tea time makeover

If you read my blog often, then you’ll notice that I’ve replaced the lovely, yellow tea cup header image with an even lovelier custom collage/drawing from Esther Coombs. I discovered her fabulous work after a friend forwarded me a link to her etsy shop website, and from that moment on I have wanted to purchase every item.

Not only does Esther create beautiful drawings, but she also builds and beautifies gorgeous and unique cake stands, perfect for a super hip tea party. Her work is for the delicate, creative soul who has a wandering imagination. Her tea cups are adorned with intricate designs and illustrations of lace doilies, tea bags, etc. She takes a step outside of the conventional tea ware box and has landed on the cup, where she draws outside the lines, turning grandma’s china into a modern work of art. So scoop up a few of her cups, cake stand, collages, drawings and the most outrageous tea and food combos and throw a fabulously modern tea party, I know I will.

So I’d like to raise my tea cup to Esther today, for generously sending me these beautiful custom collages and for creating imaginative, beautiful, decorative pieces for the tea world. I look forward to the day that I’ve acquired enough of her pieces to throw an Esther Coombs tea party.

I highly recommend that you browse her wares and then let me know what your favorite piece is.

Tea for two…or maybe thousands.

I recently came across Gary Andrews’ blog post regarding a worldwide tea party at 4pm on June 28th, and I couldn’t help but get extremely excited. What started out as a London wide event has possibly and hopefully turned into a global tea party. I think it’s pretty wonderful that brewed leaves will be uniting so many individuals.  

I may gather a few friends at a local tea spot or try to arrange a Philadelphia tea party in Rittenhouse square (I’m imagining blankets, scones, portable containers, cups, etc). I hope to encourage some local tea stores to join in and share their tea goodness on this special day. Who knows, maybe a global tea holiday is possible. 

Are you going to participate in the global tea party? If so, where?

 

happiness in a (cute) can

I’m sipping on ito en’s Dr. Andrew Weil for Tea Jasmine White from its compact little can. My tongue is currently in a flower coma after a powerful punch of jasmine white tea straight to my taste buds.

Nose to the can: The white tea lends a delicate aroma and the jasmine sends a hint of spring (like walking by a flowering tree with early buds).

Reaction after first sip: You experience a hint of sweetness of the white tea blending beautifully with the jasmine flowers, followed by the earthiness of the bouquet (as if you have crunched into every bud).

I strongly recommend giving this tea a try. I will be ordering a few cases and welcoming a new addiction to my tea list. As if you needed another reason to try it, this tea offers up a healthy dose of Vitamin C.

On a side note-I picked up this beautiful tea at The Tea festival-thanks to the fabulous men at the ito en booth. I am in the process of digesting the festival and creating thoughtful posts, instead of gushing like a teenage girl after a boyband concert in a lengthy love-filled diary entry. Yes, I’m a tea nerd and I’m proud of it. So check back for more posts related to the tea festival.

tea with my great-grandmother

I’m sure that you’ve been asked the hypothetical question, “If you had the chance to meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be?” Now I think that it is a fabulous and revealing question, but for the sake of this blog I would like to modify it to, “If you had a chance to have tea with anyone, who would it be and what would you drink?”

Of course I would have difficulty answering my own question, but a recent birthday present has helped me. Last week my aunts gave me one of my great-grandmother’s tea cups (shown above). I would have to say this is by far one of my favorite and most meaningful birthday presents ever, especially considering my love of antiques and family. The cup is oh so delicate and refined, with its elegant roses and dainty handle.

So to answer the questions, I would have tea with my great-grandmother and would choose to drink Pomegranate Rose Decaf Green (Zhena’s Gypsy Tea). The rosebuds in the tea would flow nicely with the floral cup decor, and decaf would be necessary since my excitement would make me quite jittery (without the caffeine burst).

So, who would you have tea with? And what would you sip on?

tea and cookies

I love multi-functional products, especially those that allow me to carry less, as I am usually trying to accomplish another million things with the other hand. So when I came across this absolutely wonderful dunk mug that has a built in cookie compartment, I was pretty excited. There are so many reasons why this dunk mug is so perfect, so I thought I would list a few:

• It is a great piece for a modern tea party. Although I love the over the top frills, delicate patterns and multiple plates of a traditional tea party, I would also love to put together an ultra modern styled tea party that is simple yet beautiful. I could imagine placing a few of these mugs around the table with some exotic cookies peaking out over the gorgeous table cloth, with just a few small vases with flowers.
• It forces me to only enjoy a few cookies with tea, rather than an entire plate (or lets be honest, the box). Here’s to moderation!
• It help cut down on dishes (if you’re using a plate for the cookies and not eating from the box).
• It’s a great addition to any tea cup collection!

So my question is: What kind of cookies do you enjoy with tea?

I plan on posting a few recipes for tea cookies and would love some suggestions.

tea today: organic peppermint

I needed a little sensory pick-me-up without the caffeine and went with the Harney and Sons-Organic Peppermint Tea. The tingly, minty aroma is enough to wake up your mind, and the first sip is sweet, delicate, yet instantly refreshing. The peppermint lingers on your tongue, and would nicely follow a garlicky or over spiced meal.

In addition to the delicious sensory experience, peppermint tea soothes an upset stomach (got to love those herbal benefits). This tea is perfect for someone who needs to brighten a dull afternoon and it can quiet a sweet urge with a drop of honey mixed in.

tea today: orchid oolong

Currently I’m enjoying an entire pot of loose leaf Orchid Oolong at the Tbar, one of my favorite tea stops in the city. This golden tea (which I seem to be gravitating to lately) has a nutty aroma, light flavor and a floral aftertaste. The earthy bouquet lingers on my tongue, which compliments the spring weather and blossoming trees that are stealing the visual show in the city at the moment.

But just to backpedal for a second, Oolong tea is “a semi-oxidized tea, primarily from China or Taiwan. Oolong tea has a more powerful flavor and aroma than green tea, but a more delicate flavor and aroma than black tea” (educational bit thanks to Tbar’s website). Orchid Oolong is one of my favorite teas-so I’m glad that a purchase of a pot includes two free refills, especially since this particular blend does well after multiple steeps.

Time to sip some more Orchid and welcome spring and the month of april.

vote for tea

Local tea stores are my home away from home and I’m always looking for ways to support them. Normally I try my best to buy several cups of tea from any new place that pops up near me, but today I was given the opportunity to help a cafe, the gramstand, get closer to reaching their goal of winning $10,000 with just a click of my mouse. Located in NYC, the “gramstand is a tea café and store, providing East Villagers with a modern-day retreat that invites conversation, relaxation, and an opportunity to experience the healthy lifestyle associated with tea.”

Now you may be thinking, how do you get $10,000 with just a click of a mouse? No, not gambling or bank transfers, but rather with a website, ideablob, that has created a space “where entrepreneurs and small business owners can share and grow their business ideas – and have a chance to win $10,000 towards fulfilling them.” I am thrilled to support a tea store and a site that encourages expression and success of creative ideas.

If they win the $10,000 Gramstand will using these funds to, “increase our menu options, renovate the store for more community gatherings, and enhance our website. Most notably for our customers, we plan on installing bifold front windows and new air conditioning for the summer. As well, we’d like to fix up the basement seating space a bit more.”

Today is the last day to vote, so hurry up and support a great place.

The next time I’m in NYC I will definitely be making my way over to gramstand and sipping on the gramstandard brew (sri lankian black with a hint of mango and magnolia).

tea today: kiwi pear decaf 100% white tea

This past Friday I made a quick spa trip and indulged with a cup of Kiwi Pear Decaf 100% White Tea-The Republic of Tea. The tea was just as delicate as the cup it was served to me in. Its light taste matched the light golden color that almost glowed in the white cup interior. The aroma was sweet, floral and induced an instant calm. The tartness of the kiwi was balanced by the simple sweetness of the pear. The next time you find yourself in need of a spa day (at home in a robe or out and about) make yourself a cup and chill.

porcelain or paper

Tea cups are works of art, and I try to enjoy every bit of tea in a beautiful cup as often as possible. However, there are times when I don’t have those precious moments to sit and sip, and I have to take my tea on the go and drink it from an oh so boring paper cup. Now a paper cup is useful and can sometimes be embellished by a nice sleeve (they even have couture sleeve lines), but it not only destroys the tea experience for me but it’s also wasteful. I got to thinking that maybe there are people out there that like the paper cup to go experience that complements their fast-paced lifestyle. So if you know people who fit that latter category, then I have the perfect gift for them, the porcelain cup with silicone lid that looks like a paper cup. This tricky little cup would fool me any day. Who knows, maybe they’ll start showing up in “paint your own pottery” places and this blank canvas could blossom into something beautiful!

tea today: thai iced tea

 

I spontaneously had lunch at a Thai restaurant in NJ this afternoon and treated myself to a Thai iced tea. When the dessert reddish/orange colored drink arrived, I took a quick trip into my taste memory but couldn’t recall the flavor, and needless to say was my tongue was surprised by the strong taste. Thai iced tea consists of strongly-brewed powdered red tea (or black tea), food coloring, spices and condensed milk. I have to say, as much as I enjoy an occasional Thai iced tea, I was a little overwhelmed by the strength of this particular brew (but still slurped down every drop).

If you enjoy strong brews and black tea then I recommend that you give Thai iced tea a try. I definitely prefer lighter teas but am always open to have my senses awakened by a strong brew now and then, especially with some condensed milk to sweeten it up. The strength and creaminess of the Thai iced tea did complement the spicy Thai food, and calm some slight burning sensations that no flower tea could ever handle.

coffee and tea festival NYC

I have been counting down the days until the Tea Festival in NYC (sorry coffee-I’m ignoring you). The 2008 festival will be held at the Metropolitan Pavilion April 12th-13th. This will be my first time at the tea festival and I plan on arriving right as the doors open to sample the best brews and skip from booth to booth (can you sense my excitement?). There are some fabulous exhibitors-mighty leaf, tavalon, adagio AND some amazing events-The Future of Tea, Tea Blending, etc, etc. Football fans have the Super bowl, soccer enthusiasts have the world cup and tea lovers like myself have the tea festival in NYC. Be sure to check back for my festival post that will be bursting with tea goodness!

I’m a little tea cup…

This is my first “I’m a little tea cup” post and I wanted give a little info about it since there are more to come. These posts will be a little unusual and wading in the odd and creative pool. Anyway, so I enjoy writing short/creative bursts and love tea cups, so I’m combining both and writing posts from the perspective of the tea cup that I’m drinking from. Yes a little out there-but just another way to talk tea. Feel free to add to the story in your comments.

Where: Chapterhouse Cafe & Gallery

I’ve traveled far from a jungle, dressed in native attire of gold vines dangling from my white porcelain exterior. The metallic leaves are starting to fade from thick thumbs that press against me and sponges with a vengeance-but I’m holding on to whatever I can. My handle prefers tiny fingers that slip beneath the curve easily, bulky ones smother her delicate nature (at least that’s what I hear her whimper while bathing in the dishwasher). I prefer to rest on the tiny table by the plant, a spot where I can blend into leaves and just be.

brew and breathe

Tea offers us a few moments to breathe while brewing.  Stolen seconds that build anticipation. Although each tea usually has varying brew times, most green teas need 1-3 minutes, white teas 4-8 minutes, black teas 3-5 minutes, herbal teas 5-8 minutes and oolong teas 1-8 minutes.

In my earlier brewing years, I would use the minutes to run down the hall and grab something, change the channel, or write an email and then would often loose track of time. My inability to focus on my tea would result in an over-brewed cup or pot that would lack the intended flavor and aroma. Since my passion for tea has grown over the years, I have become quite particular about brewing my tea perfectly. I have found myself using the brew time to reflect, breathe and chill for those few moments, just another gift that tea has to offer us.  How do you use your brew time?

tea today: mountain spring jasmine

I guess you could say that I’m quite obsessed with Jasmine tea. I am always on the hunt for unique Jasmine blend and am amazed by the fabulous artistic concoctions (pearls are my favorite). Today I’m sipping on Mountain Spring Jasmine-Mighty Leaf. The blend is quite delicious with “China green tea leaves naturally scented by layers of Arabian jasmine buds.” Normally I leave my tea naked, in order for the natural flavor to bloom, however today I added a drop of whole milk and some honey to change the taste ever so slightly. The aroma is earthy, refreshing and comforting (thanks to the milk). The lightness of the tea is perfect for an early afternoon. I’m curious to hear what your favorite Jasmine blends are-suggestions?

the tea cup

The graceful ceramic arch holds on tight to its delicate cup, its eternal companion. The arched handle waits patiently to hear the cup tell stories of mint leaves and jasmine flowers that bloom in warm water. The handle knows the heat of the hand and fingers draping over every curve. The cup can speak about warm lips that are sometimes painted with berry stains. Together they wear caffeinated tattoos that could never be washed out and tiny chips from years in the dishwasher. The handle and the cup are dressed in a lavender glaze that glows during sunrise. Together they are the tea cup.