Melissa’s Cozy Teacup

Ah, my small, but dearly loved collection of tea cook books. These aren’t merely a cook book with a chapter on tea as the Bead and Breakfast Cook Book or the William Sonoma cook book. These are fully devoted to tea, and the yummy food that goes with it.

I tried to like coffee, I really did. It smells good freshly ground. It smells good freshly brewed, however, unlike tea, which not only smells good but tastes good, coffee doesn’t taste all that grate which maybe why all those extra calories need to be added in the form of caramel, whipped cream and chocolate in order to make it palatable. Also, coffee has a nasty effect on me. Right after I drink it, I am over come by severe stomach cramps and diarrhea. So, yeah, why would I drink it? Now yes, some folks do look trendy holding their paper travel cups, but why be a copy cat? If your in a restaurant be the one with the mini teapot on the table filled with steeping tea. Granted, most restaurants in America don’t know how to serve tea and they seem a tad afraid to give boiling hot water to their patrons for fear of lawsuit, but come on people, does that mean we must give up such a wonderful beverage while in public or only enjoy it at a tea room? In order to get the supply, you must make the demand.

Coffe, coffee is for rushing around. You get it ‘to go’. ‘May I have that ‘to go’, please? Sure, you can put tea in a travel mug and go, or a thermos and go on a picnic, maybe take the camera and get something good for the blog, but typically, tea is a sit down and relax, indulge a bit, sort of thing. Tea is a moment to yourself or a visit with friends. Even the brewing of it involves a bit of ceremony. So, sit down, put your feet up, grab a cuppa and lets look at tea cook books.

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What makes a good cook book? For me, it’s not only great recipes…

From the Afternoon Tea cook book.

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But also artistic photography, or illustrations.

Illustration by Sandy Lynam Clough from the book; ‘If Teacups Could Talk’, by Emilie Barnes. This tea book/cook book taught me how to make scones and Mock Devonshire cream and was a big inspiration to me on getting going with being a hostess in my home.

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Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have some tea and cook books waiting for me to enjoy.

Happy sipping!