A year ago I weaned myself off of putting sugar in my tea. I found out that the tea was only a vehicle for sugar and, while I still drink it just to have a warm cup in my hand sometimes, I don't really love the tea as I used to. On the plus side, my husband and I will mark 56 years this month. He's not a big romantic but he's the dearest love I've ever had!
I loved reading this, Jo. It made me think about how much hot drinks are part of the rituals in my day. The deliciousness of the first (of many) freshly brewed coffees in the morning. Like you, I need two pretty robust hot drinks to get going first thing, as I empty my head into my journal. I've noticed how much lighter it is in the morning these past two weeks. The coffee pot is on all morning and I punctuate whatever I'm doing with return visits for a fresh cup. In the afternoon, between 3 and 4 o'clock, I want a big mug of tea, one that I can wrap my hands around. Nothing like a builder's tea, quite milky but very hot. And in the evening, a warm milky drink. Recently this has been dark hot chocolate, as I convince myself that I deserve it because it's so miserable outside and we all deserve a treat. The much-anticipated nicer weather deprives me of my justification for this treat, so I'm going to need to find a new reason!
Hi Jo. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and can remember drinking the most delicious chocolatey malt drink as a child. It was called Milo. It was a bit like Ovaltine or Horlicks, only nicer.
Today must be tough for you being an anniversary but as you said in your post, you had an abundance of love and those thoughts sustain us through the years when we lose a loved one.
I am also partial to a mug of builders tea first thing in the morning!
I loved this Jo! It felt like the words just tripped off your tongue. A pleasure to read. I like earl grey tea in the morning and afternoon in a special mug, or cup and saucer sometimes. And fennel if I drink anything after 4pm.
Well the mugs/cups for me are so important (must be bone china, a certain size, white inside, ideally a beautiful design) that I have about 5 acceptable ones so there’s always one available, even if the others are in the dishwasher! In the other hand, my husband doesn’t care what mug it is at all. We’re all different 😃
I'm a camomile drinker consistently. I have 3 a day. Water otherwise and don't drink alcohol.
But in winter, I love a hot chocolate after a dog's walk. Made with hot milk and with marshmallows on the top and sprinkled with Lindt chocolate flakes. Sinful, but beautiful.
Anniversaries are to be remembered and celebrated, no matter what. Sink into the memory with a lovely hot choccie drink. Cheers.
I love tea, generally of the builders variety . Although I mainly drink decaffeinated these days at home, but I do drink lots. I have never drunk coffee, love the smell but hate the bitter taste. Hot chocolate is a favourite in our house, we have one of those velvetisers and they are so lovely 🥰 I might have one or two a week.
On anniversaries, thinking of you this week 🤗 these dates must be so hard 😢
It is our wedding anniversary on Thursday (26 years) and we will raise a toast to you and John. Sending lots of love Jo xxx
Thank you so much Nicola I will raise a glass to you both on Thursday too. I hope you have something nice planned 😘 I have thought of a velvetiser but for one 😊😘
Such a lovely post Jo thank you. My first cup of the day is a slice of lemon in hot water. It’s then proper coffee black for breakfast and made in a cafetière . I used to drink Ovaltine with cold milk as a milkshake when I had a cafe. It kept me going. Love hot chocolate and have a Velvetiser . Going off Hotel chocolat since Mars took them over. I need to find another source of 70% chocolate for the machine. Never drink tea now. Used to in years gone by but very weak.
I think my taste in tea harkens back to my childhood when after a special holiday meal at my aunt's house my mom would enjoy a cup of brewed coffee. Naturally, I wanted some too. I was too young so the have me a cup of hot water and milk with a drop of coffee for color!
Today, I enjoy my black tea with a healthy dollop of half & half.
I also enjoy a rare cup of hot chocolate, but I'm kinda picky and haven't found one I like. Most are too sweet and then there is the unsweetened drinking chocolate from Numi I discovered. The Mexican hot chocolate that is made a quart at a time with a large cube of chocolate is probably the closest to ideal I've found.
What a beautiful post, thank you Jo. You could be a tea sommelier 😉 I drink Yorkshire Tea (decaffeinated) and love a 'nice' coffee. When we moor in a marina, we have electricity to the boat, so we can use our Nespresso machine every day. We're back out on the canal now and the machine depletes the batteries, so we rarely use it; I'll miss it, but I use coffee bags which are OK. Love to hear your stories about John and Sarah, so keep writing about them. What about Ovaltine?! Both that and Horlicks make me think of old people and we're definitely not that. Have a lovely week 😘
A year ago I weaned myself off of putting sugar in my tea. I found out that the tea was only a vehicle for sugar and, while I still drink it just to have a warm cup in my hand sometimes, I don't really love the tea as I used to. On the plus side, my husband and I will mark 56 years this month. He's not a big romantic but he's the dearest love I've ever had!
That’s beautiful Noel, 56 years is a long time, you prove love survives romance can be overrated and expensive 😘😘
I loved reading this, Jo. It made me think about how much hot drinks are part of the rituals in my day. The deliciousness of the first (of many) freshly brewed coffees in the morning. Like you, I need two pretty robust hot drinks to get going first thing, as I empty my head into my journal. I've noticed how much lighter it is in the morning these past two weeks. The coffee pot is on all morning and I punctuate whatever I'm doing with return visits for a fresh cup. In the afternoon, between 3 and 4 o'clock, I want a big mug of tea, one that I can wrap my hands around. Nothing like a builder's tea, quite milky but very hot. And in the evening, a warm milky drink. Recently this has been dark hot chocolate, as I convince myself that I deserve it because it's so miserable outside and we all deserve a treat. The much-anticipated nicer weather deprives me of my justification for this treat, so I'm going to need to find a new reason!
Thank you so much for such a beautiful comment Ceri 😘😘 ps you can still have a dark hot chocolate treat whatever the weather 🌦️
Hi Jo. I thoroughly enjoyed this post and can remember drinking the most delicious chocolatey malt drink as a child. It was called Milo. It was a bit like Ovaltine or Horlicks, only nicer.
Today must be tough for you being an anniversary but as you said in your post, you had an abundance of love and those thoughts sustain us through the years when we lose a loved one.
I am also partial to a mug of builders tea first thing in the morning!
Thanks Rosy, I will have to check your Milo. I know to some builders tea is sacrilege but it won’t stop me 😊❤️
I loved this Jo! It felt like the words just tripped off your tongue. A pleasure to read. I like earl grey tea in the morning and afternoon in a special mug, or cup and saucer sometimes. And fennel if I drink anything after 4pm.
It is strange how important what we drink out of and how they are an important element of our rituals 😘
Well the mugs/cups for me are so important (must be bone china, a certain size, white inside, ideally a beautiful design) that I have about 5 acceptable ones so there’s always one available, even if the others are in the dishwasher! In the other hand, my husband doesn’t care what mug it is at all. We’re all different 😃
Mine is big mug, not bone china as I am too clumsy 😁
I like very different teas and coffees, I’m not British but I do drink tea with milk sometimes; enjoyed reading your post.
Thank you Francey glad you enjoyed your the post 😘
A lovely read, Jo.
I'm a camomile drinker consistently. I have 3 a day. Water otherwise and don't drink alcohol.
But in winter, I love a hot chocolate after a dog's walk. Made with hot milk and with marshmallows on the top and sprinkled with Lindt chocolate flakes. Sinful, but beautiful.
Anniversaries are to be remembered and celebrated, no matter what. Sink into the memory with a lovely hot choccie drink. Cheers.
Nothing sinful about a hot chocolate to warm you up. A treat to enjoy with relish 😘
I love tea, generally of the builders variety . Although I mainly drink decaffeinated these days at home, but I do drink lots. I have never drunk coffee, love the smell but hate the bitter taste. Hot chocolate is a favourite in our house, we have one of those velvetisers and they are so lovely 🥰 I might have one or two a week.
On anniversaries, thinking of you this week 🤗 these dates must be so hard 😢
It is our wedding anniversary on Thursday (26 years) and we will raise a toast to you and John. Sending lots of love Jo xxx
Thank you so much Nicola I will raise a glass to you both on Thursday too. I hope you have something nice planned 😘 I have thought of a velvetiser but for one 😊😘
Treat yourself, they are so good!!!! ❤️
Such a lovely post Jo thank you. My first cup of the day is a slice of lemon in hot water. It’s then proper coffee black for breakfast and made in a cafetière . I used to drink Ovaltine with cold milk as a milkshake when I had a cafe. It kept me going. Love hot chocolate and have a Velvetiser . Going off Hotel chocolat since Mars took them over. I need to find another source of 70% chocolate for the machine. Never drink tea now. Used to in years gone by but very weak.
I know what you mean about Hotel Chocolat they started near where I live, but it’s not the same now 😠 cold ovaltine???🤔😘
Ovaltine whisked into ice cold milk. I used to love it. Haven’t had it for years though.
I think my taste in tea harkens back to my childhood when after a special holiday meal at my aunt's house my mom would enjoy a cup of brewed coffee. Naturally, I wanted some too. I was too young so the have me a cup of hot water and milk with a drop of coffee for color!
Today, I enjoy my black tea with a healthy dollop of half & half.
I also enjoy a rare cup of hot chocolate, but I'm kinda picky and haven't found one I like. Most are too sweet and then there is the unsweetened drinking chocolate from Numi I discovered. The Mexican hot chocolate that is made a quart at a time with a large cube of chocolate is probably the closest to ideal I've found.
What a beautiful post, thank you Jo. You could be a tea sommelier 😉 I drink Yorkshire Tea (decaffeinated) and love a 'nice' coffee. When we moor in a marina, we have electricity to the boat, so we can use our Nespresso machine every day. We're back out on the canal now and the machine depletes the batteries, so we rarely use it; I'll miss it, but I use coffee bags which are OK. Love to hear your stories about John and Sarah, so keep writing about them. What about Ovaltine?! Both that and Horlicks make me think of old people and we're definitely not that. Have a lovely week 😘
Enjoy your coffee Karen, shame about the Nespresso machine. Thank you for your kind words too 😘😘
Sounds a lovely memory Sheryl, maybe a Mexican chocolate for your Birthday treat tomorrow 😘😘