Taking Tea
Tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world, second only to water. From black, oolong, green, and white teas, discover how to enjoy this flavorful beverage and share it with others.
It was my grandmother who equipped me with one of the most valuable lessons of all: taking tea. Every time I visited her, she’d greet me at the door and announce that she was going to “put the kettle on.” She’d steep a strong pot of loose-leaf black tea and set out a couple of rose-patterned tea cups, sugar, milk, and a plate of assorted cookies. For the next hour or so we’d engage in conversation on just about everything. Before long I realized I was not only learning how to enjoy tea, but also deepening a relationship with an invaluable influence in my life.
The World of Tea
Indeed, taking tea is a binding fabric in most cultures. If you’ve been to Britain or Ireland, you know what I mean. Regardless of occupation or activity, afternoons are often pleasantly interrupted by a strong “cuppa” and a couple of “digestive biscuits”—a semi-sweet cookie made from coarse wheat flour.
Aside from water, tea is the most widely consumed beverage in the world. Black, oolong, green, and white tea, the four types most commonly found on the market, are all derived from the tea plant. There are hundreds of varieties of tea flavored teas including Chinese jasmine tea, spicy Indian Masala chai, bergamot-infused Earl Grey, and countless more.
Tea Pairings
Across the world, teas are excellent to pair with a variety of different cuisines. For instance, nothing could go with seafood better than Japanese Sencha and the smooth, slightly astringent flavor of green teas pair beautifully with the spicy and savory components of Chinese, Korean, and Thai foods.
Green oolongs are also excellent for pairing with scallops, lobster, and other sweet seafood dishes as the tea has a heavier body and can be made stronger, offering more sweetness.
In the same way that Cabernet Sauvignon and Zinfandel compliment red meats, braised dishes, and spicy curries, black teas have a strong, more pronounced tannin content making them an excellent match for full-flavored foods.
But if you’re new to the world of tea, I’d suggest starting off with the traditional English-style Afternoon Tea—especially if you’re entertaining friends. Traditionally, Afternoon Tea is served in three courses: savory tea sandwiches, scones and clotted cream with jam, and an assortment of tea cakes or pastries.
Taking Tea to Your Table
It’s common to serve 3 to 4 different sandwiches. I like the classics: cucumber and cream cheese, ham, egg salad, and smoked salmon with cream cheese and dill. I usually make enough so that each guest can have 1 or 2 finger sandwiches of each flavor. Although you can use whole wheat bread, white bread is the most widely used option. Most of the traditional tea sandwiches are easy to make, but I like to add a hint of citrus to my cucumber sandwiches.
Cucumber-Citrus Sandwiches
Serves 4 for a standard tea party
1 fresh cucumber, sliced thinly
4 oz. regular cream cheese
Zest of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon lemon juice
Salt and Pepper to taste
4 slices white sandwich bread
Lightly salt the cucumber slices and place them in a colander to drain for 1 hour. Combine the cream cheese and lemon zest and apply to one side of each slice of bread. In a small bowl, combine lemon juice, salt, and pepper. Add the cucumber slices, coating them well. Arrange the cucumber on two of the bread slices, top with the other two slices, remove the crusts, and slice into 3 narrow finger sandwiches.
For the rest of the service, skip making scones from scratch. Sticky Fingers has a fantastic line of scone mixes—all you have to do is add water and bake. Serve these with a side of World Market premium jam (strawberry and raspberry are ideal), and some clotted cream from your local grocer. For the pastry service, you can’t go wrong with a selection of chocolate truffles, buttery shortbread, or refreshing McVitie’s digestive biscuits (plain or chocolate-covered).
Selecting and Brewing Tea
When selecting tea, it’s easy to get bogged down with the endless selection available, but don’t panic. Stick to a traditional black tea such as English Breakfast or Earl Grey and you can’t lose. Temper a porcelain teapot by swirling boiling water in the pot and discarding. Though tea bags are ok, tea aficionados would argue that loose-leaf tea has more premium cuts of tea leaf and offers better flavor.
For best results with black tea, pour boiling water over the tea and let it steep for no longer than fives minutes, otherwise, the tea will become bitter. Finally, strain the tea leaves as you pour for you and your guests, grab a tasty sandwich or scone, sit back, and enjoy—you won’t be the first to fall in love one of the world’s most treasured beverages.
