Thursday, April 23, 2015

My earliest tea influence

This week I finished a big editing project, so I celebrated with a little downtime, which meant reading something a bit more leisurely — my beloved back issues of Victoria magazine. My custom for years now has been to reach for issues originally published in the month at hand, and I best love — and cherish — those early ones. So this week I'm looking at the April 1993, 1994 and 1995 issues of Victoria. Can you think of a 20-year-old issue of *anything* that you still read? Other than these magazines, I can't, and I'm so pleased I've kept them all these years.

As I look through these old issues, it occurs to me, repeatedly, that Victoria is truly what turned me on to tea. As a good little southern girl, I grew up drinking only sweetened iced tea, so the very concept of drinking hot tea seemed a little odd to me. But I loved all the pretty teawares in Victoria, so the teacup and teapot–collecting bug hit — and, naturally, an interest in tea books. Looking back at tea-themed artwork in this April 1995 Victoria, I see that I missed a tea book, the one by Maryjo Koch.

In this April 1994 issue, there's a feature titled "Woodland Confections Good Enough to Charm," which is about baker Gail Peachin, who made confections out of bark, rosebuds, pinecones and other natural elements. I can't help wondering if this "cake" with teacups nearby inspired some of the nature-themed creations that are still in style today.

In the April 1993 issue, a feature on Harriet Beecher Stowe's cottage in Hartford, Connecticut, caught my eye with the teapot and pitchers shown here.

Also in the April 1995 issue was a feature on Dr. Stewart's Botanical Teas, which I remember enjoying many years ago and which I learned are still around today. Reading these old issues is rather like having a visit with a long-lost friend, a friend forever welcome in my home.

12 comments:

  1. I'm sure Victoria has influenced all readers in some way, for me it was the decor. On the other end of the scale, I grew up drinking hot tea and loving my mother's Brown Betty teapot. It was the only one she ever used but today I prefer a pretty china one. We never had iced tea until it was tried while visiting family in Florida back in the 60s so we came home and bought the powdered product to make our own.

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  2. I think those magazines were certainly worth keeping! Especially if you revisit them from time to time. I learned to drink hot tea (with much milk and sugar) with a dear family friend who was born and raised in London. Both my grandmothers had beautiful teapots and teacups, some of which I am fortunate to now have, and my former father-in-law also loved hot tea and made quite a production of preparing it, making it a special experience to have a cup of tea with him. My mother was a coffee drinker but I did not inherit the taste for coffee! I meet friends weekly for "coffee" but I have hot tea instead. I'm enjoying learning more about different teas and of course the beautiful teapots and teacups that go along with them.

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  3. How fortunate you are to have old issues of Victoria magazine. What a great magazine! My life's a whirlwind these days, with tea presentations and travel. I'm so far behind on reading my favorite blogs that I don't know if I'll ever get caught up. One day at a time, I tell myself. Thank heavens for the calming virtues of tea.

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  4. I have every issue of TeaTime in a box and have only looked back at the Christmas ones. Thanks for the idea. There are so many wonderful treasures to re visit.

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  5. It's fun to see how styles change, even in tea!

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  6. Thanks for a lovely post! All my copies of Victoria magazine are sitting in boxes in the attic right now (I've got all of them except for the first two) - your post made me want to go upstairs and look through them, searching for articles about tea! Heidi T.

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  7. Victoria magazine is so beautiful and informative. It probably influenced me into drinking hot tea although I still drink more iced tea. I love all the beautiful items in their magazine. hen. When I lived in Norcross and Duluth I used to go to a shop in Old Downtown Norcross that had tea items. I spent a lot of time in that area and really enjoy reading about the places you go. I had great fun in the two times I lived in the Atlanta area. Nancy Carr

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  8. I too keep some fav magazines - Tea time especially -- also I always save holiday magazines with holiday décor and like to take a peek back for recipes & decorating ideas. I love tea - hot or iced! Coffee too.....

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  9. Love your review of the April 1994 issue of Victoria magazine and I remember it well: that's the year that my son Nicholas ("Nick") was born - he was born on Easter Sunday and once he came along, I did not have much time for 'leisurely anything.'

    I remember that natural look in decorating and at the time, there was a decorating program on TV that had $500. Dollar Makeovers, always featuring tree limbs as curtain rods and accessories made out of birch bark. I also remember Christmas arrangements out of pinecones and mini lights.

    The nineties don't seem that long ago, but when you see all these young adults all grown up, it seems like 100 years ago. Hope you have a great day! Joanie

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  10. Love your review of the April 1994 issue of Victoria magazine and I remember it well: that's the year that my son Nicholas ("Nick") was born - he was born on Easter Sunday and once he came along, I did not have much time for 'leisurely anything.'

    I remember that natural look in decorating and at the time, there was a decorating program on TV that had $500. Dollar Makeovers, always featuring tree limbs as curtain rods and accessories made out of birch bark. I also remember Christmas arrangements out of pinecones and mini lights.

    The nineties don't seem that long ago, but when you see all these young adults all grown up, it seems like 100 years ago. Hope you have a great day! Joanie

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  11. Love those old issues of Victoria magazine. I must admit it was a big influence on me also. The beautiful photography, great ideas, fun recipes... all of it!

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  12. I think it's lovely that you have your old back issues and still read them.

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