September Sipdown Prompt – World Tourism Day
I had to stretch for this one for several reasons. First, I am a homebody and I don’t want to go anywhere! I am content right here, and when I am away I usually can not wait to get back. I have lived on the same street for over five decades and can walk to the hospital where I (and Ashman) was born.
Our trip to Ireland did cause me to see how amazing travel can be but also made me want to stay for a very long time, because I wanted to do than just SEE the place. I wanted to truly KNOW it.
As I pondered where I would like to go, I remembered that when I read Alexander Mccall Smith’s books set in Botswana, I thought I would love to visit there. He clearly loves Africa and makes his readers fall in love with it, too. Since I don’t have any tea from Botswana, a tea from Malawi seems appropriate because he also wrote a short story that was only available to those who purchased a tin of this tea. The proceeds from this tea benefited social programs to help the people of Malawi so he happily agreed to write this bespoke story for them. I wish I had known about it back when they did the offer, because the story is no longer included! Perhaps I can find it online.
I was horrified to see that I have only a couple of servings of this tea left and I had told myself that I would put it on my Christmas list instead of purchasing it. I may have ti have another talk with myself about that…
I made three steeps to stretch it out and I combined them in one pot, using my gravity steeper to make it. Even with three steeps combined, it is still rich with deep brown sugar notes and maltiness on the tongue. It is so awesome with meals.
I have never added anything to it but they say milk makes it chocolate-y. Maybe someday I will try it but I just love it like this – plain and unadulterated.
There’s a thing called slow travel where people go and stay in a place for 3-6 months. Maybe that’s your travel style.
I think you may be right, Michelle!