Tea Travels

Green Tea Reminds me of a Korean Colleague

Strange how tea can take us to places, times, and memories. A few minutes ago I tweeted to a fellow traveller who was mentioning being calm without coffee that he might want to try Rooibos Tea, as I find it calming. The truth is, I find it calming because I associate the tea with a special bond shared with my older daughter. You see she introduced me to Rooibos tea while we were sharing a flat in Fish Hoek near Cape Town South Africa. She had discovered the tea (it's from a local redbush indigenous to the western Cape) while in the bush of Botswana. Sure I'd tried a variety mixed with other teas from Teavana back at the mall in Orange County, but it just wasn't the same as a simple cup of Rooibos which was said to be poor man's tea (vs the tea from Dutch colonizers and British tourists.) So as I got up to write this post, I miss my daughter, think of our guest house visit, the hosts from Colorado & Namibia, and guests from Ghana.

Then my thoughts wander to my most recent trip. To a place I equate with tea: London. Harrods. English Breakfast Tea. Earl Grey. High Tea. Classic tea party.  Funny thing is, tea has become such a luxury item business in the US that I was a bit disappointed in the teas in London. My hotel, the London Metropole, served "everyday" tea from Tetley in a bag. Kind of like a non vintage wine.  That said, we have a Starbucks inspired tea here at home that will always make me think of London, and my younger daughter who loves the London and it's namesake concoction: London Fog. We make it with a cup of Earl Grey, Soy milk foamed with an aerolatte tool, and a splash of vanilla syrup. Perfect for cool coastal California mornings when we are covered in marine layer. Honestly, London makes a better latte, and beer. Enjoying a london fog is equivalent to driving my daughter to school along a foggy coastal road.

As I open the tea cabinet I spy yet another memory infused tea: Sweet Orange by Tazo. Oddly enough I tried this at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines where my husband and I were given free tickets and a day free of cell phones to watch Mickelson and Woods battle it out. I remember the fresh fruity smell of that tea late in the afternoon, and how I scoured the lawyer sponsored room for more of those tea bags to take home. Now whenever I drink this tea I think of the beautiful Torrey Pines, the tricky 15th hole, and how Tiger came from behind, but Mickelson had such class. Sweet Orange takes me to a place of privilege and a once in a life time "pinch me" moment that was just too good to be true, but it was!

Where does your tea take you?

Cape Town South Africa New Year's Mother Daughter Trip

I must be the luckiest mom to hit this planet.  I have two teenage daughters. Usually teenage daughters want little to do with their moms; but my older one is far too smart for that. Not only did she get us to agree to allow her to volunteer in Botswana once, but twice, she also "invited" me to join her in Cape Town South Africa for a week before her second trip (because she knew we wouldn't allow her to go alone). Hence started my first trip to the African continent for New Year's 2010 and my birthday (solidly middle aged).

First, I have always been enamored with stories of the explorers headed to India on the spice route and of Darwin coming the other direction. To me the Cape of Good Hope at the tip of the African continent is one of the most exotic locations in the world. When I was 16 I NEVER dreamed of going to Hawaii, never mind Cape Town. My dreams went no further than Southern California as a small town New Hampshire girl.  My daughters, however, view Disneyland as a routine activity, so their dreams go to Africa, India, Australia, and Europe of course.
As a first time visitor to the African continent, regardless of the tourist information that I read, I had a stereotypical view of "Africa" - read: safari's,  Zulu wars of the movies, and the infamous criminals praying on tourists.  WRONG!

Cape Town South Africa is a cosmopolitan city, in many ways no different than any other that I've visited, and of course in more ways unique. With prudence and reasonable but not fearful caution, Cape Town is a city, and the Cape Peninsula/Western Cape of South Africa, one to be enjoyed: by more mother/daughter travel teams.

I'm looking forward to more posts and sharing our favorite sites, tips, and photos.

Tip for today:
Fish Hoek in False Bay is close enough, but a world away. Stay with Solveig and Peter at their guest house: Sunny Cove Manor and be sure to eat their hearty breakfast each day to save time and Rands by skipping a meal. We stayed for a week in the owner's "family flat" as the regular guest house rooms were full, and it cost about $900 USD. Moreover, our hostess helped us to make reservations, arranged for a local rental car when they were sold out all over the city, and our host set up a private visit to Masipumelele, a black township. Our hostess told us the best routes, and safe atms!