Caring For Your Life

Afternoon tea time is often referred to as ”high tea.” Did you ever wonder where the tradition of high tea comes from? According to the the writings of Madame de Se’vigne’ in the newsletter TeaMuse, afternoon tea may have actually been started by the French in the 17th century. But most people will tell you that high tea is a British tradition. 

The tea trade did not begin until the late 1670s. In 1663 poet Edmund Waller wrote a poem in honor of Queen Catherine for her birthday, crediting her with making tea fashionable. We all know how important it is to be fashionable, so the sale of tea skyrocketed. 

By the early 1700s, tea was on sale across London in more than 500 coffee houses. To this day, tea is still a popular drink in coffee houses across the world. Even Queen Anne chose tea over ale as her breakfast drink in the late 1600s and early 1700′s. During the 1700′s meats, cheese, bread, butter, pickles and other items were added to the traditional tea. These foods were eaten on high dining tables, so it was termed a “high” tea. Dainty finger sandwiches, pastries, cakes and scones would not have been served at that time, because they would have been eaten on low dining tables for ”low” tea. 

While the origins of high tea remain debatable, legend has it that one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting, Anna Maria Stanhopem, the Duchess of Bedford, was the creator of the afternoon tea. At first, she would have the servants sneak her a pot of tea and breads around mid-afternoon. Then before long, she began inviting friends to join her for tea and sweet treats around 5:00 p.m.

By the 1860s the fashion for high tea became widespread. High tea in Britain is still traditionally held at around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m. Many Americans have adapted this custom but and hold it closer to 2:00 or 3:00 p.m.  

Tea houses remain popular worldwide. The Department of Food and Nutrition Services at Bridgeport Hospital has even introduced a mid-afternoon high tea for new mothers and their families in the Women’s Care Center. The hospital has added a twist to the traditional tea by serving not only tea, but also coffee, hot chocolate, sweet treats, healthy snacks and more. Maybe you can add a relaxing cup of tea to your afternoon. Tea, anyone?

We frequently think of allergy season as being in the spring when trees and grasses bloom but autumn brings its own concerns about allergy and asthma triggers.

Ragweed is the main cause of fall allergies and it begins to polinate in late summer. Dust mites and mold spores are also a problem. Dust mites are microscopic and survive by eating dead skin!  They also require warmth and humidity to live. They survive anywhere that dead skin may be such as pillows, mattresses, bedding, upholstery and drapes. To help control this I suggest washing your bedding in hot water, at least 130 degrees F, and  also keep the humidity low.

Mold is a type of fungus that also needs moisture and spreads through spores. Spores can travel through the air just as dust mites can. So you need to keep your house as free of moisture as possible.

Some tips:

• Check daily mold conditions.
• Wash all bedding in hot water.
• Vacuum regularly toreduce dusts mites and mold.
• Use a dehumidifier to keep the humidity level below 50% in your home.
• If water leaks or spills occur indoors (e.g. leaky plumbing) clean them up quickly. Sitting water causes mold; make sure your bathrooms are mold free.
• Change air filters in heating and air conditioner systems.
• If your child has asthma limit the number of stuffed toys they keep in their bed and also wash them weekly in hot water.
• As the weather gets colder (it was 38 this morning at my house) you will be turning on your heating systems. Be sure your ducts and filters are clean to prevent debris from accumulating in the ducts, including dust, dust mites and mold.

If you are unsure if you have a cold or allergies consult your doctor. He or she will be able to determine if you have the common cold, allergies or the flu.