Time for another special Father’s Day Tea Time. You have lots of options and can select the one that fits your dad.

Fathers are pretty special and tend to come in a variety of sizes and types. Around the world and through the ages, the role of dads in the lives of their children has varied a lot. From mere biology to hunter/protector to stern guider of young minds thru adulthood to more companionable roles, fathers have been there. In some countries, fathers maintain what many consider to be the strictly “male” portion of the parenting tasks, that is, they go out and work and support the family, then come home and set and enforce the rules of the house. In other countries, the lines between which parent performs which parental role have blurred a lot, where dad is just as likely to change diapers or drive the kids to sports practice as mom is.

Dads everywhere have a special place in their hearts for their children. Seeing a father with his child sleeping in his lap or eating at the local fast food joint and seeing a dad lovingly leading his child by the hand to the restroom are always cherished sights. No wonder we children celebrate dads once a year.

Your tea time with your dad should incorporate things he likes, so a theme is good, such as something like these:

• Golf Lover’s Tea, with grass-green décor and golf-themed food.
• Favorite Sports Team Tea, using your dad’s favorite team colors throughout your décor.
• Camping Tea, complete with tent and camp cups and plates.
• Mystery Lover’s Tea, set up in a mysterious way (night time, lots of candles, etc.).
• Mechanic’s Tea, with lots of tools among the décor and overalls for outfits.

Selecting a tea should be done after careful consideration. The tea should reflect his personality as closely as possible.

For dads who need some heavy reinforcement to meet the challenge of balancing work and family time:

• Tarajulie Estate Tea — A 2nd Flush Assam tea that retains the malty character of most Assam teas yet is less overwhelming that way than some other Assams. Grown at 1500 feet above sea level in the beautiful estate of Tarajulie in the shadows of the Himalayan mountains on the Bramaputra River plain, this orthodox-style tea is pure delight. And your dad will get a kick out of knowing that elephants and tigers occasionally invade the tea gardens. I think they are looking to enjoy their own cuppa!

For dads who are braving a tough world every day:

• Nine Bend Black Dragon Tea — A classic (just like many dads out there) black tea from China. The aroma fresh out of the pouch is earthy, woodsy (some call it “oaky”), and very intriguing. The tea sort of glides over your tongue in a gentle flow of flavor. That’s the best way we know to put the sensation into words. Some tea drinkers have even said they’d give up coffee for this tea. Enjoy this tea plain or with a little milk and just a touch of sweetener. That woodsiness still comes through, and the milk smoothes the flavor even further. Perfect for Dad’s after dinner tea!
• Dragon Pearls Green Tea — A premiere green tea made from the delicate top two leaves and bud of new season growth and then hand-rolled into small pearl shapes. They open up during infusion, putting on quite a show where you can look closely and see the “hairy down” on them — a true sign of a fine white tea. The flavor is it’s own reward, too, resulting from the time of harvest (only made from tea plucked in the first 3 weeks of the new season — late March/early April) and method of processing. Clear and rich with a substantial body and pungency that are unexpected considering the pale color of the liquid. The aroma is sweet and floral and will make your dad feel special.

Your tea with Dad will be sure to make him feel special. Enjoy!

See more of A.C. Cargill’s articles here.

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