TeaTime March/April 2024

come for tea As signs of springtime’s arrival begin to appear, I find myself gravitating toward more colorful tablescapes and lighter menus for teatime than those I used for fall and winter. If you are no different, then the photographs and recipes in this issue will certainly inspire you as you make plans to host family and friends in the coming months. Our Easter-themed afternoon tea (page 23) is bright, festive, and perfect for the holiday. The other two food features pay homage to our late founder, Phyllis DePiano, who began her career in publishing by creating the first magazine devoted to cross-stitch, which was also my first editor role. With that needlecraft’s resurgence, the TeaTime staff thought a cross-stitch-themed fête (page 47) would delight people of all ages. The blue-and-white…

Low-Carb Delights “I want to thank you so, so much for the low-carb recipes in [the November/December 2023] issue. There are so many out there that are diabetics, pre-diabetics, and just on weight loss that would love to be able to have tea foods, and yet there are so few available.… Please, more of them!” NANCY WILLIAMS ROTH via Facebook “I received my issue and already devoured it! I was SO happy to see the low-carb menus! I already have plans to make those items and hope low-carb options become regular. And as always, I loved reading all of the informative articles and seeing all the pretty china! … Thanks for such a wonderful magazine! It brings me so much joy.” @SUNSHINETRACY25 via Instagram Feature Praise “Hello, I wanted to…

MARCH 16 & 17 Social Afternoon Tea Seatings at 11:00 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. Ackerman Heritage House Napa, California Spend a leisurely afternoon enjoying the ceremony of afternoon tea with a Napa twist at a beautiful 1889 Victorian estate. Enjoy tiers of dainty tarts, savory bites, seasonal homemade butter, and premium teas served on authentic antique china. To reserve your spot and find more information, visit ackermanfamilyvineyards.com. 18–20 World Tea Expo Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas, Nevada Meet retailers, tea shop owners, distributors, food-and-beverage directors, specialty grocers, mass merchants, and other business professionals at the 22nd anniversary of World Tea Expo. Acknowledged as the most influential gathering of the year for the tea industry, the Expo highlights high-quality tea suppliers and related vendors from all over the world exhibiting…

Perfectly Petite The bright flavors of raspberry, lemon, and vanilla are complemented by a delightfully sweet white chocolate shell in these beautiful, bite-size Butterflies & Daisies Tea Cakes. ($34.50, 253-627-4773, dragonflycakes.com) Fun with Florals Bedeck your spring tea table with charming flowers in calming blues and greens with this Lillian tablecloth. (starting at $32, 888-332-7745, aprilcornell.com) Coming Up Roses The expressive brushstrokes and pops of pale pink among the delicate white blooms of Vincent van Gogh’s classic Roses painting adorn this stylish teapot and teacup set. ($90, 800-468-7386, store.metmuseum.org) Simply Sweet Impress guests by adding a hint of floral flavor to your favorite tea blends with these rose barista cubes, whose amazing floral aroma and floating rose petals are also delightful. ($9–$32, teaspressa.com) Terrific Toppings Infused with teas from Harney…

Organic Hibiscus TRUE TEA trueteapdx.com TEACUP: Paragon A2368/16 (Red Cabbage Rose) “Tangy hibiscus and fragrant rose perfectly balance the licorice notes of anise hyssop for a pleasingly vibrant sip.”—Leighann Bryant, art director Lullaby Tea LARKIN TEA COMPANY larkintea.com TEACUP: Royal Stafford Hand-Decorated “Subtle notes of mint, lemongrass, and chamomile permeate this oh-so smooth caffeine-free tisane that is perfect for evening.”—Lorna Reeves, editor On the Waterfront THE TEA SHOPPE theteashoppewv.com TEACUP: Aynsley Sage Green Pembroke “Wonderfully floral, including hibiscus and rose petals, with notes of ginger, this tisane is beautifully blended with South African rooibos.”—Courtni Bodiford, stylist Tranquility Tea THE BOULDER TEA COMPANY boulderteaco.com TEACUP: Royal Albert Green Ombré “This delicious infusion boasts the tastes of peppermint, lemon balm, passionflower herb, lavender, and jasmine.”—Katherine Ellis, associate editor Lavender Lace Herbal Tisane…

Spring is an exciting time to visit tea gardens world-wide as hillside fields burst into vibrant shades of emerald green. Throughout the winter, tea bushes go dormant to save energy, but once the warmer temperatures of spring arrive, the sun’s rays slowly coax the plants to expend their stored energy into producing new buds. I witnessed this colorful display last April when my staff and I visited tea gardens in Japan during the first days of the new harvest. The supple new stems and leaves rippled as warm breezes swept across the hillside rows. Spring harvest teas can produce flavors unique to the season that often command high demand and prices. One of the teas unique to that part of the world is Shincha, the first flush or ichibancha (first…