We love tea.

We can’t do without our afternoon cuppa.

Fragrant spiraling steam from the spout signals to the senses that proper steeping has occurred and it’s time to pour a golden amber or grassy green stream of molten happiness. 

Ahhh. That first sip never fails to satisfy — to stop time for a moment and live IN that moment of pure pleasure.

A pot of tea is a wondrous thing.

(It’s so funny; as I re-read what I wrote, I could easily substitute champagne or tequila  — also my favorite beverages — for “tea.” LOL)

Ginger, Korean ginseng, Yogi green tea, genmaicha, even fennel seeds (steeped in boiling water and delicious)…and once in a while Twinings or PG Tips .

I never consciously decided to collect teapots, but they seem to be growing and multiplying and spawning others to join our family.

Navigate through these seven teapots; some given as gifts, some found abandoned and dusty in thrift stores and secondhand shops;  some purchased fresh and new.

Are you a tea lover? What’s your fave?

A few of my favorite quotes about tea: 

Make tea, not war. ~Monty Python

Tea is a divine herb. ~Xu Guangqi

Having picked some tea, he drank it,
Then he sprouted wings,
And flew to a fairy mansion,
To escape the emptiness of the world….
~Chiao Jen

Where there’s tea there’s hope. ~Arthur Wing Pinero

Great love affairs start with champagne and end with tisane. ~Honoré de Balzac

Water is the mother of tea, a teapot its father, and fire the teacher. ~Chinese Proverb

 Some of my faves…

Cast iron teapot, great for genmaicha.

Polka dot pot!

Tea for one.

Flowers and lilac; think frilly frocks and high tea. “Pass the scones, my dear.”

A woodland fantasy of pink and green.

From one of my tugboat man’s voyages to Trinindad; only ornamental but spectacularly hand painted and primitive.

A beautiful sculptured teaset for our twentieth wedding anniversary from Angel Boy and DIL. China is the traditional 20th gift. Thank you, guys!   We had guests yesterday afternoon and  I served tea in these elegant cups. So classy!

I’ll plan a Part Two with pics of my other teapots, the antique ones.