Tea Chronicles Pt.4 - Colin Fletcher

Fletcher at camp

This is a tea story I've been looking forward to posting but has taken a little preperation.

As a British ex-pat Colin Fletcher upheld the "Britanic Afternoon Tea" ritual despite having lived away from Blighty for more than a quarter of a century. In "The Complete Walker Pt. 3" Fletcher details his approach to tea and hiking.

“A little to my surprise, I find plain, straightforward Lipton tea the best for sheer resuscitation power. Thirty bags see even me through the thirstiest week. I normally include a few fancier jobs, mint- or orange- or cinnamon flavored, for rest-day kicks.”

— Colin Fletcher -The Complete Walkerm, 1984

Fletcher goes on, in his unique and entertaining way, to detail the use of both tea, coffee and cocoa. He quotes a paper by the Addictions Research Foundation of Ontario.This gives the hard line on the effects of caffeine. Fletcher however  jumps to the defence of tea calling coffee and cocoa "mere foods" and "such calumnies against tea are enough to depress the mood, if not the performance of an Un-British Activities Committee"

In weighing up the pluses and minuses of loose leaf vs. tea bags vs. tea powder he provides a recipe for a blend given to him by "a lover of tea and a hater of tea bags"

The blend is

“3 parts Darjeeling
3 parts Keemun
1 part Ceylon
A dash of Lapsang Suchong

which, he avers can actually be smoked and “will cure all ills, including future smoking of anything. You carry such leaves in a Ziploc plastic bag and steep by means of a lightweight metal basket.”

— Colin Fletcher -The Complete Walkerm, 1984

This I had to try, I sourced the various teas and the blend is complete. It's a delicious hearty black tea- a no-nonsense blend.  I am a big fan of Russian Caravan Tea and this is similar with Keemun and the dash of Lapsang Suchong but the Celyon gives it a lighter edge steering it a little closer to an English style tea.

A lover of tea and a hater of tea bags blend

I was so impressed I've made a full batch if anyone out there is interested in trying some shoot me an email and I'll figure the best way to get it out to you.

Tea Chronicle Pt. 3 - Thomas Hiram Holding

Campfire in the backwoods

Hiram Holding was a British journeyman, tailor and early pioneer of camping. His love for the outdoors began in the 1850's when, as a 9 year old, his family joined a wagon train across the USA. He released “The Campers Handbook” in 1908 urging people embrace the outdoors. The book is an exhaustive resource full of technique and philosophy. Under "Stews and beverages" we also find his opinions on tea and the best way to make it.

“We will assume, for the nonce, that the camper has a “Primus,” stove, on which he has used some such vessel as the “So-soon” pan. He need not wait long for the water to boil, for the power and rapidity of the stove’s action is well known. He will have to consider, to begin with, if his Tea is intended to be weak or strong. We will say just moderate. Then he must have a pint and half of water for two. Into this he would put a tea-spoonful of Tea, as it boils—in which case he would instantly lift it off—or into the pan directly it is off. I deem it best to pop the Tea in as the water boils. Now I have known ladies to lift their hands in horror as they have seen me perform this move, and say, “what, boil Tea!” No, it did not boil five seconds. The Tea simply had the first “ bite” of the water at boiling point. As it stands in the pan off the fire it becomes degrees under boiling point in a few moments, and yet boiling point has power and influence over the TEA that cooler water can never possess. After the Tea is inserted in the pan the lid should be put on, with a paper or other cover over it. The Tea will be none the worse for a stir. If Tea is put into a strainer this should be removed pretty soon.”

— Thomas Hiram Holding

Holding goes on anecdotally about the various do's and don'ts and summarises in his own comedic fashion.

“There are various fads about Tea, into which we need not enter, viz., that it must be taken out of a porcelain cup, that the sugar must go in the cup first, or that the sugar must go in after, or that the milk must precede the sugar, and so on, ad lib. It makes one wonder when we hear all this, how men and women have’ managed to live in spite of their stupidity which has led them to tempt Providence by so much recklessness in their food.”

— Thomas Hiram Holding

"The Campers Handbook" is certainly from another time but at its core it is all valid, relevant writing. I look forward to sharing more.

Tea Chronicles Pt. 2 - Bradford Angier

Bradford Angier - Home In Your Pack, 1965

Although not a self confessed tea lover Bradford Angier did sing its praises highly and took enjoyment in the ritual. In "Home in your pack," published 1965,  he descibes his tea needs simply.

“Tea is something I’ve long preferred to carry in the usual form, if only for the pleasant rite of tossing a handful of palm-measured leaves into the bubbling kettle.”

— Bradford Angier - Home In Your Pack, 1965

Angier also goes into some detail about the place tea holds for many a northern woodsman.

“The northern woodsman, particularly the Canadian, must sip his steaming cup of tea at noon, even if he has nothing to eat. This is almost a religion up under the Aurora Borealis, it’s called “b’iling the kittle.” Only a temporary fire is needed, a mere handful of dry wood that will flare briefly and as quick fall to ashes, a few specks of which invariably seem to swirl up to float unheeded in the dark brew. Get the water bubbling. Drop in a roughly measured tea spoon of tea for every cup of water and set immediately from the heat in a safe place. Five minutes steeping is sufficient.”

— Bradford Angier - Home In Your Pack, 1965

I think that Angier paints a vivid picture of the ritual and while today a fire might not always be appropriate and tea bags may be favoured the tradition lives on.  Angier was a great and prolific writer, all of his books are worth a look if you can find them.

Tea Chronicles Pt. 1 - John Muir

John Muir

I am not only a keen hiker but I'm also a tea addict, and for for me the two go hand in hand. Whether its a Thermos at the top of a mountain or the first brew when setting up camp, I love it all. I'm not the only one with an affinity for the outdoors and tea so I thought that I would document some other more famous hiking/tea partnerships.

John Muir has a number of quotes claiming tea to be among his minimum needs.

“I rolled up some bread and tea in a pair of blankets with some sugar and a tin cup and set off.”

— John Muir

Even with his famously pared down equipment requirement, when he felt the urge to strike out into the outdoors tea always featured.

“Throw a loaf of bread and a pound of tea in an old sack and jump over the back fence.”

— John Muir

Yet another reason Muir is one of my heros. More tea dedications to follow.