The White, Green, Black, and Herb of Tea

Gracious Hospitality invites us this week to:

Tell about your favorite tea. How do you prepare it and serve it? Milk and sugar? Plain? What are some of your best memories of serving or sipping on this tea? Share a picture if you can. Tell the health benefits of the tea(s) you prefer. Where do you purchase your tea? Is there someplace you enjoying purchasing tea from? Who from and where?


When I was growing up, I would spend the weekend with my grandparents. I remember the yellow and red box of Lipton tea in their cupboard. Nana always drank two cups of tea a day—one at lunch and one with her evening meal. (She still does)

When I was old enough to choose what kind of tea I would drink, I chose the trusty stand-by, Lipton’s. The box hasn’t even changed too much since I was that small girl. When my daughters were younger, I had a friend that shared my enjoyment of Lipton tea. We drank gallons of it, I think, every morning after the kids went to school. We laughed until we cried and we cried until we laughed. When "D" first visited me, she gently told me that I needed to keep my tea tightly packaged so it wouldn't get stale. I still keep my Lipton tea in the sturdy container I purchased for the purpose following her advice.

I mostly drink black tea. When I have an opportunity to purchase it, I like Yorkshire Gold. My daughter just moved to a small town in Virginia where there is an English tea room. I'll be able to easily stock up on my favorite tea when I visit her.


I’ve been told it is uncivilized but I drink my tea unsweetened. I do add milk. I haven’t learned the art of loose tea. I used to drink just tea as a hot beverage, never coffee. Then I had to go to work full time and fell into purchasing coffee at the local store on my commute. Tea is meant to be savored and never sipped from a paper cup! Nana bought me a practical little teapot a few years ago. It's perfect for a single cup. When I'm in a hurry, I might simply "steep" the tea in the cup but there is nothing like the ritual of boiling the water and setting up a tray instead.

I enjoy a good cup of coffee. I'll admit it. Yet no cup of coffee can compare to a pot of hot tea especially when the nerves are frayed and a quiet moment is necessary.