TeaTime March/April 2022

come for tea Springtime is such a glorious time for a tea party! As plants of all sorts begin to put out their new leaf buds—the Camellia sinensis included among them, of course—and winter’s cold begins to wane, we are inspired to celebrate this season of renewed life with afternoon tea. I think you will find our upscale Easter-themed menu (page 23) to be oh-so fitting for the holiday. We highlight the beauty and versatility of the lemon in our citrus-laced table setting and recipes, beginning on page 50. As we do a little spring cleaning, our Elegant Exchange (page 37) features an eclectic collection of teacups and saucers and prompts us to use some for the tablescape and to share others as party favors with our teatime guests. In…

Merci Beaucoup “As a longtime French teacher, I am always looking for ways to share the diversity of the Francophone world with my students. Thank you so much for all of the clever ideas found in the French Tea 2021 special edition! My students were able to have a food day in class for the first time since quarantine. The charming tablescapes in your magazine provided a great deal of inspiration as students researched and prepared French dishes at home to share with their classmates.” EVANGELINE REDDICK via email Love for Recent Issues “What a wonderful surprise to see Sharon McDonnell’s article ‘How Tea Helped Women Win the Right to Vote’ in the November/December 2021 issue! I am a docent at a Vanderbilt estate: Eagle’s Nest in Centerport, New York.…

March 17 St. Patrick’s Day Tea 1:00 p.m. Sweet Remembrances Tea Room Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania All things Irish will be the focus of this festive-themed tea. From the lively Irish tunes strummed by our favorite fiddler, Keith Engle, to savory treats and sweet delicacies presented to highlight the Emerald Isle, this full afternoon tea is sure to delight. This specialty event costs $50 per person and includes tax and gratuity. For additional information or to reserve your seat, call 717-697-5111 or visit rosemaryevents.blogspot.com for more information. 21–23 World Tea Expo Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, Nevada Join retailers, tea shop owners, distributors, food and beverage directors, spa managers, specialty grocers, mass merchants, and other business professionals for the 20th anniversary of World Tea Expo. Referred to as the most influential…

Whimsical Wonder Display sweets and savories for all to admire on this charming three-tiered server that is perfectly evocative of spring’s loveliness. ($119.97, grandinroad.com or 866-668-5962) Botanical Beauty Serve to teatime guests this classic assortment of picture-perfect floral shortbread in flavors such as Lemon Thyme, Pistachio, Lavender, and Orange Blossom, also available gluten-free. ($30−$56, almakitchenco.com) Something Sweet Sweeten your brew with these beautiful Rose Sugar Cubes available in various colors and flavors. ($5.50−$14, etsy.com/shop/prettyposhparteas) Dainty Details Enhance your elegant tablescape and accessorize your napkins with pretty Chelsea Flower Napkin Rings. ($34 for set of 4, teaandlinen.com or 708-232-6066) Perfectly Pink Store loose-leaf tea or tea bags in this lovely Flower Meadow Tin adorned with colorful, vine-like flowers. ($4.25, svtea.com or 800-282-8327) Stylish Server Present toothsome scones, assorted fruits, and more…

Cherry Blossom HARNEY & SONS | harney.com TEACUP: Richard Ginori La Scala “When brewed, this green tea releases a delightful fruity aroma of fresh cherries and floral blossoms.”—Courtni Bodiford, stylist Spring Blossom SIMPSON & VAIL | svtea.com TEACUP: Royal Crown Derby Green Aves “Subtle notes of passionfruit intermingle with rose and marigold petals to impart an infusion that lives up to its name.”—Katherine Ellis, associate editor Jasmine Pearls (Special Grade) THE BOULDER TEA COMPANY boulderteaco.com TEACUP: Jean Louis Coquet Toundra Spring (Printemps) “Balled leaves, which can be re-steeped, unfurl to release a soothing jasmine flavor.”—Britt Crawford, contributing associate editor Huangshan Anhui Select Mao Feng GRACE TEA COMPANY | gracetea.com TEACUP: J & G Meakin Chatham Green “Beautiful Mao Feng–style leaves yield a slightly grassy infusion that is ripe with gentle…

An afternoon spent enjoying tea at a fine hotel or restaurant seems to conjure up feelings of elegance and gentility. After all, tea is synonymous with civility and blessed with the endearing quality of being just a touch sophisticated. But the terms and titles that some hotels or tearooms use to describe their tea offerings—such as Afternoon Tea, Cream Tea, Light Tea, Full Tea, Royal Tea, and High Tea—can be confusing. The traditional time for afternoon tea in London is between 3 and 5 p.m., though the hours are often stretched slightly in either direction. For example, I once had a Saturday afternoon-tea reservation at The Ritz Hotel at 6:00. That late appointment was not my first choice, but it was the only time available because customer demand had kept…