A PICK-ME-UP TEA

The grey cloud hiding the sun bears no promise of rain, rather it acts like a lid on a steaming pot. A Black-headed Oriole is making desultory calls outside, otherwise there is no sound. It feels as if the air is too thick to breathe. A pick-me-up tea is called for to break the day and how fortunate I am that I was given a packet of this tea for Christmas:

Of course we don’t have IKEA here, but if you do it will be worth giving their Black Chai with Ginger and Elderberries a try. This is part of their EGENTID tea series. When you open the foil packet you are immediately party to a most delicious aroma … place the organic loose leaf tea in your tea pot or an infuser and enjoy the wonderful bouquet developing as the boiled water goes to work. This tea is full of ‘bits’ and contains no artificial colours or preservatives. Unfortunately, I cannot be absolutely certain of all of the ingredients mentioned in the fine print:

The tea is gloriously rich in colour, is full-bodied and absolutely delicious! It is grown by UTZ certified farmers. I am not familiar with the UTZ certification so had to look it up. This certification shows consumers that products have been sourced, from farm to shop shelf, in a sustainable manner. To become certified, all UTZ suppliers have to follow a Code of Conduct, which offers expert guidance on better farming methods, working conditions and care for nature. This in turn leads to better production, a better environment and a better life for everyone.