TEA PARTY!

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Not many months ago, I was rushing around during my lunch break, picking up dry cleaning, dropping off overdue library books, and nabbing Saturday's shower gift in the world's quickest mall run before finally darting into a corner bistro for java and a bite to eat.

While I was shifting my feet, waiting to give my order to the barista, a tea display caught my eye. There were names like Yerba Mate, Lapsang Souchong, and Taylors of Harrogate Estate. I was transported to serene Chinese tea gardens where squatty little round cups steamed fragrantly in my palms.

I pictured the delicately ornate, violet-sprigged teapot that had belonged to my grandmother. It had long since been relegated to a dark top shelf in a cupboard in my kitchen.

I suddenly wanted to dig it out, rinse it in clear water until it sparkled, and set the whistler on to boil. The ritual of it gripped me with a longing so palpable my arms tingled and my mouth watered.

I bought a package of the Earl Grey (with lots of the bergamot I treasure) and, on the way back to my office, dreamed up a special hour or two for the coming Sunday morning.

And, as it happened, every Sunday morning since that day at the coffee shop: Tea is back in my life, in a very big, very beautiful way.

The history of tea

The history of tea is a long, ancient one, spanning continents and epochs. We needn't go into the whole mystical journey here. Instead, consider your personal history of tea.

Did you have “tea parties” as a little girl, pouring water, juice, or lemonade (or even plain air) into the tiny little set that came under the Christmas tree when you were 4?

Did your mother make you a cup of chamomile to settle your upset tummy when you were 12? Did you have a favorite aunt who schooled you on the whole formal English service?

Somewhere, somehow, it's likely that tea appeared in your past, and it's equally as likely that the experiences you have associated with it were pleasant.

These days, the idea of stopping the madness of our daily lives long enough to create an hour of kindness with a cup of simple tea is a blessing many of us not only want but also need. If your inner child wants to play with china again, let her!

Cups and saucers and things

Your tea things needn't match. In fact, it can be much more fun to buy mismatched pieces from here and there and pair them in unexpected ways.

Second-hand-store shelves often teem with lovely pots, cups, and saucers, so you can indulge without making too big a dent in the pocketbook.

It may be that you, like me, have a precious pot from a favorite aunt or grandmother that can be spiffed up, and it may be that you'll find yourself so thoroughly caught up in the exploration of new tea tastes and scents that you'll find yourself trolling the Internet for spectacular finds on a beautiful teapot to call your own.

Lightning-fast microwave ovens notwithstanding, there's nothing to compare with a whistling teakettle.

A big part of the pleasure of teatime is, in fact, the sheer time it takes to make. It steeps, which is neither a fast process nor word. Tea is meant to be relished, to be savored. To do that, we must slow down a bit.

Off the shelf and online

There's no shortage out there; you can find good tea at your local grocery store, or shop online for unusual flavors and blends. From formal blacks to smoky Chinese blends to specialty flavors to healthful green teas and even decaffeinated varieties, the choices are truly endless. Some fun online tea destinations include Adagio Teas (www.adagio.com), the English Tea Store (www.englishteastore.com), and Special Teas (www.specialteas.com). I love them all, but I'm especially fond of the Art of Tea (www.artoftea.com) and what they do every time I buy a can of Green Pear tea.

A tea garden

Growing your own is the best way to ensure the perfect ingredients in your tea. Try any of the mints (doesn't orange mint sound wonderful?). Lavender makes a beautiful cup of tea. I've foraged wild rose hips in the woods near where I live for a delicious pink brew.

Chamomile is easy to grow and harvest nearly everywhere in the world, and there are plenty of varieties from which to choose.

Your foray into the world of homegrown teas can be a fun and inexpensive experience that could grow into a full-blown family ritual.