When it comes down to spelling differences between one country and another, is there still sometimes a definite ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ – or does it all just depend on which side of the border you’re standing on?

Take the case of the ‘Macaron’, for example. Or should that be ‘Macaroon’?

What I call a Macaroon

As an American, I grew up knowing the macaroon as a small cookie made with coconut and sometimes dipped or drizzled in chocolate; and the macaron as that lovely French meringue delicacy. (Until now, the best macarons I have ever had were at Mariage Frères Salon de Thé in Paris, and Ladurée (at Harrods) in London.)

But here in England, I have seen the word ‘macaroon’ used to describe the French ‘macaron’ and have been told that ‘macaroon’ is simply the British spelling of ‘macaron’.

What Bettys calls a Macaroon

At the end of the day, what matters more to me than how it’s spelled, however, is how it tastes – and Bettys (whom I have written about before) recently sent me a box of their gorgeous macaroons to taste and, as expected, I was not disappointed.

Bettys macaroons are handmade weekly, using only natural ingredients and no preservatives or artificial flavourings or colour. The beautiful box of six macaroons are raspberry, pistachio, lemon, and chocolate.  I know this is going to sound cliche, but honestly – they burst with flavour! You can really tell that they are 1) fresh, and 2) made with top quality ingredients. (My favourite was the pistachio.)

If you are looking for an extra-special treat, Bettys macaroons would be perfect. They are exquisite.

How do you feel about the whole spelling thing? Is it wrong to refer to the French ‘macaron’ as a ‘macaroon’ ?

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I found all three in a 1946 English film called Brief Encounter.

Brief Encounter is the quintessential English romantic drama. It was filmed in black & white and is very atmospheric thanks to the well-known and talented director David Lean. What makes it absolutely brilliant, of course, is the fact that a large part of the film’s action takes place in the refreshment room (i.e., tea room) of a train station. It is a bittersweet love story, enhanced in the film by the haunting melody of Rachmaninoff’s Second Piano Concerto.

Brief Encounter was filmed at a railway station (Carnforth) in the North of England during the war. This particular location was chosen partly because it was far enough from Southeast England that, should there be one, sufficient warning of an air-raid attack could be given allowing time to turn out the filming lights to comply with wartime blackout restrictions.

Carnforth station and it’s real-life refreshment room has become a bit of a mecca for Brief Encounter fans. It’s on my Bucket List, that’s for sure! (Read my post about another real-life refreshment room in Hampshire.)

I have owned the Brief Encounter DVD  for many years and I never, ever, ever tire of watching it. It’s a love story – a sad love story – and stars Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard (whom I adore).

The Brief Encounter Story

At a railway station refreshment room, housewife Laura Jesson meets doctor Alec Harvey. Although they are both already married, they gradually fall in love with each other. They continue to meet every Thursday at the station, although they know that their love is impossible.

The film was released amid the social and cultural context of the Second World War when ‘brief encounters’ were thought to be commonplace.

If you have never seen it, I strongly encourage you to buy a copy of the Brief Encounter DVD, brew yourself a pot of tea, and spend a couple of blissful hours watching this beloved English film. It will satisfy every tea-drinking Anglophile film fan.

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My name is Denise and I am the creator and writer of the Tea in England blog. I’ve recently shared with you the story behind this blog and the story behind the blog banner, so today I thought I’d tell you a little bit about myself.

I love England and have been an Anglophile all my life. Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, I don’t exactly know how that happened, but suspect that Rex Harrison in ‘The Ghost and Mrs. Muir’ had something to do with it.

I love Tea ~ and not just drinking it. I am fascinated with its history, ceremony, and the entire tea experience.

The only way I could eventually get around the whole Anglophile/Tea thing was to marry a tea-drinking Brit and move to England. So I did! Three years ago, after living for six years in the States, we returned to the UK; later this year I will obtain British Citizenship which I am very excited about.

I live and work in a small village not far from London, and have been designated by The Travel Institute as a London Destination Specialist. I can tell you how to get from Twinings on the Strand to the Ritz London in Piccadilly in time for Afternoon Tea, just please don’t ask me whether it’s jam or cream first when the scones arrive – I’ve not even finished my sandwiches yet!

I am also a UK Tea Council Tea Masterclass graduate – which just means that when it comes to tea, I can talk for England. This blog was created to let me do just that.

Thank you for dropping by! But before you go having a good snoop about, what do you say we put the kettle on?

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The longer I live in England, and the more I see and do, the more I discover that in one way or another almost everything here has a tea connection. Some are fairly obvious, others are pretty darn obscure – all of them are captivating.

After two years of posting my adventures and these unique finds on my personal Facebook page, I decided that it was time to start sharing it all with you and the rest of the tea-drinking-England-loving world, so I created Tea in England.

But … it’s not all about me. (Well, okay, sometimes it is.) This is a place for you to talk about tea, England and Tea in England, so please join in the conversation by leaving comments and telling me about your favourite Tea in England places and experiences. #sharethetealove

Although my husband – yes! that’s him in the drawing above – thinks that I know everything (shhhhh, it’s taken me nine years to get him to this point), the truth is: I don’t. There’s still a lot to learn about tea and about England. I hope you won’t mind my dragging you around with me as I do so. Bring a flask. Extra points for Tunnock’s Tea Cakes.

Speaking of going places, isn’t my blog banner sensational? London illustrator Emma Block has captured perfectly – in her talented, imaginative, charming way – my personal journey of discovery across this Land of Hope and Glory and Tea. Emma likes charity shops, tea, and very sharp pencils. Her latest book is called Tea & Cake. Oh yes, our kind of girl.

So there you have it ~ the Tea in England blog. I’m so glad you’re here! Now then, one lump or two?

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