Let's Do Tea, In The Garden...
Tuesday 22nd April 2008 by Cherry Menlove
I sensed that there was a slight change in the air as I looked out of the window this morning. Gone were the grey skies of late and in its place was a deliciously milky sky hiding a watery sun which really was rather hot by the time the afternoon rolled around.
 The change in the weather is a wonderful thing; not only can we work on our kitchen gardens but (and whilst there’s not a hope of dinner al fresco) it also means that we can start to put tea in the garden in the diary.
Afternoon tea is a strangely decadent pastime and if you do decide to partake in this gloriously old fashioned tradition then beware, once you’ve begun, it’s an extremely hard habit to break.
There are however some rules:
Real teas only please, no teabags
There is an array of leaf teas out there so say so long to those lazy tea bags and treat yourself to some of tea’s finest leaves. If you have a favourite tea then you’ll be doing it, and you, a favour, by buying it in leaf form!
Fortnum & Mason  , Hampstead Teas and Tea Palace are just a few places to start.
Where there is tea, there is cake
Mmmmmmm... now I’m not sitting here suggesting that we sit around all day eating cake. A minute on the lips; all in moderation and all...
But, if as soon as the sun shines you get your gardening gloves on and are out of the back door like a shot then once you’ve spent a few hours weeding the borders of your (however teeny weeny) garden then you’ll have burnt off sufficient enough to withstand a slice of something sweet.
If you’ve the time rustle up your own afternoon treats then I urge you to try my Madeleine recipe - if not then note that we’re living in the era of the cupcake.
 The Little Cupcake Company has a signature collection to die for and nothing will brighten your table when out of doors like their beautifully iced treasures...
Apart from Wedgwood’s Polka Dot Tea Story collection that is - if I were to compare this collection to fashion it would be the equivalent of Valentino Couture. If I were to conjure up a pair of shoes alongside which the teapot could stand tall and proud it would be a pair of Louboutin’s... you get the picture.
The sun is shining and it may well last. Get yourself outside, outside for tea!
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