Hot Tea Month is Here

Did you know that January is celebrated as “National Hot Tea Month”? I didn’t! As a member of a tea-loving Facebook group, I discover all sorts of information that only passionate tea-lovers know and share. And as the author of Teatime in Ireland, I do know that tea plays an important role in Ireland and that sharing a cup with friends is a legitimate social event, making tea-drinking a great way to connect. In the introduction to my cookbook, I suggest that that in Ireland all roads lead to tea; “From breakfast and lunch breaks to weddings and wakes, a cupan tae is always a welcome guest. Irish tea is far more than just a hot drink to go with a scone and jam: it’s an important custom that serves as a symbol of hospitality, friendship, and pleasure. Some say the Irish people have a relationship with tea that “transcends the ordinary” — hyperbole, perhaps, but given that the average person in Ireland drinks four to six cups of tea, perhaps not!” Here’s a delicious recipe to enjoy with your tea, one of more than 70 available in my cookbook. To order a signed copy, visit irishcook.com. ORANGE TEA LOAF Makes 1 loaf This not-too-sweet tea loaf comes together in […]