There is something about a hot cup of tea that just tickles my warmest feelings. I guess it reminds me of my childhood. Do you have a special comfort food or treat or drink that instantly evokes a special feeling in you?
For me this is it. Tea. Such a simple, delightful word. Whenever I think of tea, my mind fills up with images of Victorian ladies and horse-drawn carriages and dainty sandwiches.
Every year, on Christmas day I have tea in the afternoon with my family. The table is as pretty as possible with the finest china and linen, decorated with poinsettia, candles & the most fabulous array of food. We serve finger sandwiches and biscuits shaped like reindeer, stars, snowmen… And, of course, the queen of the table is always the Tea Pot. If I ever were grateful to a homely invention, it is to the teapot. Nothing like a graceful teapot pouring steaming tea into a cup to turn an ungainly, clumsy brute into a well-mannered gentleman.
This is one of my favorite Christmas traditions.
Most tea companies make a special tea for Christmas. It's always a different tea, a little spicy with wonderful flavours. Just right for the season and the weather. Today’s main star is… TEA.
Hot spiced tea
Ingredients 
- 2 cinnamon sticks
- 6 to 12 whole allspice
- 1 teaspoon whole cloves
- 12 cups water
- 12 individual tea bags
- 1 cup packed brown sugar
- 1 cup cranberry juice
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup lemon juice
Directions
- Place cinnamon sticks, allspice and cloves on a double thickness of cheesecloth. Bring up corners of cloth; tie with a string to form a bag.
- Place water and spice bag in a large saucepan; bring to a boil. Remove from the heat. Add tea bags; cover and steep for 5 minutes. Discard tea bags and spice bag. Stir in brown sugar until dissolved. Add juices; heat through. Serve warm.
Yield: 3 quarts.
In honour of this ceremony and the warm, cosy feelings it arouses in my British heart, I invite you to join me. Why don’t you throw your own Tea Party this year with friends or family? In order to help you start, I will be giving you some recipes for inspiration.
Egg 'n' Cress Tea Sandwiches Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 hard-cooked eggs, finely chopped
- 1/4 cup minced watercress, chives or parsley
- 2 tablespoons chopped pimiento-stuffed olives
- 2 tablespoons mayonnaise
- 1/4 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper
- 2 tablespoons butter, softened
- 8 slices whole wheat and/or white bread
Directions
- In a small bowl, combine the eggs, watercress, olives, mayonnaise, salt and pepper. Spread butter over one side of each slice of bread.
- Spread egg mixture over butter side of four bread slices. Top with remaining bread slices. Top with remaining bread, buttered side down. Using a 3-in. holly-leaf-shaped cookie cutter, cut out two tea sandwiches from each sandwich.
Yield: 8 tea sandwiches.
5 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS… AND COUNTING.
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