Indice dei contenuti per March - April 2017 in TeaTime

It truly is difficult for me to resist a good antiques shop. You know the kind—ones filled with bric-a-brac and other treasures, especially pretty porcelain teapots and teacups. Always on a quest to find another blue-and-white piece to add to my growing collection, I could spend all day exploring such places. I also enjoy seeing the tea wares other collectors have amassed, so you can imagine my delight when Jane Pettigrew and I were invited to visit the Chitra Collection, a museum-quality private trove held in London by the N Sethia Foundation. I am most grateful to the foundation for allowing us to showcase a portion of the collection in a series of articles, which began in our recent January/February issue and will continue over at least five more. Beginning…

Lemon-Basil Scones Yield: 10 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour, such as Pillsbury Multi-Purpose Gluten Free Flour Blend ¹ / ³ cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ¼ cup finely chopped fresh basil 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream, divided ¼ teaspoon lemon extract ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, ¹ / ³ cup sugar, baking powder, and salt, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add basil and lemon zest, stirring to combine. • In a liquid-measuring cup,…

Jeju Sejak HARNEY & SONS   harney.com • 888-427-6398 TEACUP: Limoges-American Yellow Daisy “This South Korean selection has verdant notes similar to a Japanese Sencha but with an oh-so-pleasant sweetness.” —Lorna Reeves, editor Emma’s Perfect Match BINGLEY’S TEAS LIMITED   bingleysteas.com • 612-845-1707 TEACUP: Spode Buttercup “In keeping with its rosy appearance, this flavored green tea offers hints of strawberry and cherry. —Sarah Howard, editorial assistant River Mist Green Tea MARK T. WENDELL TEA COMPANY   marktwendell.com • 978-635-9200 TEACUP: Wedgwood India “The smoky aroma of this green tea also stands out in the flavor, making it a very smooth and rich brew.” —Janice Ritter, dealer program manager Litchi Jasmine GLOBAL TEA MART   globalteamart.com • 844-208-2337 TEACUP: Wedgwood Wildflower Yellow “This blend combines a vegetal…

“There is no blue without yellow…” —Vincent Van Gogh Lemon-Walnut Scones Yield: 9 2 cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup plus 1 teaspoon granulated sugar, divided 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup chopped toasted walnuts ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon lemon extract ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, ¼ cup sugar, lemon zest, baking powder, and salt, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add walnuts, stirring to blend. • In a liquid-measuring cup, combine ¾ cup cream,…

“Tea is the only simple pleasure left to us.” —Oscar Wilde Spiced Apricot Scones Yield: 10 2 cups all-purpose flour ¹/³ cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon ground allspice 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter, cut into pieces ½ cup chopped dried apricots ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and allspice, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add apricots, stirring to blend. • In a liquid-measuring cup, combine ¾ cup cream and vanilla extract, stirring well. Add to flour mixture, stirring until mixture…

Pennsylvania’s top-ranked tearoom is on the market for a buyer who will maintain its charm. Bonnie Helm has always been in love with tearooms. When she opened The Front Porch Tea Room in 2000, she planned to run it for 10 years and hand it over to a new owner. Almost 17 years later, Bonnie remains the owner and chef. She is finally looking to sell, in fact, she has been for a few years and has received bids from a few interested buyers. But she isn’t willing to sell to just anyone. “I’m being so picky. I’m looking for somebody that’s going to give the tearoom, the customers, and the staff the love I feel they need. I don’t want it to feel like I’m walking away from everybody.”…

In some circles, the advent of springtime brings with it thoughts of St. Patrick’s Day or Easter celebrations. But in Darjeeling, one of India’s most acclaimed tea-growing regions, the month of March is synonymous with first flush—the time for harvesting the new growth of the tea bushes after winter dormancy. Darjeeling is a storied yet relatively small region tucked between India’s borders with Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh. Many of the area’s 87 tea gardens are at altitudes above 4,000 feet, which play a role in the distinctive character of the orthodox tea. The mountainous terrain makes access challenging, as roads are narrow and feature steep, hairpin turns. But its natural beauty is breathtaking, with views often including the peaks of Mount Kanchenjunga, one of the three highest mountains in the…

March 5 Celtic Tea Dance 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. Scottish Rite Cathedral Hall Pasadena, California Have you ever wanted to dance to a Celtic melody? Join the members of the Victorian Tea & Dance Society for an afternoon of lovely Celtic music and dancing (dance instruction included). Newcomers are welcome at this event, which includes tea refreshments. Irish- and Scottish-themed outfits are encouraged but not required. Come an hour early (12:30) for a dance class. The cost is $20 per person plus $5 for the class. For more information and to purchase tickets, go to victorianteaanddance.org. 18 & 19 Coffee & Tea Festival NYC Noon to 5:00 p.m. (Saturday); Noon to 4:00 p.m. (Sunday) Brooklyn Expo Center Brooklyn, New York The 12th annual Coffee & Tea Festival NYC is bringing…

The word [tea] is not to be found in the Bible, the works of Shakespeare, or any other publication in English previous to the latter half of the seventeenth century. In the known references to tea in English during the years 1650–9 the word appears in its earlier form of ‘tee,’ but pronounced ‘tay’ until the middle of the eighteenth century. —William H. Ukers, The Romance of Tea Once upon a time, this beverage was tee or tay. In other parts of the world, it was cha or chai. How did these different names come about? The Chinese borrowed the names of other shrubs for their earliest references to tea. Prepared leaves from the Camellia sinensis plant did not receive the appellation ch’a until A.D. 725, and the ideograph ch’a…

Children will fall in love with afternoon tea when served whimsical treats, the perfect accompaniment to a traditional Easter egg hunt. Strawberry Scones Yield: 12 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 1 cup chopped freeze-dried strawberries 4 ounces cream cheese, cubed ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream 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 strawberries and cream cheese, stirring to blend. •…

COVER Haviland Sylvia White teapot and lid ($399.95) from Replacements Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. Lewis Strauss LSS38 cake plate, Jean Pouyat POY195 cup and saucer, Crown Staffordshire cup and saucer, and square crystal cake stand from private collection. TITLE PAGE Page 2 : Ceralene Blue Carnation teapot and lid ($299.95) from Replacements Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. MASTHEAD Page 5 : Mottahedeh Imperial Blue salad/dessert plate ($73.95), flat cup and saucer ($79.95) from Replacements Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. THE COMPLETE TABLE: COMING UP ROSES Pages 19–20: Johnson Brothers Rose Chintz dinner plate ($27.99), salad plate ($25.99), square salad plate ($11.99), flat cup and saucer ($15.99), teapot ($139.95), sugar bowl with lid ($84.95), creamer ($43.99) from Replacements Ltd., 800-737-5223, replacements.com. [Traditional] Anchor Hocking Jane Ray Jade-Ite dinner plate ($21.99), Mayfair-Pink water goblet ($74.95); Oneida Royal…