Remember to always take time for tea

When you think of “tea time,” the image of sipping a relaxing cup of tea with friends may come to mind, but when those words bounce off the walls in my house, the teapot isn’t whistling. Instead, my husband and sons are racing out the door to make their “tee time” at the golf course.

When my Irish-born friend Margaret moved to the States more than 10 years ago, she couldn’t help but notice our always-on-the-go, hectic and harried lifestyle. She was determined to show Americans that it is possible to pause and enjoy friendship like the Irish tend to do. So she not only makes a daily event of tea time for herself, but she also shares the tradition with her children and friends.

With St. Patrick’s Day coming up on the 17th, make a family resolution to slow down and enjoy simple moments together, like tea time. As Margaret observes, “By the time everyone sips some tea, slathers scones with jam and butter, sips and then pours more tea, can you imagine the wonderful, one-on-one discussions a person can have with children, family and friends?”

Here are some ideas to get started:

Kids can help by setting the “tea tray,” a necessary component for tea time. You’ll need a sugar bowl, pitcher for milk and a small plate with sliced lemons. Cover the coffee table or dining-room table with a white lace cloth. (She collects hers at tag sales.) Then place cups, saucers, spoons and napkins around the table. Each person can be given a dessert plate and butter knife used to cut scones or cake into pieces or for spreading butter and cream.

When it’s time to sit down, let the children be responsible for passing the milk, sugar, cake or scones.

How to brew a proper pot of tea:

1. Boil a kettle of water.

2. Pour 1 inch of hot water into a china or silver teapot. Swirl to warm, and then pour it out.

3. Into the pot, measure 1 teaspoon of tea per person and 1 extra teaspoon for the pot.

4. Add rapidly boiling water to the pot and steep for five minutes.

5. Strain tea into teacups.

6. Dispose of used tea leaves in compost pile, or scatter them around your growing roses.

Serve with whole milk if you wish. It gives tea a nice color and rounds out the flavor. Children tend to prefer it that way.