Make a cup of tea and stay with me for a few minutes, relax and enjoy.

Sometimes a cup of tea, just does the trick. A soothing cup of tea relaxing with a book, or these days in front of the computer,with fellow blogging friends.Or finishing off an evening combined with five minutes of solitude. A winter warmer, a summer iced treat.

A fragrant favorite of mine is “Tisana Meditazione” – Meditation Tea. It’s a combination of mint, cinnamon, sunflower petals, rose petals,chamomile and lavender.

The fragrance of lavender is known to relax and soothe the mind and body. Lavender  tea is known to ease insomnia, help calm nervousness and anxiety. Alleviate colds ,coughs,bronchitis and similar respiratory problems. Fatigue and headaches. Funny enough two of my favourite teas both have lavender in them.

Meditation Tea is very fragrant, sweet and soothing if you can find this combination I recommend trying it. Another favourite is “Tisana Dolce Sonno” meaning Sweet Dreams or Sleep, so I guess the title says it all. It’s ingredients are passionfruit leaves, melissa ,star anise, mint,peppermint and lavender.

From a friend who lives miles away:

“I would like to visit you and have a cup of tea, however as I am unable to,

please have one on me”, a teapot message and a teabag included.

Finding an interesting article titled  Think outside the cup.Cooking with tea. I thought I might try one of their recipes. This recipe was the winning entry published by Emily.

I based the preparation of these biscuits on my own recipe which I use for Cantucci.An almond biscuit.Which I usually make around Christmas time.

Recipe: Tea Biscuits

2 1/4 cups All purpose Flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 teaspoon salt

3 tablespoons honey

1/2 teaspoon vanilla sugar

zest of 1 lemon

2 tablespoons strong brewed chamomile tea

Preparation:

Pre heat oven 220° C

Sift flour,baking powder,baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl.

In a separate mixing bowl, whisk eggs and sugar until a light yellow colour forms.Add honey,vanilla sugar, zest of lemon and tea, mix well. Combine, by folding dry ingredients into egg mixture and mix well with wooden spoon.

Divide the batter mixture in 3 equal mounds,placing on oven proof paper onto a baking tray.

Cook , for about 20 minutes,until golden brown.Turn off oven.

With a serrated knife,cut medium/thin slices.

Place biscuits back on tray,and leave in oven,re cooking, as oven cools.

Icing:

These biscuits can be left without icing as their flavour is a honey,tea, light flavour a real dunking biscuit. However if you have the time here’s their icing recipe.

1 cup icing sugar

2 teaspoons strong brewed chamomile tea (hot)

mix and with a fork drizzle over biscuit.

Enjoy your tea time my friends,and have a great week! x