Wednesday, January 16, 2013

"English Tea & Cakes" magazine

My goal, really, is rather simple: I'd like to read everything ever written on the topic of tea and teatime. Is that so much to ask? Few things make me happier than learning about a new publication on the topic of tea, and last week I was visiting the website mrmagazine.com, which regularly announces new magazine releases, and learned of this one, English Tea & Cakes.

I found a single copy left at my local Barnes & Noble. Interestingly enough, when I got home with it, one of the pages contained crumbs, and my husband surmised that someone probably read it in the store's café while eating a snack. I don't know whether or not that person enjoyed my new magazine, but I sure did! This 114-page magazine is printed on thick paper and contains a wealth of information, recipes and lovely photography. Here, for example, is the feature on Blackberry Teabread. This bread very much appeals to me, and I was also charmed by the appearance of that pretty chintz-handled tea knife at left of the tea bread. I also learned something just by reading the description for this loaf: "Made with freshly harvested hedgerow berries, this tea loaf from Trelissick in Cornwall makes a delicious change from more traditional fruited breads. The garden here was created by Ronald Copeland who was chairman, and later managing director, of the Spode china factory. Many of the flowers that flourish in the mild Cornish air were the inspiration for the floral designs produced at the works."

This magazine also contains history and how-to's, including some suggestions for Tea Party Menus. But there's so much more! In the article on tea destinations, I learned one of the Top 5 London Favourites, at least according to this publication, is Liberty and Co. I bought needlework there but somehow missed out on knowing they have a café and serve afternoon tea! The recipes, though, are the best reason to get hold of this issue. Simnel Cake, for instance, I'd heard of, but I did not know this traditional cake made at Easter has 11 balls of marzipan symbolizing the 12 apostles minus Judas. Must learn more about this! There are also recipes for such English treats as Ginger & Treacle Scones, Bath Buns and Cornish Splits. And if you can't find a copy at your local bookstore, check eBay, where I found a couple of copies selling for about half of the $12.99 I (rather happily) paid for mine!

14 comments:

  1. Drat... it's no longer on Ebay... but there is one listed on Amazon for $1,495.00! You found yet another bargain, Angela!

    ReplyDelete
  2. wait... I searched Ebay again, and found that there is still one available... it didn't come up in my first search...

    ReplyDelete
  3. You are the Queen of Tea Information!! You know I am a magazine junkie. Thanks for that website. So funny about the crumbs. I would have guessed the same. People are always sitting in the B and N Cafe in Lexington eating and reading.

    ReplyDelete
  4. The magazine looks delightful... even if it was full of a previous readers crumbs. :-)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Fabulous! I hope I can find one....not on ebay anyway...

    ReplyDelete
  6. I just love getting recipe ideas from magazines like this! NEAT

    ReplyDelete
  7. I've had tea at Liberty. It's not as posh and tasty as some of the hotel teas, but the room is lovely and it's a very nice spot to take a shopping break. If I ever make it over there again, I think I'd just get tea and cookies rather than the afternoon tea. The woman sitting next to me ordered the former, and it was a perfect little pot of tea with macarons. Mmm!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Hoping I can find this magazine here in Florida as we don't have a Barnes and Noble at home. Thanks for the infor.
    Nancy

    ReplyDelete
  9. I found this at my local Barnes and Noble right before Christmas, and have enjoyed reading it immensely! Heidi T.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Thank you so much for sharing this find. The Barnes and Noble here in Allen Park MI still had a few copies and I was so happy to get one. I even found another Afternoon Tea Collection book in the bargain bin.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Would love holding a copy of this magazine in my hand and reading it thoroughly. The blackberry teabread sounds totally delicious.

    ReplyDelete
  12. That looks like a great magazine, Angela. The cover is beautiful. Thanks so much for sharing, Joanie

    ReplyDelete
  13. must...find...copy ☺
    This looks like a great magazine -thanks for the review.

    ReplyDelete

Thanks so much for taking time to leave a comment! It makes my day to hear from readers!