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It’s about tea today, which is one of my favorite beverages, winter and summer. Although tea has been a world-wide popular beverage for a long time, most of us take it for granted without knowing much about the origin of this refreshing beverage. I found it to be very interesting.

A Chinese legend tells us that the first cup of tea was produced by accident about 2700 B.C. According to the tale, an old philosopher, while boiling water over a fire made of tea branches, dropped some of the dry leaves into the pot and found they made a delicious, stimulating beverage. It was hundreds of years later that the rest of the world enjoyed the taste of tea. There was no accepted name for tea until about the 7th century A.D. The Chinese called it “ch’a” or tea in the English language.

In 1662, Queen Catherine of England presented tea to society as a temperance drink, and its use became quite fashionable. During the 18th century the popularity of tea continued to grow in England and then spread to America. The tax assessed by the Crown on all tea imported into the colonies resulted in the famous Boston Tea Party of 1773 when angry citizens dumped 342 chests of tea into the waters of Boston Harbor. There are pages of tea information in my “Encyclopedia of Cookery” book, but I’d use up three weeks of columns if I shared all of it with you. Perhaps another time.

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If you want a really good cup of tea, don't use a tea bag, says a friend of mine. Do it this way . . .

LEMON TEA

2 rounded t. fresh, black tea leaves

1/2 small lemon, sliced in 1/4-inch slices

3 c. boiling water

Heat a 3-4 cup teapot with boiling water. While pot is heating, heat 2 c. cold water to boiling.

Pour water out of teapot; place all but three slices of lemon and tea leaves in the pot. Add 3 cups boiling water to the pot and let steep, covered, 4 minutes.

Stir well, strain into pre-heated cups and add one of the extra slices of lemon to each cup. Offer sugar to those who wish to use sugar. Serves 3.

NOTE: Limes, oranges or tangerines may be substituted for lemon is you wish.

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And, this is how a good majority of the British like their tea.

CHAR TEA

1 t. fresh tea leaves

2 c. milk or substitute, such as condensed, evaporated or dried milk may be mixed with water and used as a substitute for regular milk

Bring milk to a boil over medium heat. (Don’t scorch it.)

Meanwhile, heat a teapot with boiling water. Pour water out; put leaves in pot and add boiling milk. Steep for seven minutes; strain.

Serve immediately, adding sugar to taste. Makes 2 cups.

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This tea recipe has a little bit of a fruity or spicy flavor. It goes down so easy. A delicious hot beverage to sip on if you’re fighting a cold.

SPICED TEA TODDY

3 c. boiling water

1/4 c. orange juice

1/4 c. sugar

(a sugar substitute equal to 1/4 cup sugar may be used)

2 T. lemon juice

4 t. plain instant tea (not sugar or lemon added)

1 stick cinnamon (2-inches long)

2 slices lemon, sliced 1/4-inch thick

10 whole cloves

In a 1-1/2 qt. kettle combine all ingredients over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Simmer 3-4 minutes. Strain into three to four mugs or cups. Serve hot. Makes 4 one-cup servings.

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Another, popular variety of hot tea is a dry mix that adds powdered orange and lemonade mixes to the brew. If you’ve had the recipe, get it out or clip this one. This is a good mix to give as a gift. If you choose to do this be sure to attach a card with instructions for making a cup of . . .

RUSSIAN TEA

1 c. plain instant tea

2 c. powdered orange drink

1 small envelope lemonade mix

1/4 c. sugar (can use a sugar substitute)

1 t. ground cinnamon

1/2 t. ground cloves

1/4 t. ground nutmeg

Combine all ingredients in large bowl; mix thoroughly. Store in tightly covered jar or plastic container.

Makes about 3-1/2 cups powdered mix or 35 servings.

For one cup hot tea put one heaping tablespoon of mix into a cup or mug. Add 6-8 oz. very hot water; stir.

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In my researching of this “so good for us” beverage, I found that tea has a secret weapon. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration tells us that tea contains 105 antioxidents that may provide protective results against cancers of the lungs, mouth, colon and digestive system. Research also indicates that drinking tea may also reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke by helping to prevent blood clotting by lowering cholesterol. If you don’t have tea in your cupboard, get some soon. And, if you don’t like tea, you’re missing out on a beverage that is not only delicious but good for us. I make about five cups of tea at a time, fill my thermos as soon as it’s brewed and I have hot tea all day long.

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Thought for the day: A woman is like a tea bag––you never know her strength until you get her in hot water.

Nancy Reagan

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