Good morning, dear tea friends! For my US friends, I hope that your Thanksgiving was warm and wonderful. What is your favorite tea for the Thanksgiving table? I was avoiding caffeine and drinking Rooibos that day, Earl Grey with dinner and Lemon with dessert.
With my morning tea today, we travel to the country of Nepal, where I’ve read they started growing tea from seeds gifted to the Prime Minister from the Chinese Emperor. At an altitude of 5,000 feet above sea level, the first tea plantation was set up in the 1860s, called the Ilam Tea Estate, after the district where it was located. Unfortunately, due to political turmoil and economic struggle under an autocratic dynasty, the tea industry failed to grow there at that time.
My tea this morning is from the Sakhira Estate, which is located in a remote area of Nepal, not far from Ilam Bazar.
I steeped the leaves for 3 minutes in boiling point (212F) water. As the tea steeped in my glass teapot, I found the large, tippy leaf to be very Darjeeling-like in aroma.
In the 1950s, a new democratic constitution was written in Nepal causing a shift in the political system there and opening up the country to the rest of the world. The tea industry started to grow with help from private and public investment and has been growing ever since.
My teapot appears to contain a world frozen in its glowing amber liquid.
A pronounced fruity aroma portends the rich muscatel flavor, very smooth and sweet. This tea goes down so easily with its silky smoothness, without any astringent bite. In comparison, I find that a Darjeeling tea with this much body usually has some astringency.
Well, I’ve just taken my last sip and it’s time to get on with my day. I just might put up my Christmas tree today. How are you spending your weekend?
My grandchildren will be with me all next weekend so I’ll be back with Saturday Morning Tea in two weeks. Until then, dear friends, enjoy this magical holiday time of year with many cups of tea!
“Our hearts grow tender with childhood memories and love of kindred, and we are better throughout the year for having, in spirit, become a child again at Christmas-time.” ~Laura Ingalls Wilder
Art and Tea 
Beautiful colors of the tea. I always love seeing the results of the steeping. Putting up the tree? Good for you. That will make your magical holiday even longer.
Thanks Judy, I love the colors of the the teas, too!
When I was in Darjeeling last year, I was interested to learn that most of the plantation workers are Nepalese. Lovely tea.
That is interesting, Steph, thanks!
Wonderful photos! I had and earl grey Thanksgiving morning bought from a local store here in Santa Fe, New Mexico. It was a great way to start the festivities!