Table of contents for July - August 2010 in TeaTime

Taking tea is a year-round pleasure. Though some see it as an activity reserved for cooler months, I enjoy teatime all year long. Yes, even in the heat of summer. The delicious tea foods that result from flavorful summertime produce simply beg to be savored witha cup of a favorite tea, regardless of what the thermometer says. On a recent family vacation to Florida, I took along my electric teakettle so I could be assured of having hot water at my disposal regardless of where we were. I even went so far as to brew a cup of green tea at an Interstate rest area. I have been amazed at recent teakettle innovations, especially ones that allow you to select the water temperature according to the type of tea you…

Every tearoom owner can tell you a story about a customer who sent back their pot of Orange Pekoe tea because it did not taste of oranges. The answer to the drinker’s dilemma may be found in the fact that Orange Pekoe is one of the most common grades of tea manufactured in India or Sri Lanka. Orange may come from Holland’s ruling monarchy House of Orange—after all, Holland was the first European country to import and export Chinese teas—and the word pekoe, derived from the Chinese word pek-ho or baihao, refers to the tiny silvery hairs on the undersides of some tea leaves. The 19th-century English tea industry came up with the unique grading system used in Indian and Sri Lankan teas. These teas are manufactured using giant rolling…

after a morning on the course, you deserve a relaxing lunch at the clubhouse before making the turn to the back nine. Whet your appetite with our trio of sandwiches, including delicious Smoked Birdie Salad Sandwiches, and finish with a sweet sampling of Honey Tee-Thyme Cookies or decadent Coconut Truffles. Such an enjoyable lunch will rejuvenate you and your golf partners to hit it straight the rest of the day. CHIPPED-IN WEDGE SCONES Yield: 1½ dozen scones Preparation: 15 minutes Bake: 15 minutes 13/4 cups all-purpose flour 3 tablespoons sugar 3 tablespoons firmly packed dark brown sugar 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/4 cup unsalted butter 1/4 cup bittersweet chocolate chips, chopped 1/4 cup butterscotch chips, chopped 1/4 cup toffee chips, chopped 1 large…

Boston society at the turn of the 20th century was well acquainted with the fascinating foreigner who dressed in a formal kimono and sat in the opera box with Isabella Stewart Gardner, the city’s most flamboyant collector of art and artful characters. They had seen him at her private museum. Okakura Kakuzo was tall for a Japanese man, with sad eyes and a proud demeanor that radiated the mysterious wisdom of the East. He soon became the colorful guest and raconteur everyone wanted at their parties because this charismatic celebrity was the very embodiment of Japan in dress, manner, and the ritual serving of tea. Okakura was born in Japan’s port city of Yokohama in 1862. His first educators were American missionaries, and he read English before Japanese. But by…

COVER Photography by Marcy Black Simpson, food styling by Loren Wood, photo styling by Lucy Wilson. Au Jardin salad plate ($95), teacup and saucer ($155), and teapot ($569) by Bernardaud, bernardaud.fr for retailers. Bolton dessert bowl ($150 for 2) from Bromberg’s at The Summit, 205-969-1776. CONTENTS Page 3: Great White teacups ($5) and Tava napkin ring ($39 for 6) from Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, potterybarn.com. Tag Whiteware teapot ($15), Bandana place mat ($5), and Bandana napkin ($4) from Tag, 509-966-2009, taghomedecor.com. Tiny blue and white bins ($25) from The Macbeth Collection, 877-227-0401, themacbethcollection.com. MASTHEAD Darley Abbey dinner plate ($135), fluted dessert plate ($180), cup ($95), and saucer ($60) by Royal Crown Derby, royalcrownderby.co.uk. COME FOR TEA Page 8: Noritake Crestwood Cobalt Platinum 5-piece place setting ($69.95) and teapot ($139.95) from Replacements,…

july 10 & 11 3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival 10:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Historic Locust Grove Louisville, Kentucky Mark your calendars to attend the 3rd Annual Jane Austen Festival in Louisville, Kentucky. Several activities will be offered, including Regency-era workshops, talks, and demonstrations and a silent auction for Jane Austen books, movie memorabilia, and tea-themed baskets, among other items. Attendees can enjoy a four-course afternoon tea each day for $20 per person. Admission to the festival is $10. Learn more about this weekend and the other activities available by calling 502-897-9845 or at jasnalouisville.com. 13 2nd Annual Classic International Tea and Sweets Pairing 7:00 p.m. Gong Fu Tea Des Moines, Iowa Join the proprietors of Gong Fu Tea as they showcase classic tea and dessert pairings from four different…

Fireworks, friends, and wonderful food all mark the Fourth of July. In the heat of the summer, we come together to remember our country’s Independence Day with a variety of festivities. Whether you host a formal dinner for your friends or a casual afternoon tea for family or you want to set a companion children’s table for younger guests, these patriotic tablescapes are great ways to show your respect for the red, white, and blue. classically elegant For a classic and sophisticated gathering, a table that is both stylish and inviting is a must. Understated yet chic china with festive colors and small details lends an elegant air to this Fourth of July dinner. Paired with a complementary redpatterned runner atop a white tablecloth, the delicate silver, blue, and white…

Laughter and conversation flow easily around the table when people are enjoying a well-planned tea party. If you are thinking of hosting such a gathering, be sure to know which type of tea party plan to host, be it an afternoon tea or a high tea. Though these terms are often used interchangeably, they are actually distinctly different. Delectable scones, tea sandwiches, and cakes are the hallmark of an afternoon tea, which is served in midafternoon. A high tea, however, includes much more substantive fare, such as meat, fish, and egg dishes, as well as breads and desserts, and is offered in the early evening. Further, afternoon teas, also known as “low teas,” were most often taken at a low table, like a coffee table in the sitting room before…

A summer staple, peaches take center stage in our Gingery Peach Scones. These tasty scones are infused with peach nectar and packed full of dried peaches. Bites of candied ginger within the dough and the crunch of almonds baked on top of the scones are delightful and add more layers of flavor to this teatime star. For a fun twist, take the Gingery Peach Scones to the next level with our recipe for Peach Scone Cobbler. Served warm with a sweet garnish of whipped cream and a bite of fresh mint, this summertime dessert is a perfect finale to your teatime or can simply be enjoyed as a sumptuous treat. Sit outside on your porch, enjoy the beautiful weather, and sink your spoon into this bowl full of fresh peaches.…

SEEING STARS Mix up a delicious dessert in Tag, Ltd.’s Stars & Stripes Fluted Mixing Bowls, and catch any spills with a cheery star-themed dish towel also from Tag, Ltd. ($10 to $50, taghomedecor.com or 509-996-2009) Stir your yummy creation with one of Jonathan’s Wild Cherry Spoons, handcrafted in Pennsylvania. ($18, woodspoon.com or 800-776-6853) PATRIOTIC POLKA DOTS Serve your guests a festive afternoon tea with this charming porcelain teapot, accompanied by adorable dessert plates, teacups, and saucers, all covered in red dots. (From $40, rosannainc.com or 877-343-3779) LIGHT UP THE NIGHT Filter candlelight in red, white, and blue through these handmade Patriotic Mosaic Glass Tealights and Votives by Tag, Ltd. ($3 to $7.50, taghomedecor.com or 509-996-2009) BEAUTIFUL BLENDS Brew a pot of tea your friends will be sure to enjoy.…

THE SHRILL WHISTLING of a kettle sounds the prelude of an early-morning cup of tea, an afternoon break, or an after-dinner gathering with friends. A fixture on the stove top for generations, the kettle has long been a treasured piece of the tea experience. Yet the kettle shape and its trademark whistle are only part of this tea ware’s appeal. The earliest teakettles date back hundreds of years, used as they are today for heating water. The hefty, durable cast-iron kettles of old didn’t whistle, but they withstood open flames and kept water hot whether for cooking, warming bath water, or making warm beverages. More modern stove-top varieties were constructed of copper and later, stainless steel. Manufacturers enhanced them with decorative implements, like porcelain and ergonomic handles, leading to their…

ONE OF THE MOST SATISFYING ASPECTS OF THE START OF SUMMER is enjoying the bounty of fresh, seasonal produce—especially if you’ve grown it yourself. Tending a small edible garden is a fun way to delight in the myriad varieties of spring and summer vegetables. Lettuces, bell peppers, tomatoes, cucumbers, peas, onions, green beans, squash, and herbs are popular choices because they tend to flourish even with little gardening know-how. Utilizing these homegrown ingredients in a simple but stunning afternoon tea is the perfect way to reap the benefits of your outdoor efforts. If your backyard isn’t brimming with rows of fresh produce, a nearby farm stand or farmers’ market will offer everything you need for this summertime celebration. PARMESAN SCONES Yield: approximately 12 scones Preparation: 20 minutes Bake: 14 minutes…

Mim Enck is the tea buyer and blender for The East Indies Tea Company, a business she co-owns and runs with her husband, Walter Progner, in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. For more than 35 years, the company has supplied tea and coffee shops, natural-food stores, spas, bookstores, and other quality retailers with fine specialty teas from around the world. Their customers have learned to expect unique classic teas, as well as creative and custom tea blends, delivered with warm, intensely personalized service. Mim was born in Lancaster into an old-order Mennonite family who operated a hospitality business. When she left the community, she spent five months on the road savoring the sights and sampling regional cuisine throughout the United States and Canada. She toured Europe and studied tea culture in tea salons…

Striking images of 18th-century hand-colored engravings of green tea, 19th-century ceramic Japanese tea bowls, and even 18th-century British political cartoons are just a few of the examples of art that grace the pages of Steeped in History: The Art of Tea. This coffee-table-worthy tome accompanied a multimonth exhibition devoted to the art and history of tea at the Fowler Museum at the University of California–Los Angeles in 2009. Full of fascinating pictures, this tribute to tea is a must for those interested in learning more about the background of their best-loved beverage. Edited by Beatrice Hohenegger, Steeped in History opens with her introduction to teatime. She notes that the Chinese considered tea a daily staple and one of their seven necessities of life, included with such essentials as fuel, rice,…