Inhaltsverzeichnis für March/April 2018 in TeaTime

For many of us, there is something quite alluring about the French culture and language. And those of us who are also enamored with tea will be delighted to know there is much to explore in this charming European country. So much so, that we have devoted most of this issue to it. From the tea venues of the city of Nantes in western France to the salons of Paris, there are plenty of teatimes to savor when you visit. We have even carried the theme into the tea parties featured in this issue with our take on traditional French fare. And if you’re wondering which teas to serve at your next French-themed teatime, “Our Favorites” (page 15) offers six delightful selections, as do the Tea Sommelier boxes that appear…

Parisian Chic Add French flair to your kitchen with a set of four colorful tea towels adorned with favorite spots in the City of Lights. ($9.99, idreamoffrance.com or 888-963-7262) Oui Oui for Perfect Tea Steeping loose-leaf tea is trés facile with Kusmi Tea’s Eiffel Tower–inspired mug, complete with infuser basket and lid, available in red, white, or blue. ($35.95, en.kusmitea.com or 212-285-3990) Bon Appétit Give to yourself or a loved one Ladurée’s customizable box of 15 scrumptious macarons. These French delicacies come in flavors such as orange blossom, hazelnut, passion fruit, and pistachio. ($48.35, laduree.fr/en/ or 646-213-2806) A Petit Essential Don’t fret about making a mess when you set your tea bag upon one of these darling miniature Le Creuset teapot-shaped holders. ($9, lecreuset.com or 877-418-5547) Honey du Jour Harvested…

Chocolate-Hazelnut Scones Makes 13 2½ cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup cold unsalted butter 1 (4-ounce) bar bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped 1/3 cup chopped toasted hazelnuts ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ cup whole milk ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add chocolate and hazelnuts, stirring well. • In a small bowl, stir together ½ cup cold cream, milk, and vanilla extract. Add cream mixture to flour mixture, stirring until mixture is evenly moist. (If…

Yuletide Inspiration “I have been an avid reader of TeaTime magazine since 2004. I eagerly await to receive my magazine each month. The photos are beautiful, and the recipes are so enticing. Reading TeaTime takes me on an imaginary journey to a time and place of refinement and gracious living. I just made the Cinnamon Chip Scones featured in the November/ December 2017 issue. They look so delicious. . . .” CAROL NICKLE via e-mail “Being truly inspired by the Advent Tea article in the Nov/Dec 2017 issue of TeaTime, I hosted an evening Advent Tea in my home for some close friends . . . In addition to using the recipes in this issue, I searched my copies of back issues and your tea books for more ideas. My…

Gluten-free Lavender & White Chocolate Scones Makes 12 2½ cups gluten-free flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ cup cold unsalted butter, cubed ¼ cup fresh lavender blossoms 1 (4-ounce) bar white chocolate, chopped ¾ cup crème fraîche ¼ cup plus 3 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in cold butter until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add lavender and white chocolate, stirring well. • In a small bowl, stir together crème fraîche, ¼ cup plus 2 tablespoons cold cream, and vanilla extract. Add cream mixture to…

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who was besotted with china, porcelain, and cut-glass artwork. The little girl dreamed of pretty patterns and tea parties real and imagined, and conducted full-service make-believe afternoon teas for her family, friends, and dolls. One day, her grandmother mentioned the word Limoges when showing her a family heirloom teacup and saucer. Familiar English brand names tripped easily off the little girl’s tongue, but the “mōzh” in Limoges was a challenge, and she stumbled initially pronouncing the word with a hard g. Family knew when it came to gifts and celebrations that the girl looked forward to seeing what china bits would be hidden within the tissue of the gaily wrapped parcels resting beneath the tree or on birthday mornings. She did…

COVER Haviland Cashmere footed cup and saucer set ($37.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. Haviland À la Corne teapot from private collection. Smith Glass Hobnail Pink cake stand from private collection. Haviland (pattern unavailable) oval platter from private collection. TITLE PAGE Page 2: Gien Filets Taupe dinner plates ($29.99) and flat teacup and saucer set ($39.99) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com . Gien Filets Taupe teapot ($233.28) from Artedona, 49-89-45-69-20-66, artedona.com. Mikasa French Countryside 65-piece flatware set ($199.99), 866-645-2721, mikasa.com. Potted plant from Leaf & Petal, 205-967-3232, leafnpetal.com. Tablecloth (discontinued) from Red and White Kitchen Company, 877-914-7440, redandwhitekitchen.com. MASTHEAD Page 5: Bernardaud Barbeaux dinner plate ($199.95), salad plate ($169.95), flat cup and saucer ($69.95), and teapot and lid (price unavailable) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. Napkin from private collection. THE…

March 10 & 11 Coffee & Tea Festival NYC 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Saturday); 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (Sunday) Brooklyn EXPO Center Brooklyn, New York Join fellow tea enthusiasts for a weekend featuring more than 100 exhibitors from around the globe at the 13th annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC. Enjoy tastings from some of your favorite tea companies, and discover new vendors. Hear from industry professionals at various seminars held throughout the event. Tickets cost $10 to $35 and can be purchased by visiting coffeeandteafestival.com. 16 Downton Abbey Dinner 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. The English Tea Room Covington, Louisiana The television series may be over, but The English Tea Room allows the favorite British show to live on through the annual Downton Abbey Dinner. Don your best…

Paris is a city that never disappoints me. Every arrondissement is a treasure chest waiting to be opened, sniffed, consumed, and remembered. I gaze longingly into boulangerie windows, wander through outdoor markets, and relish the daily menus hastily chalked onto boards posted outside cafés. Fortunately, it’s an easy city to walk. If you’re like me, you’ll need to burn off those decadent calories you consume while satisfying your hunger for the most delicious city in the world. The long climb up Montmartre from the Moulin Rouge to the cathedral Sacré-Coeur is one of the best workouts for shedding those buttery excesses. For those of us addicted to the leaf of the Camellia sinensis, the great consolation is that we are never more than a short stroll from a salon de…

European Butter Scones Makes 8 1½ cup all-purpose flour 1 cup pastry flour ¼ cup granulated sugar 1 teaspoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 6 tablespoons cold European-style unsalted butter*, cubed ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided 1 large egg ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Using a pastry blender or 2 forks, cut in cold butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. • In a small bowl, whisk together ½ cup cold cream, egg, and vanilla extract. Add cream mixture to flour mixture, stirring until mixture is evenly moist. Working gently, bring mixture together with hands until a dough forms. • Turn…

Just as the tea industry has grown and modernized over the centuries, so have the teawares and utensils designed specifically for brewing or serving the classic beverage. TeaTime has honored the tradition of afternoon tea for the past 15 years while also educating readers about the different wares used in various cultures throughout history. From the Yixing teapot, whose origins date back to the Ming dynasty, to an innovative FORLIFE teapot, this installment of our anniversary series spotlights 15 customary and contemporary vessels with which we think our readers should be acquainted. Tea Bowl The first teacups were made without handles, for it has been said that if the filled cups were too hot to hold, the tea was too hot to drink. Many tea-drinking cultures still prefer handleless cups…

I have been in the tea business for more than 20 years, but my history with the drink dates back to my childhood when my grandmother would dress me up and take me to tearooms in Los Angeles. I vividly remember my first experience. We walked into a room full of ladies and gentlemen dressed for afternoon tea—white gloves and hats on the ladies, suits for the gentlemen. While the room was full, the conversations were hushed and quiet. As tea etiquette dictates, people were using their inside voices, and I could even hear the faint tinkling of spoons against teacups. When we were seated at our table, I was almost dizzy with excitement as I perused the china service set before us. We were brought pots of hot tea…