Belonging to a family that loved their tea as well coming from a country that produced some of the best teas in the World; and living in a country where tea is more popular than coffee, chocolate, or alcohol; you can imagine I was taught at an early stage how to make a proper cup of tea. When I was growing up, my father, who was partial to a cup of tea several times a day, taught me the skill. My mother being an NHS doctor was working all sorts of hours, we as kids were taught how to look after ourselves at a very young age.  I remember boiling the kettle, getting the teapot warmed first, then adding the tea leaves, and letting it brew for 3 to 4 minutes and pouring it into a cup, and adding a touch of milk. 

Although all the tea drunk in the UK comes from overseas, Tea is perceived as something quintessentially a very English Thing.  Tea was brought to the UK in the 17th Century by the British East Indian Company who had a monopoly over the Tea Industry in England. Currently, it was an expensive product and one for only the rich. By making tea available to all, tea-drinking creates a sense of unity and national pride each time one participates in the ritual.

A cup of tea can cure most things, we often find ourselves offering a cup of tea to friend’s colleagues when we want to offer comfort, or when we want to have a good natty.  During recent months as we have found ourselves being at home all the time, with the stresses and anxieties that the pandemic has caused we find ourselves turning to herbal teas to relieve stress and anxiety Like Peppermint tea and Chamomile tea.  Studies have claimed the act of simply preparing a pot of tea by heating water, measuring the leaves, and steeping tea, can be a nice break in a very chaotic day. The act of preparing and drinking tea can be a source of calm and relaxation.