Tea is wealth itself,
Because there is nothing that cannot be lost,
No problem that will not disappear,
No burden that will not float away,
Between the first sip and the last.
THE MINISTER OF LEAVES
After a long, hard day of many chores, tasks and homeschooling, I do so love to sit in the afternoon for a cup of tea. There is something so peaceful about the sound of hot tea pouring out of the spout into your pretty teacup … knowing your chores are mostly finished … children are happy and tucked in for naps or playing quietly … laundry is folded, dinner is in the oven … it is then that I have my little tea break.
In fact, my day does not even feel complete unless I have had a moment to have a real cup of tea. No rushing about, no sipping coffee from a paper cup or even a big, chunky mug from the kitchen island, sipping between tasks of teaching grammar and kneading bread dough … no, I’m referring to actually sitting down, quietly, resting, reading a chapter from my book and actually drinking tea from a lovely tea cup. As a girl and a young lady, I always loved tea, tea parties, tea cups and anything relating to tea. It only makes sense that, in the throes of my adulthood, I would indulge in an afternoon tea ritual …
{My husband purchased this second-hand beautiful teapot for me – I just love it!}
If you love tea, you must make yourself a pot of rosehip tea …
Have you tried rosehipstea? Just the name of Rosehips sounds so romantic and feminine, doesn’t it?
Simple place your rosehips into your loose leaf strainer and pour boiling water over. Let it steep for 10 minutes. You may add cloves, if you wish. I did not have any and simply prefer the gentle taste of rosehips, the precious fruit of the rose flower. You may purchase rosehips from Amazon or you may collect them wild, if you are so blessed to have a rose garden.
Not only is it a lovely tasting tea, it’s also fantastically full of vitamins and nutrients.
Rosehips actually contain 50% more Vitamin C than oranges … so this is a great tea for your children, especially in the upcoming winter months.
From the Keepers at Home magazine:
“The medicinal value of rosehips is extremely important for our health. Rosehips are full of so many beneficial compounds which include vitamins C, A, B1, B2 and B3, as well as calcium, iron, selenium, manganese, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sulfur, silicon, tin and zinc. Rosehips have been used to treat fevers, influenza, diarrhea, stress, infections, rheumatoid arthritis, respiratory conditions and also to lower cholesterol, manage diabetes, boost the immune system, strength capillaries, build strong bones and teeth, shorten the duration of a cold, heal wounds and prevent cancer.”
This is a beautiful tea to serve to your family and for yourself. Add in a little raw honey for your children if they wish to sweeten it – personally, it is just perfect me without any sweetener.
Of course, teatime is much more enjoyable if poured from a tea pot and into a real tea cup. If you do not have a tea cup yet, visit a thrift store. You will find delightful ones for a decent price. It is fun to have a collection of tea cups for yourself and your friends and family to use. When is the last time you visited someone and they actually served you tea in a teacup? It rarely happens anymore – but as my grandmother says … tea must be served in a teacup!
“Sometimes quick experiences pay big dividends.
You need refreshment and renewal.
Don’t let yourself become so overwhelmed by your responsibilities
that you forget how to nourish yourself with those things that give you a lift.. .
like a cup of tea, perhaps?
-Emilie Barnes
by Gigi
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