Table of contents for September - October 2017 in TeaTime

Classic Delights Few things complement a cup of tea better than a shortbread treat, especially if the wedges are made in a pan imprinted with a variety of teapot designs. ($34.95, fancyflours.com or 406-587-0118) Linens for the Season From gorgeous tea towels to intricate crochet-trimmed and floral napkins, April Cornell’s Fall 2017 line of linens brings autumn wonder to your table. ($19.50 each for tea towels, $29 for set of four napkins, aprilcornell.com or 888-332-7745) Fall’s Golden Hues Accessorize your napkins with charming gilded napkin rings. Each set of four features a variety of elegant leafy designs. ($11.96, worldmarket.com or 877-967-5362) A Nice Touch Write a thoughtful letter, or invite your loved ones to tea using pretty note cards. Each boxed set comes with 10 fold-over cards and soft pink…

During the peacetime that followed the period of rations and conservation throughout World War II, Americans once again wanted stylish decór and furnishings for the home. In response to growing midcentury trends, companies such as Lenox produced pieces that featured clean lines, distinct colors, and straightforward designs. With a simplistic botanical motif depicting nature’s autumn tradition, Lenox Westwind, produced in 1952, serves as festive tea ware for the season. Multicolored napkins help bring out the various hues in the china’s pattern for a traditional look, while Reed & Barton Kendrick Gold flatware adds a touch of grandeur to the table. The intricate gold design on Haviland’s Residence Chocolate dinner plates establishes a formal ambiance. Dress up the table with rich solid-color napkins and a contrasting bold table runner. The harvest…

Tiny Tim’s Tearoom is a lovely, albeit quirky place to take a break after rambling through the beautiful city of Canterbury, Kent, in southern England. Perfectly placed geographically, Canterbury is an ideal destination for London-based day-trippers and tourists. Whether travelling by car or train, picturesque pastoral landscapes slip by as far as the eye can see. After arriving in town (make it early), go straight to Canterbury Cathedral, a stunning, no-miss experience. Home to the Old Palace, a residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, the city has been the country seat of Catholicism and the Church of England since the founding by St. Augustine in A.D. 597. Reserve plenty of time to explore this early-English, gloriously Gothic treasure. Refreshments are next on the list. It’s time to decide—what’s for lunch…

It started rather innocently. According to Julee Rosanoff, it was supposed to be just a one-time event to celebrate the 400th anniversary of tea in Europe. Inspired by an appeal from America’s Tea Renaissance icon James Norwood Pratt for someone to put together a celebration of the quadricentennial, Julee and a group of four others founded the Northwest Tea Festival in Seattle in 2007. “The first year, we had a dinner at the Pink Door restaurant, a festival, and other events,” recalls Julee. Over the years, the dinner died away—it was too expensive and exclusive, she says. What has remained has continued to draw exhibitors and attendees annually from all spheres of the tea industry to the “biggest tea party on the West Coast.” The event outgrew its initial venue…

Kudos for TeaTime “I subscribe to TeaTime, read it from cover to cover, and then refer to it again and again. Thank you for an exceptional magazine.” CAROLYN BAIN Salem, Virginia TeaTime Tea Parties “I love TeaTime magazine. Thank you for all the wonderful articles and recipes. I am a pastor’s wife and have used several recipes and decorating ideas from the magazine to host tea parties for the young girls, teenagers, and women of my church.” THOMETRA FOSTER Via Facebook Father’s Day Tea Appreciation “I have been buying your magazine for years. This [May/June 2017 issue] is the first in which I loved every single recipe, and the Father’s Day tea is your best yet.” ROBIN HELZER Via Facebook Sharing Family Traditions “I’ve been a subscriber to TeaTime magazine…

Toffee-Pear Scones Yield: 8 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup chopped dried pear 1/3 cup toffee bits ¾ cup plus 3 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Garnish: additional granulated sugar • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add pear and toffee bits, stirring well. • In a small bowl, combine ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons cream and vanilla extract, stirring well. Add to flour mixture, stirring until mixture is evenly…

Caramel-Apple Scones Yield: 15 7 tablespoons cold unsalted butter,cut into pieces, divided 1¼ cups peeled, cored, and diced Granny Smith apple 1/3 cup plus 1 tablespoon granulatedsugar, divided 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon 3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon baking powder ¾ teaspoon salt 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons cold heavywhipping cream ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 recipe Caramel Glaze (recipe follows)Garnish: chopped toasted pecans andflaked salt • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a medium nonstick sauté pan, melt 1 tablespoon butter over medium-high heat. Add apples, and sprinkle with 1 tablespoon sugar and cinnamon, stirring well. Cook until apples are just beginning to be tender, 1 to 2 minutes. Let cool completely. (It is important for apples to be completely…

Gluten-free Pecan Scones with Chai-Infused Cream Yield: 12 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend* 1/3 cup firmly packed light brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup coarsely chopped toasted pecans ¾ cup cold heavy whipping cream ½ teaspoon vanilla extract Garnish: turbinado sugar and chopped pecans • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, brown sugar, baking powder, and salt, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add toasted pecans, stirring well. • In a small bowl, combine cream and vanilla extract, stirring well. Add cream mixture to flour mixture, stirring until mixture is evenly moist.…

European producers of ceramic wares were fascinated by the exquisite beauty and fine quality of the Chinese porcelains that reached their countries in the 16th and 17th centuries. In their efforts to imitate the skill of the Oriental craftsmen, they improved their own traditional earthenwares and created new types of pottery that found a market amongst a growing number of tea drinkers. This fifth article in the Chitra Collection series explores the different methods of manufacture and the main centers of production. The translucency and fine decoration of Chinese porcelains had a profound effect on European potters and inspired a revolution in their approach to their work. While the Chinese Qing Dynasty porcelain manufacturers and the Japanese ceramicists had been making porcelain since the days of the Tang emperors (A.D.…