Brew-haha!

Hello lovelies – golly it has been such a long time since I last posted. New Year’s Resolution – must post at least once a week. Anyway – I’ve got loads to catch you up on so I’m sure you will be sick of me in the coming weeks. For now though, I want to talk to you about teapigs. *oink!*

As you may have seen in a previous post, I LOVE tea. I LOVE it deeply and with an affection bordering on obsession. Well, I am British, what do you expect? There is little I crave more than the first mug of tea in the morning and there is little that buoys my soul more than a big pot of cha on a Sunday afternoon, all served on the 1930s china doncha know. Preferably accompanied by some sort of scone. Mmmm, scones.

Anyway, before Christmas took over and I got completely distracted by unwell cats and the horror of the associated bills (don’t worry – all is well now but if I’d known vets earned that much I’d have taken a different course in life), the lovely folk at teapigs sent me a selection of their finest brews to review as part of their “do the Downton” promotion. Sadly I’ve missed the window on that one, Downton currently being between series, let alone the fact that it is thoroughly out favour with me following the unnecessarily cruel Christmas Day ending.

Still, I have finally gotten 'round to trying the tea sent and, being thoroughly impressed, I thought I really should write something endorsing their delicious wares.

Here are the teas:

Look at that rainbow of loveliness: Green tea, Everyday Brew (note the cheeky combination of name and caption...ahem), Earl Grey, Peppermint, Superfruit and Chamomile. TOO MUCH DELICIOUS.

I am really pleased with the quality of this tea, not only is their boast about the teas being made of leaves not dust definitely true – you can see it – but the bags are lovely fabric to avoid that papery taste and, well, they taste heavenly.

So far I have worked my way through the Everyday Brew (delicious), peppermint (stomach calming post cheese-binge) and superfruit (healthful) whilst his Badgeryness, having more sophisticated tastes, was mightily impressed with both the green tea and the Earl Grey.

These teas are great to have in for visitors or, matched with a teapot or mug, a fantastic gift. You could even take some to a party and make some lovely gin and tea cocktails. Not that I would as I’ve given up booze for January. Mmmm gin (another New Year’s Resolution – stop making New Year’s Resolutions.)

teapigs fancy a brew mug £9

teapigs glass teapot gift set £22

Anyway. Please take a look at their site, enter their competition and maybe buy some lovely, lovely tea.

Here is me, being a teapig.

*oink*

A somewhat pointless and slightly hungover ramble about tea

Yes, tea.

I am so English it hurts. 

This affliction is so severe that I refuse to make tea for others at work because I know then that they will offer to make me tea back and I will have to refuse or face drinking some sub par slop.

For me, a proper mug of tea is made thusly.  I won't go into the use of a teapot here - sadly my place of employment is just not civilised enough to provide such essentials.

Select a mug in a pale tone.  Nothing like a dark mug to make your beverage look insipid even when it isn't.  People who use black mugs for tea are mad at worst, misguided at best.

Boiling water should be poured onto the teabag.  Tea in first then the hot water - not the other way around - it ruins the delicious effect of the swirling water shifting the leaves about.  If using sugar add it here so it can evenly disperse.

Tea should be left to left to steep or "mash" for at least a minute, preferably two.

Bag firmly squeezed and then removed.

Then, and only then, when the bag is removed, can milk be added.  Add milk before the hot water and the liquid is not hot enough to steep the tea. People who do this get firmly tutted in the works kitchen.  I mean - it defies logic.

Sit down and then drink tea.  With reverence, and biscuits.  Ideally three custard creams.

Anyway.  Tea.