Winter Tea Ceremonies

by Stacey Libbert, Running Monologue

One of the most beautiful things about winter is the opportunity to create warmth inside the home.  For our family, this means layers and layers of old quilts, a fireplace, candlelight, warm soups and homemade bread, wooly socks and the smell of cinnamon, cardamom and cloves. 

It also means hot tea.

My children have always loved a tea party.  Tiny ceramic pots, cups and saucers painted with dainty roses are placed lovingly on the table and filled with warm concoctions of milk and sugar and a little bit of tea.

Last year, my daughter discovered the tradition of having an actual teatime.  For some reason, this resonated with her, and she begged to begin serving tea in the late afternoon as part of our “coming in from the cold” ritual.

It has been a lovely addition to our afternoons.  Rosy cheeked and shivering, we stomp the mud and snow from our boots, shed layers of wet clothing, and toast ourselves by the fire as a kettle of water begins to whistle on the stove.

Then we pour and wait.  Waiting for the aroma of tea brewing to hit our nostrils and warm us all over again.

I don’t know what it is about a cup of warm tea that pleases them so much. 

For me, it’s about the slowness of it all, the chance to sit and rest and visit with these people I love so dearly. 

Kid-Friendly Tea Options

Lemon balm, lemongrass, ginger, chamomile, mint, red teas with rosehips and hibiscus, honeybush, rooibos, and tulsi.

*Special note: Children with ragweed allergies may react to chamomile, so monitor closely.

Check out Groove Tea, an organic, fair trade tea company that blends teas specifically for children.

 

Stacey Libbert is a writer, teacher and mom living in the foothills of North Carolina.  You can read more about her adventures in raising children and goats and brewing the perfect cup of tea at her blog, Running Monologue or visit her on Facebook at Running Monologue.

Comments

[Gina]

What a lovely tradition to start with your daughter and a great way to connect!

[lynn]

I certainly enjoyed this post. My boys see me drinking hot tea throughout the cold winter days and occasionally ask for a sip. This winter might just be the right time for them to learn to enjoy a good cuppa.

[Stacey]

You know, my littlest one generally leaves over half the cup unfinished, but it's not really as much about the tea as it is about the time together, the slowing down, the warming up, the ritual of sitting down together. Enjoy your tea time! :)

[Anny]

I have come to the conclusion that we all have a little blame global warming and its consequences and guilt even more politicians who do not slow down.

http://www.globalwarmingweb.com/what-is-global-warming.html