to check if he's awake,  'Do you want a cuppa?'  And the love he is, he gets up and makes the tea.  That first morning cuppa is like nectar! Each time I was in hospital having surgery on my arm, he used to bring me a de-caff from the Costa shop.


And of course it has to be a china cup!

When you really think about it, tea is like a medicine.

Feeling cold, cup of tea.

Feeling hot, cup of tea,

Feeling Sad, cup of tea.

Bad news, cup of tea.

Celebration, cup of tea.

Visitors, cup of  tea.

Feeling weary, cup of tea.

Its suggested that tea boosts the immune system

Fights inflammation,

Supports heart health,

Prevents certain cancers,

Provides antioxidants.

Wow! I knew there was a reason to be drinking tea all day!!

Do you?

Chrisxx

15 comments:

KirstenM said...

Tea is sometimes The Only Drink that will hit the spot!

Tracy said...

I drink lots of tea. I drink more coffee than I used to since discovering that decaf doesn't give me tummy wobbles like ordinary coffee, but tea will always be my go to drink of choice.

Poppypatchwork said...

In my life you would need to change 'tea' for 'coffee', works in the same way.

Anonymous said...

Give me coffee any day, absolutely do not like tea.I can remember as small child saying to my mom I don’t like it. Kath xx

Granny Sue said...

I wondered the same thing a while ago, Chris. Apparently tea was first served in England in the 1650's, at a coffee place in London. Interesting that coffee was popular in England before tea! Also before tea people drank small beer, cider, etc. And probably herbal teas.
Reading Maisie Dobbs, the English love of tea really stands out! Seems they are constantly making a cuppa. My mother, who was from Cambridgeshire, loved her tea and made tea drinkers of all her 13 kids. Now my oldest son and his family have tea every morning, and my grandkids always want tea when they visit me.

jabblog said...

I used to drink gallons of tea but only have a cup of Earl Grey with lemon once or twice a year.
Climbers like tea. During WW2 the British bought up all the available tea in the world.to boost morale.

16 blessings'mom said...

My coffee is like nectar in the morning! I sometimes drink it black, sometimes with heavy cream, sometimes a pour-over, mostly a double shot Americano with some hot water. I love my coffee, it has to be freshly ground, and not flavored. Tea is more of an occasional drink for me, a cup of black tea with a splash of milk, maybe a tiny bit of honey on a winter's night...:)

Lynn and Precious said...

Tea provides comfort and medicinal effects for us. I enjoy a pot of hot tea every morn and sometimes a late morn one. I do drink caffeinated though.

Mari said...

Can you believe I don't drink tea or coffee? I know, crazy!
You hubby is a sweetie!

Lorrie said...

Tea is my drink of choice. I usually drink de-caff, too. Tea is comforting and energizing, and always hits the spot!

Sue said...

I don't drink tea, it makes me really ill for a full 24 hours if I drink it by accident. I haven't slipped up for years now though. Fruit teas don't make me ill, but I have never found one that I can tolerate the taste of. It's black coffee for me, all through the day right up until bedtime.

Marcia said...

I am a tea drinker. Caffeinated before noon and decaf after that. Sometimes an herbal tea like camomille after dinner.

Marie Smith said...

I started a tradition of tea parties with the grandchildren, a fruity tea in my mother’s China cups. We always have a great time! Nothing like a cup of tea on a picnic either!

Bless said...

I grew up in a country where tea is grown and produced. We always drank tea at home.

Back2OurSmallCorner said...

Two tea and one coffe lover in this family.