Tea Tasting Saturday #42 - Margaret's Hope Estate FTGFOP1 Musc.

My biggest question about Margaret's Hope tea wasn't what it would taste like but how it got its name! And this particular story appears on several web sites and has the ring of familiarity about it, in case you're like me and didn't remember how this tea got its name.

Category: British Legacy Black Tea

Purveyor: Upton Tea Imports

Dry leaf appearance: Varying bits of mostly dark brown leaf with a few lighter pieces scattered about.

Wet leaf appearance: Chopped greens.

Steeping temperature and time: 1 teaspoon of tea, 190 degrees, 4 minutes.

Scent: As with last week's Darjeeling, this one's dry tea scent reminded me of freshly cut wood, with a sharp, fresh scent. Once it was steeped, I also detected a sweet, almost fruity "grape juice" scent.

Color: Medium orange-brown.

Flavor: Despite appearing to have so much in common with the Singbulli Darjeeling from last week, this tea was a letdown. First, the flavor had an odd taste to it that I can't quite define. It was a faint but almost bitter taste which, again, I can only compare with what I think liquid wood might taste like! I also detected more astringency than I am accustomed to. The second cup, taken with milk, was tolerable, but only tolerable. (And I had wanted to like this tea because I like the name!)

Additional notes: This tea has something in common with Fanciest Formosa Oolong in that part of the tea's flavor comes from the fact it has been munched by leaf mites!

Next week's tea: Himalayan Tips SFTGFOP1 Second Flush

"Shabby Chic Interiors" by Rachel Ashwell

Are there any Rachel Ashwell fans reading today? Yes, I thought so! And probably, like me, some of you have been eager to get a copy of her new book, "Shabby Chic Interiors - My Rooms, Treasures, and Trinkets." Larger in format than her previous books, this one is, happily, again photographed by Amy Neunsinger, the same talented photographer who helped us fall in love with Shabby Chic style in the earlier books.

I like Rachel Ashwell the person as well as Rachel Ashwell the style, and I must confess that one reason I will *always* love her is that she likes tea and the accoutrements of teatime. I predicted I would not get very far into this book before reading about "tea" or "teatime," and indeed I did not. While Rachel's style has evolved over time (and whose hasn't?), I'm happy she continues to find joy in taking tea as well as collecting teawares. Describing this scene she says, "This is a shady spot that I use a lot as it is close to the house and it's just perfect for breakfast or afternoon tea. I love having tea parties; I'm much better at teas than dinners." Yes!

I was delighted to find that one of the "celebrity" interiors featured in the book once belonged to none other than designer Betsey Johnson. (Some of you will recall Betsey Johnson's "Tea Party Bracelet" I wrote about earlier this year.) Turns out Rachel and Betsey have never met in person but are fans of each other's work. I can totally see that! And I can also see why Rachel has developed a fondness for collecting "Royalty china." Aren't these pieces lovely? Reading a new Rachel Ashwell book is such a treat, and although in a perfect world she would give us a monthly *magazine* I am quite content to visit the world of Shabby Chic in this lovely new book.

A Tea C swappers selected!

Just by way of update ... I have now sent e-mails to all those participating in the A Tea C swap (12 of us, which I think is not bad for a first-time try at this sort of thing!). The e-mail has contact info for your swap partner. Although I did not state a deadline for creating the cards, I am aiming to have mine shipped out within two weeks. (And as a reminder, we are to create two cards to send our partner.)

If any of you have questions or for some reason did not get your notification e-mail, please contact me at angela@newnan.com. Thanks, and happy crafting!

Feeling quil-tea

Yes, the fall quilting bug has bitten, and I am once again dragging needle and thread all over the place. Recently I came across two new tea-themed fabrics and thought you might like to see them. First, there's this "Deja Brew" fabric.

This line is by Audrey Jeanne Roberts for Studio E Fabrics, and I instantly fell in love with the pretty blue and brown colorway. I thought perhaps I could use it with some of the blue and brown florals in my stash, but next to this fabric they seem too traditional/formal. Still, the pretty teacups on this fabric drew me right in, so I'm happy to have added it to my stash and will be on the lookout for complementary fabrics to use with it when the right idea strikes.

And of course who could resist a new pink teacup fabric? This one is marked Pattern#BART-C5531 for Timeless Treasures Fabrics, Inc. This struck me as a great fabric for a tea-themed project for a little girl.

Quilts and fabric have been on my mind even more after watching several Netflix DVDs. There haven't been very many new movies I've wanted to see lately, so I've been viewing old PBS programs on quilting. I've seen "America Quilts," "A Century of Quilts," and this week I saw "The Art of Quilting," all of which I highly recommend. I hit the pause button on this last one and took a picture to show you that yes, tea really *can* be found everywhere, including on this piece an art quilter is stitching on her machine!

And even though these aren't tea-themed, I thought I'd better include a few of my Cathedral Window blocks to prove I really have been completing a few quilt blocks lately!

Broccoli-Cheese Mini-Muffins

Years ago, a favorite recipe I made endlessly was Broccoli Cheddar Muffins. I don't know what happened to the recipe, or where I originally got it, but I decided to look on the internet and found not only the original recipe I made but also a lighter, healthier version, which I made last night. That's when it dawned on me that these tiny little savory treats would make a wonderful addition to the savory selections at a tea party!

The new recipe uses just one egg instead of three, skim milk, 1/2 cup of cheddar cheese instead of a cup, and no butter like the original. I knew the "light" recipe would indeed taste lighter than the original, but it was a good tradeoff. I like broccoli raw and any way it is cooked, but I also like it combined with cheddar cheese in a muffin. These would also be good mini-muffins to serve with a small teacup full of soup as part of a teatime meal.

I decided to use paper liners to make cleanup easier, but I also think it would make a nicer presentation during teatime. I have to confess these muffins aren't *quite* as good as the more fattening version, because I did enjoy them dripping with butter and lots of cheese. But the benefit to the healthy version is that I can eat them more often, and that's certainly a good thing!

A timely teapot gift

At the Bridal Luncheon on Friday at Jasmine Tea Room, bride Heather distributed gifts to all her attendants. When a lovely gift bag materialized for me as well, I was delighted at what was inside! Did you know Brighton makes a small desk clock in the shape of a teapot? How had I missed this?

Also included was a lovely new day planner in blue and brown, a favorite color combination and a gift I will put to good use, beginning right now!

And isn't this clock just the cutest thing? It has an "arm" at back that you can swing into position to hold it in place. I love receiving a gift that will always remind me what a good "time" was had by all!

A Wonderful Wedding Weekend

Like several of my tea blogger friends in recent weeks, my family just wrapped up a wonderful family wedding weekend. My stepdaughter Heather and her Wisconsin boyfriend Brad tied the knot on Saturday, so I don't have to tell you that we have been busy bees at my house! The wedding and reception went off without a hitch, and it was just as beautiful as everyone had hoped. Here's the happy couple arriving at the reception at The Veranda, a B&B in Senoia, Ga.


The ceremony was held at the historic Senoia United Methodist Church, and miraculously, despite the dreary weather reports calling for 80 percent chance of rain and thunderstorms all day Saturday, we had no rain and no storms!

Here are Heather and Brad at the reception.


And isn't this a beautiful spread? Her mom Lynn, who was lovely to work with, has a great eye for decorating and designed a beautiful spread. I particularly loved the lavish floral arrangement decorating the buffet table.

At nightfall, the Japanese lanterns leading the way to the reception added a sparkle to the festivities.


Following a trend of many recent brides, Heather asked me to make chocolate cupcakes to serve as the groom's cake. Fortunately, my dear friend and baking mentor Susan gave me expert guidance and baking tips ("Use an ice cream scoop for the batter so the cupcakes will be uniform in size"). The cupcakes were a real hit and, topped with foil footballs, made a nice presentation on the wooden platform Susan let me borrow. Several people who had no idea I'd made them actually came up to me and asked if I had tried those great cupcakes, and of course I was thrilled! They had also been taste tested by me, my co-workers, and the bride and groom, so I felt pretty good about things, but it was nice to have it confirmed! (If you want a great recipe for chocolate cupcakes, use this one, but instead of vanilla frosting use the frosting recipe on the side of the can of Hershey's cocoa. I made 130 cupcakes and only a handful of them were left at the end of the night.)

Cupcakes I can do, but my skill set does *not* include fondant-iced cakes, so when a Green Bay Packers ballcap cake was requested for the top of the cupcake platform, I wimped out and ordered one from a local bakery. The Wisconsin folks seemed especially happy with it.

As did the bride and her new husband!

Finally, since most of you reading this don't know the bride but you do know me, here's a picture of me and my sweet Alex, the happy father of the bride. Tomorrow I'll show you a sweet tea-themed thank-you gift I received!

Tea Tasting Saturday #41 - Singbulli Darjeeling SFTGFOP1 Musc.

The letters after this tea's name stand for Special Fancy Tippy Golden Flowery Orange Pekoe Number 1. Say that five times really fast, will you?

Category: British Legacy Black Tea

Purveyor: Upton Tea Imports (so my tea is not the exact same one Michael Harney includes in his book, but I decided this Singbulli Darjeeling was close enough)

Dry leaf appearance: Wiry pieces of tea ranging from light to dark brown to almost black.

Wet leaf appearance: Sort of a choppy/spinachy look, and I was surprised to see what looked like a few small bits of twig in there.

Steeping temperature and time: 1 teaspoon of tea, 190 degrees, 3-1/2 minutes.

Scent: Now you're going to think this is strange, but hear me out. You ever been out house hunting and walked into a new home under construction? You know that unique smell of freshly cut wood and the last vestiges of drying paint? That's *almost* what this tea smelled like. That may *sound* bad for a tea, but it wasn't. Once steeped, however, I detected sweet, almost grapelike notes from the tea. When I realized this package says "musc." for "muscatel," I remembered that Darjeelings are known as "the champagne of teas," and the taste tells us why!

Color: A medium orange-brown.

Flavor: What an utterly delicious tea! From first sip to last, I really enjoyed this tea's full, rich and almost sweet taste. I drank one cup entirely black and finished it with no puckery sensation. Mid-way through the second cup, however, I decided to add a bit of milk. Again, just a great cup of tea!

Additional notes: If you have the Michael Harney book, I highly recommend reading his excellent intro to the British Legacy Teas and the Darjeelings. Harney says the northeastern region of Darjeeling is famous for three seasons of tea, spring's First Flush, summer's Second Flush, and the late summer and fall Autumnal teas. "Though they grow more subdued the farther they get from spring, all three seasonal teas have a charming rounded quality, a depth and a gentleness to rival Chinese black teas." He also notes that Darjeelings should be brewed between 190 and 212 degrees.

Next week's tea: Margaret's Hope, which I've been eager to try!

Jaya tea freebies

Have you ever tried Jaya teas before, anyone? If so, which one(s), and what did you think? I know I've heard of this brand before, but I don't believe I've tried any of this tea until now.

A month or so ago, I took an online survey offering some free Jaya tea. When I have the time, I actually enjoy taking surveys because I like influencing the decisions marketers make. The Jaya survey was very interesting to take, and I like knowing a bit about the process behind their tea marketing. I forgot about ever taking the survey, however, until this thick white envelope from Jaya appeared in my mailbox the other day!

Inside was a foil-wrapped package of 20 Pyramid Tea Pods. "Mission" is written on the package, and under Name of Garden it says simply "6." I don't know what type of tea this is, but I do know it's a good, brisk cup of black tea with a delicious flavor. It had a very smooth taste and only slight astringency. I drank it black, though I imagine it will also be good with some milk. So if you ever get an offer to take a survey with Jaya teas, it just might be worth your while!

Invigorating Green Tea Mint ChapStick

With so many flavors of ChapStick on the market, I fully expected to come across a green tea version one day, and here it is!

"Tingles. Moisturizes. Nourishes." Well, who doesn't want to be tingled, moisturized and nourished? This variety even boasts 13 moisturizers to keep lips hydrated.

But here's the ingredient listing, and no camellia sinensis is listed. It does have the vague word "flavor," so I suppose that's a possibility. I called a toll-free number and the very nice lady who answered didn't know whether or not it actually contains green tea and said she had never been asked that before. She seemed concerned that perhaps I was trying to *avoid* green tea in the product and offered to research it, but I assured her I *like* green tea and was simply curious. At any rate, the ChapStick does indeed tingle and tastes great, so this ended up being an OK purchase after all.

The curious case of the Persian pin

If I ever get a compliment on a piece of tea jewelry, it's usually going to come from a fellow tea lover. That was the case when I wore this particular teapot pin a few weeks ago. It was a fairly inexpensive eBay find from an antiques seller in England who said it is Iranian/Persian in provenance. Now I have an active imagination, so I began drumming up a story in my head about some possible connection between uranium enrichment activities in Iran and my new pin. "Do you think it could be radioactive?" I asked my mom. She looked at me like I needed my head examined. Oh well ...


International intrigue aside, the filigree design is what I immediately fell in love with about this pin! Do you remember when filigree jewelry was all the rage back in, oh, the late seventies or so? I remember having several pieces of gold jewelry with a filigree design. I even like the word itself ... fil-i-gree. Pretty word, isn't it? I also like the bird design (bird of paradise, maybe?).

I'm certainly no expert on dating jewelry, but I do think the non-locking C-clasp on this pin makes it likely this is an older piece. The locking C-clasp (with that little piece that spins around to hold your pin in place) wasn't patented until 1901, although plain C-clasps did continue to be made. And that's all I know *for sure* about this piece!

Every inch a tea lover

This is a personal (but not terribly invasive) question: Do you paint your fingernails? I go through phases of painting and not painting mine. Currently I'm in a pro-painting phase, and the clear base coat I'd been using had gotten old and gunky. That just won't do, so when I was in Kroger the other day I decided to check out the Sally Hansen display. And look what I found!

For a week now I've been using this Green Tea and Bamboo Nail Strengthener, and I like it a lot. It goes on neat and clean, dries fast and does indeed appear to be working on strengthening my nails. So if you want to "wear" your tea habit from (nail) tip to toe, this might be worth a look!

Tea with a bee!

Years ago, in my early effort to try every tea gadget known to man, I bought what was basically a brown plastic stick you used to spear a parchment teabag filled with your own loose leaf tea. The stick was then placed across your teacup to hold your teabag in place while it steeped. Last week, I came across a much more elegant version of that concept made by Vineyard Gardens.

"Jewelry for the table," they call it. Don't you love that? This Botanica Tea Set is made of tarnish resistant pewter, and I chose the bee design partly because I think the bee's wings look like antique marcasite.

I'll have to be on the lookout for other items in this line, because they also make tea scoops, teaspoons and other pieces. Again I say, one of the loveliest things about teatime is the joy of using (and collecting) such pretty accoutrements!

Tea Tasting Saturday #40 - Lapsang Souchong

As a little girl growing up in the sixties, I was sometimes given Creomulsion cough syrup when I was sick. I'm sure I became quite adept at holding back coughs because I absolutely detested the stuff, and that horrible taste would stick around forever. I was surprised to learn that Creomulsion was actually invented in the '20s, in neighboring Griffin, Ga., of all things. Happily for children of today, the cough syrup has been given a makeover with (according to the Creomulsion website) cherry flavoring and a pleasant taste. I did not know they still make such a thing as adult Creomulsion, however, and its ingredients include beechwood creosote. Creosote! That's exactly the smell I remember!

This week's tea reminds me very much of the old Creomulsion cough syrup I had as a little girl. Why on earth would anyone want to drink an entire cup of this stuff?

Category: Chinese Black Tea

Purveyor: Harney and Sons

Dry leaf appearance: Dark bits of tea leaf that smell like they've been to the very pit of you-know-where and back.

Wet leaf appearance: Soggy bits of same.

Steeping temperature and time: 1 teaspoon of tea, 205 degrees, 4 minutes.

Scent: Have any of you read the wonderful book "The Screwtape Letters" by C.S. Lewis? I can't help wondering if this is what Screwtape and Wormwood drink. "My dear Wormwood," I can just hear Screwtape saying, "please enjoy the enclosed tea sample. It's a custom blend finished off with essence of creosote, and one whiff and it will no doubt whet your appetite for further such delicacies here in the underworld ..."

Color: A medium orange-brown.

Flavor: I'm willing to try just about any tea, anytime, but four sips of this was all I could choke down. Someone clearly found a 1960s-era stash of my mom's Creomulsion stock and used it as the basis for this tea. What other explanation could there *possibly* be for taking something as sweet, angelic, healthy and wholesome as camellia sinensis and turning it into this vile brew? (But on a more helpful note: I have used a scant amount of this tea, steeped, in place of liquid smoke in certain chili recipes with good results! It's a happy use for what would otherwise be a tossed tea!)

Additional notes: I was absolutely stunned to read in the Harney book that Lapsang Souchong was one of the original half-dozen teas Harney sold and remains a favorite! Say it ain't so!

Next week's tea: Ahh, back to the good stuff -- Singbulli Darjeeling

Tea in unexpected places

Rwanda. I hear the name and instantly associate it with the horrible genocide that took place there in 1994, killing hundreds of thousands of people. But 15 years after that atrocity, Rwanda is healing, some say, partly thanks to the successful tea industry there, tea that goes into a famous British blend. Can you guess which one?

Yesterday I mentioned my new Taylors of Harrogate Tea Room blend of tea. In a bit of serendipity, just days after I got that tea I was reading a British food magazine, the August 2009 issue of Waitrose Food Illustrated, and came upon an article titled "Tea and Therapy." I learned that Taylors has been buying Rwandan teas for years. The top estate is in Gisovu, whose tea makes up at least 50 percent of the popular blend known as ...

Yorkshire Gold! The article, written by Kevin Gould and photographed by Jonathan Gregson, is just a pleasure to read. Gould quotes the agriculture minister, Agnes Kalibata: "We must go forward. After the genocide, tea farmers - killers and survivors - have had to live together again. Having formed cooperatives, they now share money, problems -- and hopes. We thought things like post-trauma counselling were Western luxuries. Now we understand that talking helps to heal. Farmers chat all day in the fields and the precious healing starts."

I love knowing that this beverage we all enjoy so much is helping bring hope to Rwanda, and I hope you do, too!

Taylors of Harrogate Tea

Taylors of Harrogate Tea. I now see it's "Taylors," with no apostrophe, not "Taylor's," so I've been spelling it wrong for years!

I found this tin of tea at Homegoods over the weekend and fell in love with its beautiful design. This tea is also the delicious brand served by our new Holly Cottage Tea Room in Newnan. (Today, by the way, my co-workers and I begin a new monthly tradition of taking tea together on the first Thursday of each month. I can't wait!) This tea reminds me in texture of the London Cuppa brand, which resembles coffee grounds. I used a full teaspoon of tea in the first cup I made and mercy, was it strong! The next time I used half a teaspoon, steeped it for three minutes, and it was just the strength I like.

Here is how the tin describes the tea: "TEA ROOM BLEND LEAF TEA -- In India each tea garden has its own special blend, traditionally known as 'bungalow tea,' which is served to visitors. This inspired our blenders to create a Taylors signature tea, using top quality teas from India and Africa to give this blend a rich, full-bodied and deeply satisfying taste." Tomorrow, I will share something I learned just this week about Taylors of Harrogate tea and Africa. It's a story of hope, and I hope you'll want to hear it!