What is the scent of Christmas and what is it really all about?
You might be thinking that an afternoon holiday tea party seems like too much work to be done, but at the same time cream tea seems too simple. If you want to serve a little more than just bread and tea, then a light tea might be the best option for your Tea Party this Christmas.
During a light tea, scones and tea are served alongside desserts and sweets. This tea is also served between lunch and dinner and is perfect for a short gathering with friends and family.
If you want to host a tea party without a large menu, a light tea is elaborate and small enough to make a lasting impression without the time-consuming preparation.
The real scent of Christmas is not a passive smell, it is an active ritual, it is the steam, warmth, and aroma that you make for yourself, an antidote to the rush. It is about activating the senses, slowing down time, and filling your home to the point that the aroma is so real and evocative that it creates its own memory.
Ritual that Evoke Senses
This ritual is about feeding our hands. It is a deliberate act of invoking all five senses, one by one.
The Touch - The ritual begins with touch: the characters of a gnarled, woody cinnamon stick within your palm; the palpability of the little, sharp ends of whole cloves; the brittle perfection of a star anise. The cool, smooth stone of a mortar and pestle and the luxurious heaviness of the pestle in your hand. Before any heat is introduced, you are experiencing the earth.
The Sound - This ritual connects us to a world of quiet and intentional sounds: the woody crackle of spices breaking in the mortar, not the electric buzz and changes of vibration of a grinder, but a resonance that is slow and considered. The gentle hiss of water begins to warm. The quiet, satisfying clink of a heavy and balanced spoon against a ceramic mug. The sound of slowing down.
The Smell - This is really the climax. The magic happens when the spices that you have woken up with your hands meet the heat. That first wisp of steam doesn't smell like just cinnamon, it smells like your cinnamon - the same stuff you just broke. The aroma is the unfolding of a story - from the bright, sharp citrus oils, to the depth of sweet, peppery base aromas. This is the difference between hearing a song through a small speaker, and feeling it, in a concert hall.
The Sight - We forget to look. Watch as the spices swirl around in the simmering water, a dark beautiful alchemy. Watch as the tea infuses, blooming and bleeding its rich, amber color into the pot. Watch as the steam curls from the cup. A visual meditation.
The Taste - The final reward. The summation of all the senses - the warmth enveloping your hands, the aroma in your nose, the rich, complex, layered taste on your tongue. You don't just taste tea. You taste the process between growing it, sourcing it, and brewing it.
The Artifacts for the Ritual
A ritual is defined, in part, by the ingredients you use. They are not simply practical; they are talismans. Using objects that are beautiful and substantial elevates a task to a ceremony.
The Mortar and Pestle
The modern world straight up wants to make everything "grind" immediately. This is not about speed; rituals are about release. A mortar and pestle are the center of this. The pleasing weight of the pestle, the bowl made of solid stone, is an intentional tool. You are not shredding, you are bruising. You are waking up the essential oils gently and firmly, thereby releasing the spices' truest, purest, and most potent perfume away from the spice pocket. It is a related, visceral act of being "with" the ingredients in a way no machine could ever come close to delivering.
The Spoons
The spoon is your final point of contact.
- For the Cup: A plain kitchen teaspoon is a functional tool. An elegant, properly weighted tea spoon is a delightful tool. It is the difference between drinking in gulps and sips. You notice the balance of the teaspoon when you stir. It is a pleasure to hold and has areassuring weight that is small yet constant while reminding you this is a special moment, not a hurried one.
- For the Mug: If you are serving in a tall glass mug to appreciate the color, then using a standard tea spoon will feel silly. This is a moment for a long, elegant stirring spoon (typically referred to as a latte spoon). It allows for a deep effective and delicate stir and it will even dissolve the honey or sugar that settles on the very bottom of the mug. In short, it's the right tool for the job and that is a beauty in itself.
The Wooden Serving Tray
You may, of course, simply hand someone a mug. But the hospitality ritual serves to present your gift. Setting the steaming mugs, a small bowl of sugar, and your collection of spoons on a lovely wooden serving tray changes everything. The rustic, natural woodgrain aesthetics perfectly enhances a warm, festive drink. It changes "here's your tea" into a single and elegant offering of generosity.
Mulling The Tea
This does not intend to serve you as a precise recipe, but rather as a starting place for YOU to craft your own unique story. Trust your nose and your taste buds will make decisions on what is best for your palate.
Here is our Simple and sorted Holiday Mulling Method:
Step 1: Activate the Spices: In a mortar and pestle, pound 3-4 cinnamon sticks, 1 tablespoon whole cloves, and 2-3 star anise together until they are mostly broken up.
Step 2: The first Simmer: Put your crushed spices in a pot with 8 cups of water and the peel of one orange (cut off in wide strips) and gently simmer for 20 minutes. Your home will soon smell magical.
Step 3: The steep: After 20 minutes, turn off the heat and stir in 4-5 bags of a sharp black tea (or if using loose tea, about 4 tablespoons). Allow the steep for just 4-5 minutes.
Step 4: The Drain: After the tea has infused for your desired taste, drain the tea into a clean pot or pitcher. Add honey or maple syrup to your desired taste.
Step 5: Pour into warm cups or mugs. Add a fresh piece of orange on top and something for stirring (a spoon or mother's elegant spoons).
The Story You Make
The hustle of Christmas will always be a factor in pulling us away from the very moments we profess to hold dear. This ritual (whether it's cooking food or creating drinks, like tea, it's a ritual) is your hold; it signals a deliberate instinct to "do" as opposed to buy.
The real aroma of Christmas is not a commercialized scent, but the by-product of what you - in your kitchen - are working on with your hands. The narrative is communicated through touch, smell, and taste. When you take 30 min to wake up spices in a mortar, to view the colour of the tea developing in water as it steeped, and to interact with it more deeply by stirring it all with a beautiful wooden spoon, the solvent is not just a beverage to consume; it is an experience you created as a peace offering. You are handcrafting (in a uniquely maternal way) the Spirit of the Season!
FAQs
Q: This sounds lovely! Can I prepare this for a holiday party?
A: Yes, indeed. This ritual is a fantastic way to greet guests. You can make an ample batch, strain it and keep it warm in a slow cooker. Make a "tea station" with coffee mugs, a ladle, and an adorable jar of tea spoons and let guests serve themselves.
Q: I love the idea of a mortar and pestle, but I don't have one. Is it worth it?
A: We think so! A good mortar and pestle will be a tool for life. You'll use it for way more than just this ritual, to make pesto. Grind peppercorns. Make your own homemade curry blends. Food is about crafting a story, so make the investment into a more hands-on cooking style.
Q: Can I use other spices?
A: Absolutely! This is a blueprint, not a rule. You could also add in a few slices of fresh ginger for zing, or add in a vanilla bean for a creamy, rounded flavor. You can add in a few cardamom pods for a different aromatic flavor than sage. This is your work of art.
