Yes, that perfect cup of tea is truly steeped in history and tradition. The Emperor of China was the first to enjoy the beverage created by steeping leaves from the herb Camelia Simensis plant nearly 5000 years ago. In colonial days, tea leaves were boiled at length to create a very bitter brew. This concoction of leaves that had been severely overcooked was then salted, buttered, and eaten.

 

Today tea is the world's second most popular beverage consumed, second only to water. It's easy to make, affordable, and offers variety in its flavors and aroma. Americans drink 50 billion cups of tea each year, 40 billion of which are served as iced tea.

 Tea Time Trivia…

·        The first tea bags were created by Thomas Sullivan in 1904, and made of
         silk.

·        The difference between Black, Green, and Oolong tea is a result of the
         changes that occur during processing of the tea leaves. They are all made 
         from the same type of tea leaves.

         o       Black teas are fermented, left in a cool, dark, and damp place for 
                  a time,  and then heated to stop the fermentation process.

        o       Oolong teas are semi-fermented.

        o       Green teas are heated after picking…so there is no fermenting process.

·        Herbal teas are not actually teas, but are concoctions of peels, flower

         leaves, herbs, and spices, and are caffeine free.

·        The caffeine content of tea is 40 mg in one cup of tea as compared to 99

         mg of caffeine in a cup of coffee.

·        Black and Green teas contain a certain type of antioxidant called

         flavenoids.

·        To be labeled “decaffeinated,” the caffeine content per cup of tea must be

         approximately 5 mg. 

 

Here at the library we have a group that gets together to share coffee or tea. The Weekly Readers Coffee Club meets every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. They have coffee and tea together and share many yummy snacks. (I know first hand as I have sampled some of these goodies, which they have graciously shared with me.) Everyone is welcome to join this group. They may discuss books that they’ve read, share recipes, talk about the latest happenings, etc. Come join the group or bring a new friend to meet the others.  

Now you can enjoy the mellow and milky taste of a cappuccino, but without the coffee. A bit of black tea, and some brown sugar make a nice alternative. Ingredients:

·                     2 cups milk

·                     2 tea bags, black

·                     3 tbs brown sugar

Preparation:
Heat milk and sugar together in a saucepan, almost to boiling. Remove from heat and add tea bags. Steep for 5 minutes. Remove tea bags and serve. Serves 2.

True Blue.                                  Baldacci, David

Breaking the Rules.                           Bradford, Barbara

Rainwater.                                    Brown, Sandra 

Nine Dragons.                                 Connelly, Michael

Once in a Blue Moon.                         Goudge, Eileen

U Is for Undertow.                            Grafton, Sue  

Dust to Dust.                                 Hoag, Tami    

Guilty As Sin.                                Hoag, Tami    

Ice.                                          Howard, Linda 

Fire and Ice.                                 Jance, Judith A

Trial by Fire.                                Jance, Judith A

Blood Game.                                   Johansen, Iris

A Stranger's Game.                            Johnston, Joan

Under the Dome.                               King, Stephen 

Silver Kiss.                                  Klause, Annette

Tempt Me at Twilight.                         Kleypas, Lisa  

30 Days of Night : Light of Day.              Mariotte, Jeff

Professional.                                 Parker, Robert

Spire: A Novel.                               Patterson, Rich

House of Reckoning: A Novel.                  Saul, John    

Change in Altitude: A Novel.                  Shreve, Anita 
Frostbite : A Werewolf Tale.                  Wellington, Dav

Until next time, Happy Reading!