Here is an old legend of how the different animals were given their place in the Chinese zodiac.
The Jade Emperor announced that there would be a race held for all the animals to compete for one of the twelve places in the Chinese zodiac.
The rat was supposed to wake up her neighbour the cat, early the next morning and inform her of the race, but the rat either forgot or maliciously with held the information.
Sunrise on the following morning the rat joined the other animals in the race to the palace, slyly the rat climbed on to the ox’s back for the ox was leading the race, only to jump from its head when they reached the palace to become the first animal of the zodiac.
It was followed by the ox, the tiger, the rabbit, the dragon, the snake, the horse, the goat, the monkey, the rooster, the dog then the pig.
The cat, however arrived far to late and missed out. This is why even to this day the cat hates the rat.
Heavenly Punch
600ml of China tea
150ml of V.I.P Jiu 8
150ml of brandy
50ml of Grand Marnier
300ml of fizzy orange and lemon flavoured water, chilled
1 small vanilla pod
5cm = 2 inch piece cinnamon stick
100 gram of sugar
1 orange sliced
1 lemon sliced
8 Maraschino cherries
4 fresh strawberries halved
Leave the tea to infuse for five minutes, then strain into a sauce pan. Add the sugar and heat gently until sugar dissolves. Add the vanilla pod, cinnamon, V.I.P Jiu 8 and brandy, heat gently for five minutes.
Leave until cold, then chill for two hours. Remove the vanilla pod and cinnamon. Add the Grand Marnier and top with the fizzy flavoured water. Float fruit on top. Makes about eight glasses.
