Sometimes there's nothing like a good cup of tea...

	Tea is the most popular prepared beverage in the world.	It’s fair to say that tea is a revered beverage in Newfoundland. Oh sure, we drink coffee, all kinds, as well as soft drinks and fruit juices. We’ve even been known to have a snort or two of an alcoholic beverage. But tea is a constant. Newfoundlanders love their cup of tea, morning, noon and night. We’re certainly not alone in our love of tea, however. According to the Tea Council of Canada, tea is the most popular prepared beverage in the world. In Canada, more than seven billion cups of tea are consumed every year. People in Atlantic Canada drink about one and a half times as much tea as the average Canadian, making per capita consumption in the Atlantic provinces the highest of any region in the country. While Maritimers drink a lot of tea, however, Newfoundlanders are still the champions. The Tea Council says Newfoundlanders drink 30 per cent more black tea than other Atlantic Canadians — and twice as much as other Canadians. Tea by numbers 84 per cent of Canadians drink tea in some form, either regular, black, herbal, green, specialty or iced. • 22 per cent of Atlantic Canadians drink herbal tea, while nine per cent drink green tea. • Atlantic Canadian women are more likely to drink herbal and specialty teas than men. • Atlantic Canadians with more education and higher incomes are more likely to drink herbal, green and specialty teas. • Tea is popular with all age groups. Tea drinkers include 82 per cent of Canadians aged 18 to 34; 86 per cent aged 35 to 54 and 85 per cent of those aged 55 plus. ____________Types of tea______________Black tea Green tea Oolong tea Herbal tea Source: Tea Council of Canada Perfect tea every time • Start with fresh-drawn cold water and bring to a rolling boil. Previously heated water left standing gives a flat taste when boiled again. • The teapot should be warmed to keep your tea hot longer. • Use one tea bag for each two cups of tea desired. • When the water has boiled, take the warmed teapot to the kettle and pour the boiling water over the tea bags. Cover and let steep for three to five minutes. Remove tea bags. Fresh brewed iced tea • Place six tea bags in a one-litre pitcher. • Pour 1-1/4 cups of freshly boiled water over tea bags. Steep for five minutes. Remove tea bags. Fill pitcher with fresh cold water. • Pour over ice. Garnish and sweeten to taste. A rule of thumb when preparing fresh brewed iced tea is to double the number of tea bags normally used for brewing hot tea, since the tea will be poured over ice. Spiced-up favorites • A fresh mint sprig, sliced lemon or orange, candied ginger or a cinnamon stick add flavor and visual appeal. • A splash of Grand Marnier and Amaretto turns tea into a blueberry-flavored delight. • Combine fresh brewed iced tea with cranberry juice and sparkling water for a tangy twist. Tropical tea punch 4 cups freshly brewed tea 3 cups apricot, mango or peach nectar 2 cups pineapple juice 1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (about 4 lemons) 12-oz. can undiluted frozen concentrated limeade 12-oz. can diet or regular ginger ale thin slices of lemon, lime and pineapple for garnish In a large punch bowl, stir tea with apricot nectar, pineapple juice, lemon juice and undiluted limeade. Punch can be prepared in advance. Simply cover and refrigerate until ready to serve. Just before serving, stir in ginger ale. Garnish with thin slices of lemon, lime and pineapple. Add ice cubes or a block of ice to keep punch cool. Makes 12 cups.