Oh! The joy of stirring and stirring and stirring a nice cup of tea. The action gives the tea drinker calm and solitude as the spoon goes around and around. Usually the teetotaler isn’t even aware of the fact the they are stirring for an eternity, but for those around them, it’s driving them crazy. If you see a tea drinker stirring their delightful substance in trance-like setting, please don’t interrupt them. They are at peace….with their tea.

The actual meaning of a teetotaler is someone who abstains from drinking alcohol. Somehow, the term got attached to tea drinkers because usually while friends were imbibing, the teetotaler was often drinking…..tea! The term most likely developed in Lancaster, England. The English are known for their love of teas, and and they would often choose tea over alcohol which was known as “tibbles”.

My family often put Irish whiskey in tea if you had a cold or fever. Even when I was a little tot, my parents would give me a smidgeon of tea and whiskey, wrap me up in bed, and I would often sweat out a fever. Unfortunately for my parents, I liked whiskey and tea. If I thought I was the slightest bit ill, I asked for some “whicky and tea” to help me feel better. To this day, a little “whicky and tea” does one some good and tastes delicious. So much for being a teetotaler who abstains from alcohol completely.

Tea comes in second to coffee in preferred drinks. Teetotalers are a unique group of people. They are particular. Only certain teas will do. They want certain cups, made in a certain way, and can be somewhat snobby in their favorite beverage. The entire consuming of tea goes back thousands of years in China, and was actually discovered by accident.

Tea was a medicinal plant, but an emperor discovered how delightful it was when consumed. Hence, the drinking of tea was conceived. Believe it or not, tea comes from one plant. Four different teas are made from that one plant. It’s called a Camellia sinensis. From this one plant, you get black tea, green tea, oolong, and white tea. It all depends on the processing. True teetotalers already know this. The flavored “teas” that you buy are not really teas at all. Surprise!! They are called Tisane which is an herbal plant and flavored with nuts, berries, flowers, and more. Here, all the time you thought you were drinking tea. Not so!!

Darjeeling tea comes from India and grows in the Himalayas. To get this tea, mountains have been climbed, cold weather suffered, and heavy rains endured. You can see why it is so expensive. This is all wonderful to a dedicated teetotaler, but green tea is the best for your health. So good for you! There are many benefits to drinking green tea from antioxidant properties to even anti-cancer compounds. Health-wise, everyone should be drinking green tea. It’s a good choice.

I bet you like your tea bags! They weren’t invented until the early twentieth century. True teetotalers wouldn’t even consider a teabag. Most use diffusers to allow the leaves to expand while brewing. There are even certain two-part pots that can diffuse the tea into the hot water for a true taste.

Now, how do you like your tea? Purists take it right from the pot. No lemon, cream, or sugar. I’m enjoying lemon and stevia currently, but I also like lemon and honey. And, yes, my cups are a mess from constant stirring. I get a sense of calm and peace while stirring my tea. It bothers my family. My husband clears his throat loudly to indicate that maybe I have stirred long enough. If I’m chatting with my friend, Linda, she tells me about my stirring. A teetotaler would understand. We just can’t help ourselves.

Getting up in the morning there is nothing more soothing to me than drinking my tea and watching the sun come up. Peace! Mary Elizabeth Braddon said, “Surely, a pretty woman never looks prettier than when making a cup of tea.” I can’t put myself in that category because in the morning I’m in my pj’s, hair uncombed, and totally without lipstick and earrings. However, I truly love what what Frances Hardinge said. “Tea is the magic key to the vault where my brain is kept.” I do think it wakes me up after that first cup.

Think of all the ways you can enjoy your tea now. From a tea party, to afternoon high tea, to an evening’s cup of camomile. Enjoy this ancient beverage, and always remember it’s okay to stir, stir, and stir again. I do. I must be like Leo Tolstoy. He says, “I must drink lots of tea or I cannot work. Tea unleashes the potential which slumbers in the depth of my soul.” Have a great day with your cuppa tea as it unleashes your potential.