A Year In Redwood

I drink tea.

I don’t drink coffee.  I have tried the occasional cup of cappuccino but found that coffee really does not agree with me.

Now, not alone do I drink tea, I am very particular about my tea. I will very very occasionally drink a herbal or a fruit tea, but even they don’t really do it for me.  I’ve had nice iced tea in America, and the apple tea in Turkey is delightful.  However, the only ‘real’ tea as far as I’m concerned is Barry’s Gold Blend – the leaf type!

And there is a proper way to make tea. Heat the teapot – yes, make tea in a teapot.  Add the tea, and BOILING water – leave to infuse for a few minutes.  Then pour and serve with REAL milk – none of that skinny stuff!

Having recently been at #InishFood where we had a wonderful demonstration from Juan (Barista) and Ross from Bailies Coffee on how to make the perfect cup of coffee, it got me thinking!

Why, oh why, can the Irish not make nice tea!  We drink more tea per capita than any other country in the world – you’d think that we would make it correctly!

No such luck!!!

Here are some of my thoughts….

• Tea, comes in leaf format…. ditch the dust bags, please!
• BOIL the water.
• Heat the teapot.
• And restaurants why, oh why, do you insist on serving tea in coffee cups???

Restaurants will have their special cups to serve espresso, americano, latte, cappucino…… but never ever do they have a simple thing like a tea cup!  Come on guys you can do it – there are a lots who would appreciate a proper cup of tea when out.  The only place I’ve ever had tea served in a China tea cup was at Queen of Tarts which I wrote about last year.  And I’m not expecting restaurants to invest in China tea cups…. but you know what a mug of tea would be better than a cappucino cup of tea!

Restaurants, foodies and food critics, take such a stand on what constitutes good coffee.  Can we have a tea revolution too?  Why does tea not deserve the same respect?

Come on guys, let’s start serving tea as it should be served. 🙂