A Tea-ny Discovery
There are some things that are non-negotiable in life like day and night or the fact that there would be rains and dry seasons no matter what, that’s if you live in tropical regions like I do, and most of all, tea in the mornings for children.
I honestly don’t know any family or person that didn’t have that as a staple breakfast meal. It was like the standard. Tea with toast and scrambled eggs or omelette every morning for all children before going to school. I don't know who invented that as the ideal meal but over here, we carry it on our heads like the Gospel. I remembered the first time my Mum gave us jollof rice as breakfast and my sisters and I screamed in outrage. Rice for breakfast? What happened to tea?
But my Mum would laugh and say that tea wasn’t the prerequisite for a successful morning and rice was just as light and just as ideal for breakfast. We didn’t believe her for a minute but we didn’t have a choice. We couldn’t go hungry anyways, now could we?
So that’s how it was. The legendary tea, which you could eat with toast, crackers, cakes and so on. Quite a legend to me back then. But as I grew up, my love for tea grew into an active distaste, especially in the early mornings. I realized that even the mere mention of tea in the mornings made my tummy churn painfully and so I stopped taking it in the mornings, coffee becoming my true love.
But then I was reading a book one day and got the shocker of my life. What we over here referred to as tea was not actually tea but was called hot cocoa. And it felt like my whole life had been a lie or something. And what I saw my Mum and other older members of the family drink was not just Lipton but it had a generic name. And that was the real Tea.
I haven’t had a lot of teas in my life. Apart from Lipton tea which is made from regular tea leaves and which I drunk mostly to take care of period cramps, and then lemon grass tea that was my Uncle's favourite, I discovered that tea is just not my cup of tea. Yeah, I said it Milly.😂 There’s really no mystery to it and it just lacks that sense of je ne said quoi for lack of a better expression and I’ve mostly associated constant tea drinkers with prissy, uptight people. Although that may just be a stereotype because of the kind of tea lovers I’ve encountered in the past.
However, for the first time in a really long time and in honour of the International Tea Day Contest, which I was happy to partake in, I bought a pack of Lipton tea and while I brewed it, I took a whiff of its aromatic flavour that brought not many memories but good ones nonetheless. I also got myself a little loaf of sardine bread from the bread factory and decided to treat myself to a taste of goodness. Hoping that the experience would make me reconsider my initial inhibitions towards it and make it my new love.
To be honest, I wasn’t disappointed. I did put a cube of sugar to sweeten it a bit and the mix with the bread was quite nice. I was still basking in its wonderful flavour when my sister waltzed in from work with a cup of coffee in hand. And I mentally shook my head from the misleading fog. Was this tea legit trying to steer me away from coffee?
I smiled to myself and finished the tea. Yeah, it was good and I honestly hope to find a brand of tea that would make me an official teal lover but till then…..hehe.
I got this really cool image courtesy of @millycf1976 that describes my feelings towards coffee at the moment. But no hard feelings, tea lovers, I just may become an ardent fan myself one day. Happy International Tea Day everyone.❤️
This is my entry to the International Tea Day Contest and if you’ve not hopped onto it yet, you could check it out. Really fun.
All images are mine unless otherwise stated.
You're right! The tea that they served was hot milo, hot cocoa, or hot Horlicks (do you know Horlicks?), with condensed milk and sugar. I quite liked Horlicks and would sneak to eat it from the bottle. Cold Horlicks was the best 😋
There's a bitter tea called Cerassie tea, that you wouldn't wish for your worst enemies. God help you if your parents decided that you needed a "wash-out".
Luckily, my mum grew up in the city and was not into country recipes of bush teas like most of my friends.
Maybe tea in Jamaica is a legacy of British rule and also some African custom from our ancestors.
Lovely story and thanks for taking the time to buy that Lipton tea for this contest.
I've never heard of sardine bread before.
Oh I absolutely loved Horlicks and I enjoyed it cold too, that's during the times I didn't sneak to lick up the powder.😂
It's funny how most of us have similar childhoods. My mom would make us drink and if she wasn't satisfied, we'd have an enema from it. Fun times indeed.🙂
And sardine breads are really tasty, until you finish eating and go out forgetting to brush your teeth.
I love sardines, but I never imagined having a loaf or roll of sardines. That's interesting, and I think that I'll try stuffing a roll of bread with sardine and putting it in the oven to warm up.
🤣
I laughed a lot when I discovered that they had lied to you when they told you that you drank tea and it was chocolate.
On the other hand, I was left open-mouthed when I found out about the sardine bread; it's obvious that I need to know the world.
I prefer coffee in the mornings and I can assimilate tea in the afternoons, but make sure it's green tea.
I was fascinated by your participation and I hope you are successful.
Greetings from Caracas.
It wasn't a lie per se. I bet they didn't know it themselves.
Yeah, sardine breads are quite popular around here. Really tasty too.
It's always a pleasure to have you read my posts @germanandradeg
Have a very wonderful week ahead.🤗
Something similar to you happened to me. In my family they call tea to infusions, I got to know tea a little late. Thanks for sharing dear @jhymi , with these `publications we learn more about the cultures of the people. A big hug from Maracay.
Well there's beauty in diversity isn't there. It's always a perfect way to connect with people through my writing so I'm glad to meet you today @irvinc
I don't care what you say...
Milo and milk is my tea😂😂😂💔
It's good for growing children, so yeah. Go @seki1 😂❤️
Okay Sir....😂
Hahahaha. Brilliant woman! I always had an inkling that tea wasn't tea. I started watching international shows at a very young age and saw what we called tea was in fact hot chocolate or cocoa. Blah! I was never a tea person in the first place. Hater Lipton. Toptea. And all the teas! But, there's this new flavor I want to try out soon.
Lipton tea is not tea!!!
Tengo's ready to bite our heads off Deraa. Best correct yourself.
He has never liked Lipton! 😂😂😂...he calls it "Shite" 🤣
It's Shite alright!
🌚🌚
Indeed!
You really don't like Lipton!!
Nope I don't and can't believe pay for it!
Wow.. beautifully constructed and quite informative.
I've been drinking cocoa all these while, it's not as if I didn't know it was cocoa oh but then I thought of it as tea nevertheless 😂
I've drank Lipton not up to 5times since birth since it's not as sweet as my normal tea... Oh, my normal cocoa😂
Popped in via @dreemport
😂😂😂
You can call it hot cocoa or hot chocolate, anyone goes. But it's not the "I want to buy tea" we've been shouting up and down.
The actual tea is for strong people sha, which I know you're not. Lol
See finish ni😂😂😂😂
It's all in good spirits dear.😂🤗
It is ironic that Britain has a name for being a nation of tea drinkers, yet the tea you see all over the world in that Lipton's tea which is pish!
You don't see it in the UK
Happy Tea Day I guess
Hah!
Britain and Tea is like night and day, can't have one without the other.
There are other brands of tea available but it's really not my thing so I don't look into it.
Maybe you could recommend a good brand?
There is an art to making or brewing a good cup of tea!
Waterrrrr .... water ... Scotland has wonderful water, think whisky!
So we have tea brands suited to our soft water .. Yes I drink Scottish Blend!
English have yukky hard water so have different teas that don't work as well with Scottish water. So depending on your water type depends on your tea brands..
Oh .....
I wonder where I'll find the Mad Scotsman, Tengo then. I reckon he makes the best teas?
Now this has been enlightening, thanks for sharing
You're welcome. A pleasure to have you.
See how you constructed this write-up and it made me keep smiling knowing I can relate to this experience too. My mom made sure we take tea every morning, the whole day in the week and we never missed a day not brewing tea. I grew up to love Liptopn, but then they brought up the myth that it makes one slimmer. Is that true? Anyways I didn´t bother to Google search myself but it doesn´t make me stop taking Lipton and I only add just milk to it without sugar.
I popped in through #dreemport
Well the fact that it makes one slimmer might be welcome to some and not to some others. It depends on your perspective. But I don't believe we should let go of the things we love because of a possiblity. It was nice to have you as always Princess.🌺
I'm a diehard fan of Lipton especially during cold weather, I have this flask that I use to preserve the temperature of the tea. I usually drink it without any type of flavour or sugar because Lipton itself is medicinal.
Thanks for sharing
Pop in from #dreemport
Yeah, that it is. Quite medicinal indeed. Although, I have it under good authority that Lipton is in fact not tea contrary to what we thought. But it's alright, it's enjoyable nonetheless. It was a pleasure to have you here.
First of i wish to have a bite at that cake, the one you mum gave you guys rice in the morning and you guys were like rice, that really cracked me up🤣🤣 oyibo children.
i never knew tea had was Lipton i usually call all drinking things including coffee tea learnt something new today ..
I usually dont take lipton makes me thin, but i enjoyed it with sugar and bread and egg,
The coffees you take what brand does it make you make sleep or not, i take coffees alot but i research and learnt that it rise heartbeats and brings anxiety which i was experiencing when taking it then plus it doesn't make me sleep took it mostly at night thou during my school days to prepare me for exams.
Right now what i love drinking as per tea is Hot chocolate and michia (that is fried egg place at the center of bread and fried the bread too) its quite good and delicious maybe one day i'll make a post about it.
Well the things that work for some may have a negative reaction on others.
I love mishai too. I don't know if I have the spelling right but I discovered it early this night and I fell deep in love with it.
If you ever make a post about it, I'll really love to read.🌺
seriously, ? i hope you've tasted it from someone who knows how to prepare it very well ? your life wíll never remain the same again. i'll do just that one of these days
Yeah, my life didn't remain the same alright.
Looking forward to your post.🌺
haha great to know