Everything Stops for Tea
- Tracy Skeates
- Aug 28
- 2 min read
Updated: Sep 1
Tea is special. Who's with me?
Tea is so important to me that I get the vapours just thinking about the time we went on holiday abroad and I didn't even think to take my own tea bags. That was an uncomfortable two weeks I can tell you. It must have been particulary frustrating for Gareth having to trawl around in the stinking heat searching for anything other than Liptons. Liptons just doesn't cut the mustard. That was an oversight that has never been repeated.
Ever since tea arrived in Europe in the 17th Century it has been beloved, revered, placed under lock and key, caused the protests that fuelled the American Civil War, helped us get through two world wars and is still the most widely consumed beverage in the world.
Its no surprise that so many antique teacups and tea caddies survive intact because not only are they useful, but they are beautiful. The hand painting on a single cup must have taken hours of intense work and all in an era devoid of artificial light or access to reading glasses for the lowly painters.
It really is quite lovely to drink to drink from a 200 year old cup. I can't help but sit and ponder over how many marriage proposals, telegrams from the War Office, celebrations, nervous waits for the arrival of a baby, death bed vigils, end of day chats, business meetings and family chats that the cup, has quietly been witness to. Maybe the sentimental ties to family occasions is why this cup in my hand, has seen 10 generations come and go yet....here it still is.
Tracy Skeates
It's fitting that the tea set that was made (and owned) with such care and love should be used for the beverage that we love.