A Valentine’s Day riddle: What’s plush and cuddly and sweet and hot and steamy? Answer: No, it’s not that… gee, people, this is a family-oriented blog! It’s a Valentine’s Day teatime with teddy bears and chocolates and tea! What better way to say “You’re my Sweetie” than with sweets and tea (no, that’s not another …
Continue reading Teddy Bears and Chocolates and Tea — Oh, My!
I believe I’ve mentioned here once or twice that since 1998 I’ve been running an online chat group that over the years has attracted members from around the globe, from consumers to tea professionals. Some years ago the group was discussing disposable cups and the effects they have on the tea served in them. This …
Tea being a beverage very much associated with Britain, and Jane Austen being one of the foremost British authors of all time, it seemed fitting to have a teatime that incorporated the atmosphere her novels conjure — the Georgian Regency period amid the country gentry and simpler townsfolk. The very language in a Jane Austen …
Buyer beware. Don’t believe everything you read. Okay, they're not the most original phrases, but when it comes to the marketing of tea and the many health benefits that it's said to bestow on us, they're appropriate maxims to keep in mind. My standard disclaimer here. Yes, I do believe that tea can have some …
I want to make one thing very clear: my dear husband doesn’t need a special day to surprise me with flowers, candy, or other little gifts. But in case he should happen to want to get me a nice little something for this lovers’ holiday, I’m happy to help him out with a few suggestions …
I was recently reminded just how wonderful fresh mint tisane can be when I had occasion to order it at a restaurant. Numb from the cold, and in need of a hot drink without caffeine (it was late in the evening), I was loathe to order a “herbal tea.” I knew that would more than …
Teas are grown in an ever-increasing number of countries in the world, with China still being one of the leaders. Your first stop on our world tea tour is the Fujian Province where a good portion of these teas come from. About the Province During the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Fujian Province served as the …
If I may pull out my swami hat and gaze deeply into my crystal ball, I'll forecast (educated guess) that 2013 will be a year that's going to bring us many tea gadgets. Which is hardly what you'd call a bold prediction, given the number of these clever little gizmos that regularly make their way …
Continue reading Monthly Tea Gadget and Offbeat News Report III
The simplicity of our tea kettle sitting on the stove burner, with the water inside heating up to the perfect temperature for the tea we’re having, sparks a thought in my mind: there is such a thing as being too advanced. By that, I mean having too much gadgetry around so that even the simplest …
Does your tea bug you? It would if it’s Oriental Beauty Oolong, one of the most exotic teas and a bit of a rarity, with only about 20 kilograms of leaves processed per hectare. But it might not be so exotic without some insects getting into the act. Those little buggers chomp their way into …
Continue reading This Tea Is Bugging Me or The Secret of Oriental Beauty Oolong
