Ye Olde Tea Party!

My first Maryland Renaissance Festival was in 2006. And I was thinking at the time what took me so long? This past Sunday while in attendance I was recanting the same thing.

A tradition for many years, this event brings thousands of people in droves and in costume to the event. There’s so much to see, so much to drink in, and so much unhealthy food to eat. And in the back of my mind I may have thought to write about tea if I came across one. And as happenstance would have it, here we go. Huzzah!

My friends had souvenir drinking mugs from the 2013 event and it was suggested to me that I join the fray. The ye olde shoppes which carried mugs, goblets, and tankards were ubiquitous. And the prices ranged anywhere from $8 to $700 for the hand-carved ones. If I had that kind of money maybe I’d go there. But not today.

I saw a few that caught my eye that were on the much lower end, but I decided to wait. I’d figure out later how nearly maladroit that decision was.

While my pals and I were looking around for some greasy food, I stumbled upon a line that had coffee, espresso, and yes herbal tea! As I got to the line, I was just about to get a cup when a light bulb went off in my head. If I ordered this is in a plain cup I would be doing myself, this blog, and my readers a disservice. So I bee-lined back to the same stoneware shop where one mug stood out and I grabbed it!

I happily waited in the ever-so-growing line and the maiden poured my tea in my beautiful new mug!

How was the tea? I didn’t like it at first, but it’s a grower. And it grew on me almost immediately. I had a sore throat and one of licorice roots benefits is helping with thy throat. It’s not a flavor I particularly like but this cup got better with time. It’s the flavor that stood out the most. Lemon and mint do make their presence felt as well. Marjoram is a sexy yet synonymous name for oregano. If that was in my cup I wouldn’t have known it.

The most intriguing component in is the catnip. I wish my taste buds could have picked on it. Maybe they did and I jut didn’t know it. Maybe I’ll ask my cat what she thinks of it? I won’t take any of hers, that would be mean.

Nevertheless, my cup went great with our cheesy bread and macaroni & cheese on a stick. Yes just like how it was in olden times.

I didn’t think to ask anyone if the team is local or made in-house; or if the herbs, leaves came from a nationally known brand. I did an online search on what all it contains and nothing concrete came up. I did one search and that’s that. I rather keep the mystique and believe this is the same herbal remedy that the King drank with other fellow royalty hundreds of years ago.

There’s only one weekend to go from the date of this post. I don’t need to sell this event to anyone that lives reasonably close to attend. It sells itself and is so fun. I wish I had more time or I’d go every weekend! Maybe I’ll see you there this weekend.

And if you do wait in line for a hot or cold (it’s also served chilled) beverage, consider the tea!

For more RenFest fun click here.

I’ll leave with some pictures of this wonderful party.