Table of contents for March/April 2019 in TeaTime

Afternoon tea came into vogue in England during the time of Queen Victoria and has been attributed to Anna, the seventh Duchess of Bedford, a lady-in-waiting to the queen. Because the evening meal was typically served late, Lady Bedford reportedly had a light snack along with a cup of tea in the afternoon and soon began inviting friends to join her. Happily for all of us who enjoy having tea, the practice caught on. Last year, the wedding of Britain’s Price Harry and American actress Meghan Markle captivated many Anglophiles. What they may have not realized is that her first meeting with Queen Elizabeth was for afternoon tea in Buckingham Palace. To prepare for that important debut, Meghan visited Rose Tree Cottage in Pasadena, California. Its owners, the ever-charming Englishman…

Carlene O’Connor is the USA Today best-selling author of the Irish Village Mystery series, which was inspired by a walled town in County Limerick. In the series, she has renamed the town and nudged it over to County Cork, just so the folks in the real town wouldn’t get browned off. In the latest Irish Village Mystery, Murder in an Irish Pub, competing card sharks stir up Siobhán O’Sullivan’s quiet Irish village as a poker tournament turns into a game of hangman. Learn more at carleneoconnor.net.…

Earl Grey Lavender UPTON TEA IMPORTS uptontea.com • 800-234-8327 TEACUP: Wedgwood Cuckoo Green “I love the fragrant aroma of lavender and bergamot in this flowery brew. It’s soothing and flavorful, making it perfect for afternoon tea in the spring.” —Katherine Cloninger, editorial assistant Grey Line HUGO TEA COMPANY hugotea.com • 816-832-4311 TEACUP: Wedgwood Cuckcoo Peach “The malty goodness of Yunnan black tea coupled with the citrusy notes of Italian bergamot make for a marvelous variation on time-honored Earl Grey.” —Lorna Reeves, editor Creamy Earl Grey LOT 35 fairmontstore.com • 800-866-9566 TEACUP: Wedgwood Cuckoo Blue “The vanilla in this Earl Grey slightly subdues the typically strong taste of this beloved favorite and gives it a wonderful creamy taste and finish.” —Britt Stafford, associate editor Earl…

Devotees of TeaTime “I think I’ve had a subscription to TeaTime magazine almost since it began! It has always been my escape to a gentler and more refined environment. I’ve made some of the recipes and researched and purchased some of the accoutrements, and I have a collection of the published tea books. Thank you for such a lovely publication!” SUZANNE BROWN via teatimemagazine.com “I save all of my issues when they come in until I declare ‘a bed day.’ I spend the day in bed with my magazines and many cups of tea. Everyone should declare a bed day once in a while.” RITA TELLIER via Facebook “I have every TeaTime magazine issue over the last 10 years. They are a treasure/heirloom in my home.” ANGELA INGRAM via Facebook…

March 9 Alice in Wonderland 6:00 p.m. Erika’s Tea Room Clermont, Florida Don’t be late for this very important date in Wonderland with Alice, the Mad Hatter, and the White Rabbit! Enjoy a four-course dinner with four different teas, as well as games and activities. This festive, adult-only event is $30 per person, and reservations are required. For reservations, please call 908-670-2305 or go to erikastearoom.com. 17 Irish Breakfast Tea Noon to 2:00 p.m. Pinecone Cottage Tea House Downers Grove, Illinois Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a delicious, Irish country-style teatime meal. Guests will enjoy a number of teatime treats, such as sausage and corned beef, Dublin coddle, soda bread, breakfast scones, and smoked salmon and crab strata accompanied by the loose-leaf tea of your choice. This event costs $29.50…

The “agony of the leaves” is a centuries-old phrase used by tea traders to describe the twisting ballet tea leaves perform as they are awakened by boiling water. The leaves “may appear tormented and miserable, like autumn leaves in a storm, but they also look dancing and fanciful,” wrote Helen Gustafson in her 1996 book, Agony of the Leaves: The Ecstasy of My Life with Tea. However, as in all choreographed performances, there is a time for the first act to end and the tea drinking to begin. For the very staid British tea drinker, that vital stage direction is frequently ignored, leading to the detriment of good tea making. I often find tearooms, in both the UK and the US, guilty of allowing tea leaves to stew rather than…

Jane’s Scones Makes 5 to 7 8 ounces (approximately 1›/3 cups) gluten-free all-purpose baking flour* 3½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon kosher salt 2 ounces (¼ cup) European-style butter, softened and cut into pieces 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) caster sugar 2 medium eggs, divided, beaten 3.5 to 4.5 fluid ounces whole milk, divided • Preheat oven to 450° F (Gas 8, 230° C). Line a baking tray with parchment paper, or grease with butter and dredge with flour. • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, and salt. Using fingers, rub in the softened butter as lightly as possible until the mixture resembles bread crumbs. Stir in the sugar. Add 1 egg, and bind the mixture with a fork. Gradually add 3 to 4 fluid ounces milk to…

COVER Royal Albert Tea Rose Yellow teapot ($259.95), dessert plate ($9.99), teacup/ saucer set ($23.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. Tiered stand from private collection. TITLE PAGE Page 2: Haviland Clover Leaf teapot ($549.95), teacup/saucer set (price not available), and salad plate ($21.99); Royal Worcester Regency Green & Gray dinner plate ($49.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. MASTHEAD Page 5: Royal Worcester Embassy Light Green teacup/saucer set ($31.99); Royal Doulton Alton salad plate ($11.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. Napkin, tablecloth, and vase from private collection. COME FOR TEA Page 7: Fascinator (styles and prices vary) available from Rose Tree Cottage, 626-793-3337, rosetreecottage.com. Royal Worcester Dunrobin teacup/saucer set ($35.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. THE COZY CORNER Page 10: Pierced creamware teapot with twisted handles ($188) from Colonial Williamsburg, 800-446-9240,…

Perfectly Posh Designed by O.W. London, this exclusive and stunning bone china teacup is adorned with Fortnum’s iconic Eau de Nil and accented with hand-painted 24-carat gold detailing. (£50 plus shipping, fortnumandmason.com) Fit for a Queen Featuring a pattern beloved by Queen Victoria, this elegant Buckingham Palace Great Exhibition Teapot is handmade using techniques from 250 years ago, and makes every afternoon tea feel like a royal affair. (£75 plus shipping, royalcollectionshop.co.uk) Classically British Ahmad Tea’s charming Nostalgic Caddy evokes a vintage feel with the Union Jack flag and iconic British monuments and is filled with 20 English Breakfast teabags. ($9, ahmadteausa.com or 800-637-7704) Beguiling Beauty Bedecked with colorful birds upon a gold leafy tree, this gorgeous 3-tier cake stand by award-winning British designer Sara Miller is the perfect display…

Royal Doulton has been an illustrious name in tableware and ceramics for more than two centuries. While founded in London, the company moved production in 1877 to Staffordshire, where it still has a design studio, although its production facility is now in Indonesia. With several notable patterns and products, Royal Doulton’s original Countess earthenware teapot lives up to its stately name, featuring a design of perennial painted garlands with green and yellow medallions reminiscent of Neoclassical design. First released in the early 20th century and discontinued in 1961, the pattern’s delicate details and touches of gold make it a versatile teatime accoutrement to be enjoyed in a variety of settings. Flowery Flair Let the Countess teapot become a part of your springtime festivities by pairing it with Royal Worcester’s Embassy…

Olive & English Cheddar Tea Sandwiches Makes 12 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened 1½ teaspoons Worcestershire sauce, divided 3 ounces English Cheddar cheese, shredded ½ cup pitted Castelvetrano olives 2 anchovy fillets 1/3 cup canned artichoke hearts, drained ¾ teaspoon ground black pepper ½ teaspoon chopped fresh parsley ¼ teaspoon olive oil 8 slices white bread • In a medium bowl, beat together butter and 1 teaspoon Worcestershire with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Scrape sides of bowl. Add cheese, and beat until well combined. Transfer mixture to an airtight container, and refrigerate. Let come to room temperature before using. • In the work bowl of a food processor, process together olives, anchovies, artichokes, pepper, parsley, oil, and remaining ½ teaspoon Worcestershire until smooth. Transfer mixture to an…

I was 21 and leaving my home in England to go to America on an ocean liner. Norwood was returning home after his student year in Europe. We met on deck watching passengers from Cherbourg, France, being ferried out to our ship, which was much too huge to enter the harbor. For the duration of the voyage, we kept each other company. It was a magical six days and five nights surrounded by luxury and sophistication aboard the elegant Queen Elizabeth—yes, the first. Finally, we sailed up the Hudson past the Statue of Liberty, and the last thing we did before going ashore was order tea in my cabin. We naively expected to meet next on the pier after clearing customs and immigration, but it was to be 40 years…