Sampling teas from Elmwood Inn

Thanks to friends Linda and Lynn in Kentucky I have been enjoying two new tea blends from the famous Elmwood Inn Fine Teas in their fair state. The teas are Kentucky Blend, a fine brisk black tea, and Shaker Blend, a green tea. I had assumed the green tea would be a plain variety, so I was pleasantly surprised when I opened the canister and got a great minty aroma! Here's what the canister says about Shaker Blend: "The Shakers played an important role in American religious history, developing the long lasting communal society found at Pleasant Hill, Kentucky. Their legacy of simplicity and harmony is evident in the tranquility found throughout the 3,000 acres of preserved farmland and 34 restored buildings that comprise Shaker Village at Pleasant Hill. Early 19th century Shakers certainly had access to Chinese Gunpowder Green Tea through the general stores of nearby Lexington. They may have enjoyed it with peppermint grown in their abundant herb gardens." How interesting! (And I'm quite a fan of both these teas and have been sipping them like mad!)

Here I've steeped a pyramid sachet of the Kentucky Blend black tea in my new Royal Stuart English bone china teacup which I found at that wonderful Lavonia Antique Mall a few weeks ago.

It was just $7, and having just come from a visit in Asheville with my china-loving tea friends, I actually had the thought, "Oh, they would *so* approve!"

Plus, it was a great design!

And great new teas deserve a great teacup!