100 days – Day 19

100 days – Day 19:  TEA!

 

There are few worse things than a tearoom in which “a pot of tea” has a solitary teabag floating in the hot water – the string of the bag with label draped over the side, like some dead trophy.  So often it’s weak, tasteless, and unappealing.

I’m reminded of another context – another drink – the barman making conversation as the punter takes his first sip of his newly pulled pint:  “Looks like rain” ; the reply, “Aye, tastes like it too”.

Some tea tastes like that!

In America recently, most of the time all I was able to get was Liptons.  One has to order “hot tea”, otherwise it’s some sweet iced liquid that’s served.  And one does not use tepid water poured into the cup first, followed by the tea bag as an afterthought!

 

the late Christopher Hitchens wrote:

It is already virtually impossible in the United States, unless you undertake the job yourself, to get a cup or pot of tea that tastes remotely as it ought to.

It’s quite common to be served a cup or a pot of water, well off the boil, with the tea bags lying on an adjacent cold plate. Then comes the ridiculous business of pouring the tepid water, dunking the bag until some change in color occurs, and eventually finding some way of disposing of the resulting and dispiriting tampon surrogate.

The drink itself is then best thrown away, though if swallowed, it will have about the same effect on morale as reading of the memoirs of President James Earl Carter

 

Just don’t bother on the Continent.  They haven’t a clue.  And as for Turkish “apple tea” which bazaar owners and hawkers and spivs try to inflict upon you in order to entice you into their store to sell you cheap knock off replica “designer” goods – forget it.

My late wife, Helen, used to take an electric  travelling kettle with us whenever we went on holiday abroad – and a goodly stock of Nambarie tea bags.

I need three cups in the morning to jump-start me for the day.  Three strong cups of Whittards Russian Caravan – no milk; no sugar; just tea

 

“Nice Cup Of Tea”

When I awoke this morning there was lights all around the place
To the bathroom mirror can that sight really be my face?
Go downstairs, the sunshine glares across the welcome mat
Slippers on, must get along to where the action’s at

And so the day breaks
Over motley cat and me
I read the Sunday paper
And have a nice cup of tea

So into the kitchen wondering, what I did last night
And open up the corn flakes that they says ‘Nutra sheds delight’
Rummage in the sink to find a plate, it’s almost clean
I think this is the worst state that the kitchen’s ever been

And so the day breaks
Over motley cat and me
I read the Sunday paper
And have a nice cup of tea

There’s nothing wrong and the kettle’s on
I think I’ll have a cup of tea
And it’s okay, it’s a lovely day
A lovely day for motley cat and me

Songwriters
BURNS, RAYMOND IAN

Published by
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, ANGLO-ROCK, INC.