I grew up in a place where socializing over a cup of
tea was the norm. Anytime anyone came
for a visit we put the kettle on. There
are hundreds of tea flavors, but our favorite was a simple black tea steeped in
a teapot.
Tea is known to contain caffeine which stimulates the
central nervous system thereby making us feel alert and focused after drinking a
cuppa. Tea also contains an amino acid, “L-theanine”
that promotes relaxation and reduces anxiety. L-theanine increases the levels
of a neurotransmitter called gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) which reduces the
stress response in the brain. And when we combine theanine with caffeine in a
cup of tea we experience a boost in our brain activity as well mood.
This cake was fun to make. I first made a white chocolate
cup using a bowl as a mold, then I filled it with the fruit and nut cake and
mascarpone cream filling. The birthday girl did not want to cut it.
So, let’s socialize with a cup of tranquility and a slice of a teacup cake!
