Tea and Me

It’s probably safe to say that tea is my cure-all. Like most British children, I was raised on milky tea and today, it’s the thing I turn to whenever I have an ailment in need of a cure. Feeling under the weather? Have a cup of tea. Cold out? A cup of tea will warm you! Had a stressful day? A bath and a cup of tea is what you need.  I’ve just about given up coffee, due to bouts of heartburn, so these days, after dropping my son at school I come home and put on the kettle, settling in for my cuppa in front of the computer. My winter favorites include Earl Grey, chamomile, chai, rooibos and Lapsang Souchong, a Chinese tea that is dried over pinewood fires, which gives it a distinctive smoky flavor. Recently, I experimented with poaching salmon in Lapsang Souchong  – it imparted a subtle smokiness that was delicious. I used the salmon in my ochazuke recipe. I have a recipe around here somewhere for eggs hard-cooked in tea.