TEA

I do drink quite a lot of tea. At the moment it is Twining's Breakfast Tea which is not too strong. My brother used to like "builder's tea" where the spoon practically stood up in the cup. My mother, who had a saying for everything, used to say it was "the cup that cheers but does not inebriate".

We have just had a visit from two more members of our Danish family. Throughout their childhood the photographs of Ernie and his crew were on show in their living room alongside photos of their own family. For new readers see www.ee138.net They were delightful compay and really enjoyed our tea! They were intrigued to see MIF (milk in first).

Our friend in Tokyo writes wonderful blogs about tea. She is on a very restricted diet so a pot of tea is a real treat but I am amazed at how much some teas can cost.

Further to the above there is an article in today's Daily Telegraph about tea in China. The price of one particular variety has soared to levels only rivalled by the finest wines. It is called Dahongpao. On line traders are selling a single kilo for more than £1,000. Do you drink it or put it in the bank's vaults?
Tea is important in Chinese culture and Dahongpao was planted to serve the Emperors of the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644). My Tokyo friend mentions tea from the Yunnan province which has also risen dramatically in price. I hope she can still afford it.
My humble tea costs less than £5 for 250 grammes but it does say on the box "By appointment to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth the second".