Tea Quote - C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting.

In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.

I liked the Irish way better.”

 C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman 

Happy Birthday Month To Me! A Pretty Vintage Tea Cup and Connemara Tea

Karen here. It is my birthday month. In a few weeks I will be 41. Last year My husband asked me what I wanted for my birthday and what I really wanted was to know where I came from. My mother was adopted at age 5, in the French speaking part of Canada where I am from, and where not only are adoption records difficult to have unsealed but getting information when your mother has passed away is even more daunting, as a family we searched for years to help my mother solve her own adoption mystery to no avail, she passed away before this type of testing as available and affordable.  I had heard many things about DNA testing and went with a company called 23 & Me. You may be wondering what the heck this has to do with tea but you need the back story to understand just how important to me this information has been on my tea journey. Longish story short (You can read the full story on my blog by clicking here) This is the first birthday I will celebrate with the knowledge that I am of Irish heritage!  On my table and in my cup I now proudly have a cup or two of Irish Breakfast Tea in a nod to those who came before me, so that I could be here today, it is a connection to my past and future.

  Fast forward to now and upon my table this week my sister in law gave me an early birthday gift. This beautiful fluted edge Shamrock Salisbury Fine Bone China Tea Cup. I have wanted an Irish themed tea cup and saucer set ever since I found out I was Irish. She bought this one for me at an auction and I could not love it more!

In my cup this morning is The Connemara Kitchen Irish Breakfast Tea that was sent to me by a friend in Ireland, whom I can not thank enough for introducing me to this lovely tea. It is rich, creamy and slightly malty tea which I do take black. It is truly a delight to have on my table and in my cup.
My sister in law shared the following quote from C. E. Murphy on her Tanglewood Tea Shop Instagram this week:

“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then, I was going to get myself some anyway, so it would be no trouble. Ah, you say, well, if you were going to get yourself some, I wouldn't mind a spot of tea, at that, so long as it's no trouble and I can give you a hand in the kitchen. Then you go through the whole thing all over again until you both end up in the kitchen drinking tea and chatting. In America, someone asks you if you want a cup of tea, you say no, and then you don't get any damned tea.I liked the Irish way better.” ― C.E. Murphy, Urban Shaman

I would love to have you join me for tea daily at www.acupofteaandacozymystery.com 

St. Patrick's Day Cupan Tae

Happy St. Patrick's Day! 

In honour of today's holiday I thought I'd share a little Irish tea history. As with England, Ireland only began importing tea in the 1800s and it was prohibitively expensive, thus it was a beverage for the upper classes only. As the century progressed, tea spread to the rural parts of Ireland and everyday people began to enjoy the beverage. However, the quality of tea was so poor that in order to make it palatable Irish tea drinkers would fill their cups almost 1/3 of the way with milk before adding the tea. In addition, the tea was steeped for long periods of time to make it as strong as possible, again due to poor quality. Oftentimes the tea would be steeped on the stove, and would remain there so visitors could join in a "cupan tae" (Gaelic for "cup of tea") whenever they'd pop in. Originally the tea was poured into cups first, then transferred to the fine China teacups so that the delicate cups wouldn't break from the hot liquid. It was later discovered that putting milk into hot tea after it is poured alters the flavor of the tea. Most Irish tea drinkers still prepare their beverage in this manner.

Up until WWII Ireland imported most of its tea from England. After the war, however, Ireland refused to allow Britain to use its western ports and its tea ration was drastically cut. After the war, with the help of new laws, instead of getting its tea from English auction houses, Ireland began importing its own tea right from the source. At first the Assam tea, the primary tea in Irish Breakfast tea, was favored, but teas from India, Sri Lanka, and Kenya soon joined the ranks of high quality teas. Now, Irish breakfast tea favors teas from East Africa.

On this St. Patrick's Day I hope you enjoy a good cupan tae!

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My Sources:
http://www.barrystea.ie/
http://oldfashionedliving.com/irishtea.html
https://dbsirishstudies.wordpress.com/2012/12/11/cupan-tae-the-history-of-irish-tea-drinking/
http://farmersalmanac.com/blog/2015/03/16/irish-take-tea/
http://www.arborteas.com/blog/history-of-irish-tea