il Giardino Romantico

'A cup of tea is the solution to every problem.'  This is a quote from 'Doctor Who'.  I had never imagined myself falling in love with English tea.  The person who taught me how to drink tea the English way, was a French girl.  When she came to visit me, she asked me, 'Have you learned to drink tea the English way?'  She told me to add fresh milk and sugar to every cup of tea.  That's the way you're supposed to drink it. 

When you're feeling down, have a cup.  When you're feeling over the moon, that's even more of a reason to have one.  While coffee has become a daily routine, tea has become an enjoyment reserved only for special occassions.

我沒有想到我也會愛上英國茶。『一杯茶可以解決世上任何的問題』，這是從【超時空博士】聽來的名言。而真正道地的英國茶飲用方式，是一位法國人教我的。記得他那次來找我問我：你喝茶已經學會了英國人的喝茶方式了嘛？牛奶跟糖都要加。聽他說完那次之後，每一次喝茶我都很自然的加入了新鮮的牛奶跟一包糖。

心情不好要來一杯，心情好就更要來一杯。咖啡變成了習慣。茶，則是便成了一種享受。

This box of Fortnum and Mason Afternoon Tea was given to me by a fellow Liverpool Uni. mate.  I was really surprised when he handed me the tea.  The two of us had never really had the chance to get to know each other while we were in Liverpool.  However, on the way to Windsor, we miraculously missed the same train, then got on the following train, and met in the same car on that train.  And just like that, we accompanied each other to Windsor and had a very unforgettable day.

While we were in Windsor, this mate told me about Fortnum and Mason.  But as I was so ignorant of these things, my mate decided to give this to me so that I could try it.  It was so thoughtful of him.  And since I really enjoyed this gift, I feel obliged to share this with everyone, instead of keeping it all to myself.

這盒Fortnum and Mason Afternoon Tea，是一位利物浦同學回台後送給我的。得到這份小禮，其實很驚喜。因為我與這位同學呢，在利物浦一整年，卻很少有機會能夠交流。不過這都要怪我自己太宅。好在緣份這東西呢，有了，你想擋也擋不掉。就在去溫莎的路上，我們同樣的錯過了前一班火車，搭上了同一班火車，也進了同一個車廂。就這樣結伴到溫莎一日遊。渡過了難忘的一天。

在溫莎的時候，這位同學跟我提起過這家的茶。不過天仙太鄉巴佬，沒聽過。這位同學就很貼心的帶了一盒回來給天仙品嚐。實在是讓天仙受寵若驚。不過既然禮都收了，這種好東西不能夠獨自享用。一定要拿來跟大家分享一下。

I believe some people might ask: Well, what's the difference between English tea and Chinese tea?  'Fraid I'm the wrong person to ask.  I do know that a good starting point to learn about this would be to dig into the history of it.  I admit I have been extremely lazy these days, so forgive me for not elaborating on this any more than this.  You can still try to imaging from the pictures, what it feels like to have a cup of real English tea.  If you ever go to London, consider buying some for yourself or as a souvenir.

相信看到這裡有人就會開始起疑問：英國茶跟中國茶到底哪裡不一樣？其實天仙也沒有很深入的研究。要對英國茶有深入的了解，可能要先從歷史開始談起。不過因為天仙最近懶病大發，所以就恕我不在此多做說明。大家只要盡情的享受一下圖片中傳達的意境。有機會去倫敦，也可以考慮去Fortnum and Mason敗幾盒茶回來自用、送禮兩相宜喔。

Quality packaging.
很有質感的包裝。

The shop is not hard to find.  I saw the shop myself on my last day in London during a bus ride.  Take the blue line on the Tube to either Picadilli or Green Park, then after a few minutes walk, you should be able to spot it.  It's a real pity I did not learn about this until it was too late.  Or else, I would have found a way to fit a few boxes in my already-overweight luggage!

他們這家店不難找。天仙在倫敦的最後一天，與友人一起搭公車時有看到。搭倫敦地鐵藍線至Picadilly或是Green Park再步行幾分鐘就可抵達。只怪天仙真的很不識貨。太晚才發現有這種好物。否則行李再怎麼超重也要帶幾包回來。

It's such a luxury to be able to have a cup of English tea on my own balcony here in Taiwan!  I am so appreciative of this thoughtful gift from my mate.  If you ever get a chance to try this, perhaps you will understand why they say, ' a cup of tea is the solution to every problem.'

能夠在自家陽台上享受遠從英國而來的下午茶，真的是非常感謝那位利物浦同學的友情贈禮。如果各位有機會喝到的話，一定也能夠體會到，為何英國人會覺得『一杯茶，可以解決世上任何的問題』！

天仙念：喝了這個，還會想喝Twining？