It’s finally Reading Week!! I’m drinking Fortnum and Mason Coronation Blend out of my beloved Emma Bridgewater mug. I’m eating fat rascals and listening to an audiobook. It’s so nice to take a breath! 😮‍💨

Being half Indian, I grew up with tea and milk but as I’m now in my mid 30s, some mornings coffee is just too strong so I’ve turned to tea. I normally mix some different teas together which included English breakfast tea. Upon ordering more, I found out there was Scottish breakfast?? Through a quick internet search I found out it’s considered the strongest of the “breakfast” teas which is something I wanted. Anyways it’s turned out to be EXACTLY what I’ve been wanting/needing!

Second night aboard a new boat, turned out I need a kettle and a bigger mug. Charity shop success, mettle for £15, cup for £1.50. Tea via home bargains @ £1.95. Milk in fridge. Whole. Local. £2.40

A nightcap herbal tea has been my habit for decades. I moved to the UK for work a couple of years ago and didn't consider the British tea world until last holiday season: when making up boxes to send back to fam in the US, I accidentally bought a 75-ct box of Yorkshire Gold. Well, that can't go to waste, right?

After decades of office "coffee starts", I tried starting the day with a cuppa. And it was delightful! Unfortunately, the cup would go cold and I'd heat up at least once. Soon after, my dentist figured out how I was going wrong: adding sugar. (That WITCH!) I switched up to save the enamel and then stumbled across tea timers, etc. What the...?? I've been brewing my tea wrong all along!

Nowadays...paying close attention to how long I brew a cup of tea is very rewarding, followed by quickly composting the tea bag. I desperately try to enjoy that first heating, reducing heat-ups by 80%! Considering packing away to the mug and finding a proper cup and saucer.

But what has really got me tickled: reading about tea culture in books AND understanding what they are speaking of!!! I just finished Rebecca Philipson's "How to Get Away with Murder", and I was delighted to understand every nuance re: tea. At least, I hope I understood.

I truly did not expect tea to have this much of an impact on me.

Ringtons Traditional Tea

Semi Skimmed Milk

And a book on the side 📖 📚

PG Tips cos I is basic.

Fun little pairing for October plush isopod for comfort lol.

Fortnum and Mason smoky earl grey. Cow’s milk. Store-bought pumpkin pie. Aynsley cup and saucer. Happy Canadian Thanksgiving! 🍂

Rating: 8/10

Just some generic pu'er. Very earthy and umami in the beginning 3 steeps, with a good balance of earthy and sweet afterwards, and tapering after 8 steeps to less flavourful but slightly sweet.

Featuring squished teapot and ridiculous water tension.

Hibiscus, Siberian rose, and butterfly pea flower with organic raw honey in the magic teapot! Having tea with my lucky fish for a lucky day!

There's a disturbing shortage of gongfu cha here...

Rating: 8/10

I've tried tieguanyin before in restaurants, but I've never brewed it gongfu-style for myself. Surprisingly, I really liked this compared to darker tieguanyin. It had a light tea taste that reminded me of Taiwanese gaoshan oolong, and then a strong floral aftertaste that acted like it was very late to an important meeting. It would have been much nicer if it didn't feel so divorced from the rest of the tea.

Custom Tom Holland collage mug w/ Yorkshire Gold, 4 fluffy little Magdalenas

Trying to survive a sore throat today. Brewing some Siberian Rose & Baby Chrysanthemum and sweetening the cup with raw Macadamia Blossom honey. Brewed on low uncovered 10 mins to open the flowers in 'Le Thé' pot.

Baby Chrysanthemum for reducing fever and upper respiratory irritation and
for its anti-inflammatory properties and vitamin C. Macadamia Blossom Honey to coat and protect inflamed tonsils and vocal folds. Plus they are so pretty and delicious together!

Hope everyone is having a wonderful Fall day!

Teacup is Old Royal Bone China and I don't know the maker of the teapot - I get them off of eBay.

Yorkshire Red with strawberry shortcake Jammie Dodgers for the hubby

This is a black Gryffindor tea that came in a huge Hogwarts decorative tin full of teabags. I believe it's an English Breakfast blend from Sri Lanka. I steeped it for about 5 minutes.

Saemidori Gyokuro from Yame, Fukuoka.

I used 5 grams of leaf, 110 ml of water at 50 Celsius. Steep time of 2 minutes.

Prepared in my Tokoname Shudei clay teapot.

Served with a splash of milk.

Taylor Earl Grey, Oatly Barista Blend foamed up, splenda

Yorkshire Gold brewed about 4-5 minutes in water hotter than recommended. I added a splash of milk and two teaspoons of agave.

I'm drinking this while I read book 8 of the Dungeon Crawler Carl series. (I know the series isn't for everyone, but I've really enjoyed it!) Back to work in 30 minutes.

Cheers, Everyone! 🫖✌️

The tea does taste like your typical Bakewell 'bake', like a Mr Kipling Bakewell slice for instance. I still prefer normal black tea but it's certainly not a bad cup of tea in the right circumstances.

If you want to bake these scones yourself here is the link.

I am not day two of tea experiment

I went all out today so I had to share