The finer hot beverages in life . . .

I must confess to an attraction to the finer things in life. I don't mean expensive shoes or fast cars (at least not at my current level of remuneration), but am talking about doing the simple things well.

For instance, I love my coffee, and I love buying the beans freshly roasted from the place where they were roasted and ground specifically for my Bialetti stovetop espresso maker. It isn't an expensive vice, but the taste makes the time involved worthwhile. There is also something calming about the routine of having the little pot bubbling away every morning.

Lately I have also been getting into teas. This isn't a particularly new trend for anybody, but it is lovely to have a pot of herbal tea infusing away on the counter for a couple of hours while you study (providing it isn't the kind that goes very, very bad after too long). I need to lay off the caffeine a little bit, and it is nice to have a delicious alternative.

Today we went to T2 and my eyes nearly popped out of my head. I bought a packet of their Botanica tisana (which is a fruity herbal blend) and it is amazing - it even has chunks of dried fruit in it. I spotted a couple of sultanas hiding under some dried apple!

I'm also a big fan of real chai tea. I had no idea what I was missing until I went to a cafe that served it properly, and when I opened the teapot to have a peek, there was an incredible mixture of herbs and spices all floating loose in the pot. I now have some at home and haven't looked back. 

You don't need much - just a bag of loose tea of whatever kind makes your taste buds happy, and a little mesh ball for your cup, or if you are wanting more than a cup, a little teapot with an infuser will do. It doesn't take much, and is very much worthwhile. 

I don't normally like ordering tea when I go out, because I think that serving somebody a pot of tea with a teabag in it is equivalent to bringing them a cup of hot water and a sachet of International Roast when they order a coffee. Sure, I have teabags and instant decaf at home, but I'm not making it and serving it to a paying customer. 

Anyway, I guess the point of this post is to say that it is nice to spoil yourself on occasion (i.e. most days), and you can do so in little ways that won't cost the earth, but will bring a little more fun to everyday activities. No matter who you are, we all need to get better at smelling the roses when we can. :)