Innehållsförteckning för January - February 2011 från TeaTime

Each time I sip a cup of tea, I’m grateful that God gave me a sense of taste. I am also thankful for that gift every time I sample the delicious recipes for each issue of TeaTime. Over the past six years, I’ve had the privilege of judging a wide array of recipe contests—the National Cornbread Festival, Florida strawberries, Texas grapefruit, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, North Carolina sweet potatoes and pork, just to name a few. My sense of taste has served me well for each of these. Recently, I was a judge for the Cooking with Tea contest at the Georgia branch of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts. The competition was sponsored jointly by Tea- Time, Teas Etc, and tea expert/author Lisa Boalt Richardson. It was truly fascinating…

America’s thirst for Japanese tea has had a resurgence in recent years largely because of green tea’s healthy reputation, the high visibility of major Japanese tea purveyors such as Ito En in New York City and Lupicia in California, and our growing fascination with the Japanese tea ceremony. Japan discovered tea in the eighth century after contact with Buddhist priests in China. It soon became the favorite beverage of monks who found it helped them stay awake during long periods of meditation. When Japan opened its ports to Western trade in the 1860s, tea became a popular commodity, and it wasn’t long before Japanese tea could be found in general stores across the United States. In the early days of cultivation in Japan, tea was handplucked. Today, gas-powered clippers or…

A stylish place card ushering guests to their seats can make a beautiful table seem complete and welcoming. Indeed, without some kind of personalized touch for company, whether a place card or a favor at each chair, a tablescape can appear empty. Why not merge the two ideas and grace a take-home gift with a handwritten card? There are many ways to accomplish this, whether homemade or store bought or a combination of both. For a tea party, it is charming to carry either the theme of the afternoon or the idea of tea to the gift or the place card. For instance, if you are sending each guest home with a nice tin of your favorite tea, adorn the tin with a stately bow and a handcrafted place card.…

Tea. Just the mention of the word can send us scurrying for a cup and saucer, anxious to indulge in a few delightful sips. But few of us would reach for an apron and a measuring cup, readying ourselves to create a delectable dish with tea as a key ingredient. Although tea may not be a frequent star in recipes, its use certainly is in vogue. To keep pace with current trends, TeaTime partnered with Teas Etc and tea expert and author Lisa Boalt Richardson to sponsor the 2011 Cooking with Tea contest at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, just outside Atlanta, Georgia. Students sampled nine teas from the myriad in Teas Etc’s fine inventory while Lisa demonstrated correct brewing methods for each type and offered helpful instructions…

Even before The Dutch East India Company introduced tea to France in 1636, Alexander de Rhodes, a Jesuit priest who had lived in China for 30 years, credited tea as a cure for migraines and told his countrymen that individuals who drank tea enjoyed long lives. But in France, as in Holland, where tea was first sold in apothecary shops, doctors and philosophers passionately debated the merits of the exotic beverage just as they would with coffee and chocolate. Dr. Guy Patin labeled tea the “impertinent novelty of the age,” and that, perhaps, enhanced its appeal to the aristocrats, intellectuals, artists, novelists, and the fashionable elite who gathered in intimate salons to sip, gossip, and debate the issues of the day. Some adventurous souls reportedly smoked, as well as drank,…

january 2 Super Scone Sunday Seatings 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Sweet Remembrances Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania Super Scone Sunday is a relaxing time at Sweet Remembrances tearoom. Guests choose from more than 40 freshly brewed loose-leaf teas to accompany three types of scones (Traditional English Cream, Lemon Poppy Seed, and Apricot White Chocolate) served with a variety of toppings and fresh fruit. Cost is $12.50 per person, including tax and gratuity. Call 717- 697-5785 to reserve a seat, or visit sweetremembrancestearoom.com for additional information. 8 & 29 Jane Austen Afternoon Tea 3:00 p.m. The Governor’s House in Hyde Park Hyde Park, Vermont Choose from Austen’s Sense and Sensibility or Persuasion for a literary weekend at The Governor’s House in Hyde Park. Guests can enjoy the entire weekend or take part in…

Delicious and romantic, Red Velvet Scones with Creamy Mascarpone Hearts are a twist on the classic flavors of red velvet cake. The distinctive deep red color of the dessert paired with a delightful heart-shaped mascarpone butter pat is ideal for a Valentine’s Day afternoon tea or as a special treat for a loved one. Made with a more cakelike consistency, these Red Velvet Scones are a slight departure from the usual scone recipe. They achieve the mouthwatering taste of red velvet cake but in an entirely new way. Serve alongside a fragrant cup of tea for a fabulous and memorable indulgence. red velvet scones Yield: approximately 1 dozen scones Preparation: 10 minutes Bake: 15 minutes Cool: 5 minutes 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup unsweetened natural cocoa powder ½ cup…

My admiration of the elegant table settings, cozy furnishings, fine china, and delectable foods featured in each issue of TeaTime prompted me to seek out a charming teahouse in my own small town. But living in a rural area often means searching far afield for some of the finer things. For a truly proper tea experience, I had to travel 30 miles to a neighboring county, where I discovered a quaint tearoom as enchanting as the ones pictured in the magazine. My sister and I decided to take our mother there for her birthday. I was happy to hear my 9-year-old niece, Emily, was coming also. This would be her first tea, and I anxiously hoped she’d enjoy it. Her interests change frequently, but she’d expressed a decided distaste for…

Chocolate Fix Cocoa Mate Minteas by Tea Forté combine energizing Brazilian yerba mate and chocolate for a perfect pick-me-up. These botanical-based mints are all natural, organic, and Fair Trade Certified, and they come packaged in a recyclable tin just the right size for your purse or pocket. ($2.99; teaforte.com or 800-721-1149) A Spoonful of Sugar-Free Adagio’s Ceylon loose-leaf black tea imbued with rich chocolate flavoring makes a decadent yet sugar-free beverage. ($5 for 3 ounces or $15 for 16 ounces; adagio.com) The Blossom Tea Scoop, hand cast in lead-free pewter, lets you measure the ideal amount. ($24; beehivekitchenware.com or 508-678-4335) Minty Chocolate Steep a cup of this Organic Chocolate Mint Decadence Black Tea flavored with chocolate and spearmint for your next after-dinner dessert drink. ($9.99 for a 15-sachet box; chinamist.com…

The earliest tea infusers, or tea balls, brought ingenuity and style to the table, offering a solution to spooning out wayward tea leaves and an alternative to preparing a full pot. A curious piece of hardware, the tea ball, unlike any other device, made possible a custom cup of tea. Whether a treasured silver collectible or a modern silicone twist on the original infusers, the tea ball affords a sense of control over the strength and flavor of the tea. Before the tea ball, tea strainers sifted leaves from the tea. Loose tea was brewed or steeped in a pot, then poured through a strainer into the cup. Often elegant in design, strainers either straddled the width of the cup or were smaller, delicate devices that collected the leaves in…

Homemade valentines and a multitude of cupids proclaim it’s Valentine’s Day, and our heart-themed “sweet” tea is a tribute to February’s notably romantic holiday. With heart-shaped tartlets, palmiers, and macaroons, this menu does not lack in love-inspired treats. Steep a pot of flowering or chocolate tea to accompany the ardor of the day, or simply brew your favored cup to serve alongside these indulgent desserts, which will definitely tempt your family and friends. Set the table with a flowery centerpiece and rose-colored china for a heart-winning celebration. raspberry heart macaroons with buttercream filling Yield: approximately 2 dozen cookies Preparation: 40 minutes Bake: 20 minutes Cool: 30 minutes 3 large egg whites 4 drops red food coloring 2 tablespoons superfine sugar 1¾ cups confectioners’ sugar ¾ cup slivered almonds ¼ cup…

COVER Photography by Kamin H. Williams, food styling by Chantel Lambeth, photo styling by Lucy Wilson. Williamsburg Marketplace Creamware teapot ($219), medium pierced plate ($65), and teacup and saucer ($52), williamsburgmarketplace.com. CONTENTS Page 3: Royal Crown Derby Cherry Blossom teacup and saucer ($275), from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276. MASTHEAD Page 6: Royal Limoges Oasis dinner plate ($85), teacup ($85), and saucer ($40) and Royal Crown Derby Royal Antoinette Accent Plate ($145) from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276. NECESSARY THINGS Page 12: Harney & Sons Valentine’s Blend ($3.75), 888-427-6398, harney.com. Yedi Houseware Inside Out Heart cup and saucer set ($59.99 for 6), store.yedihouseware.com. Tea Forté Cocoa Mate Minteas ($2.99), 800-721-1149, teaforte.com. Adagio Chocolate Tea ($5 for 3 ounces, $15 for 16 ounces), adagio.com. Beehive Kitchen Co. Blossom Tea Scoop ($24), 508-678-4335, beehivekitchenware.com. Revolution Tea Orange Chocolate…