On this first day of February, I am well into my lots-of-hot-tea-drinking season. Although that season really lasts all year for me since just the sound of an air conditioner kicking on in the summer has me reaching for hot tea.
I first found joy in hot tea during my university years abroad in Sydney, Australia. Growing up near the southern United States, sweet tea was always the drink of choice at Grandma and Grandpa’s home and at my best childhood friend’s home too so I had never tasted hot tea with milk and sugar until the airline flight to Australia from Los Angeles. Why on earth would anyone put milk in their tea? No fears, I soon learned the ways of tea time, milk and sugar and Earl Grey.
It’s the morning ritual of clicking the burner on to heat water that starts every day familiar and happy. And these days, my tea of choice is green tea with just a bit of honey or jasmine green tea. But I drink everything from chamomile and mint to chai to rooibos as well.
If you’re local, try a visit to Dragonmoon Tea Co. in Tulsa. You’re sure to leave with something wonderful to try and be sure to grab lunch while you’re there. Everything I’ve had is tasty!
Need to learn more? I signed up for an email series at The Republic of Tea and now they’ve got an article, “Guilt-Free Tea Treats for Cold Weather Sipping.” I’ve moved past my guilty-pleasure tea treats (which could barely be classified as tea) to try some of their suggestions along with this chai recipe from Beauty that Moves. Complete with printable recipe page.
So sit back, put your feet up and enjoy a warm mug of tea while you think about Valentine’s décor. For me, Valentine’s day marks the middle of winter. I feel it’s the coldest time of year so along with my leftover white, gold and silver decorations that do double duty for the holidays and winter, I use February as an opportunity to start bringing in bright colors. Red, coral and greys help me to segue nicely into a fast-approaching Spring.
All images mine at Dragonmoon Tea Co.
Roxanne D
A self-employed home renovator and interior designer, Roxanne is living in her third 1920s-era home in one of Tulsa’s oldest neighborhoods. A small-town Oklahoma girl at heart, she has also lived in Australia, which helped inspire her love of design. Roxanne loves sewing, knitting, crocheting, repurposing furniture and salvaging architectural pieces. She loves to tackle a do-it-yourself project, no matter how small or large. As our very own “granola girl”, Roxanne dreams about designing everything from dresses to gardens to her day, whatever comes across her path.
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Dr. Oz says black tea is good for the heart! Starting my day off with it now. It’s working out well!