tea – Pearl of Civilization

Hug in a mug

Today’s small pleasure is making one cup of tea from the one cup’s worth of linden blossoms I picked at the kids’ bike track the other day.

I really love living in a city that doesn’t spray the city-managed landscape trees

Cracked…

I’m busting out last fall’s dried hawthorn berries for a project today, and realizing that I cracked them before drying. Fun!

It’s my first time trying this method. Hopefully they will steep faster than intact berries, so they work better in herbal tea blends.

Close-up photo of five dried hawthorn berries in a white ceramic bowl. The berries are dark red-brown and somewhat smashed, with the seeds showing. A few have long thin stems attached.

Unsolicited tea recommendation

Photo of a tea label that reads: Parlour Room Blend. Black Tea. Evoking the atmosphere of a Victorian sitting room, perfumed with rose, lush fruit, and an alluring note of smoke. 2oz/56g

Unsolicited tea recommendation for goth tea lovers, tarot readers, and people who like whiskey in their tea… This Murchie’s number is smoked black tea with roses and fruit (strawberry and black currant). Tea is usually cosy or maybe herbal– this one is moody and horny. I’m having it while weeding the garden on a Saturday afternoon and it is intensely not the right tea for this despite being very delicious 😂

This touristy English-style tea shop went full Wouldst Thou Like To Live Deliciously?