Table of contents for March - April 2014 in TeaTime

Last spring, my dear friend Sue told me about a tea-of-themonth club membership one of her sons had recently given her. She said she had really enjoyed all the teas she had received, except for the last one—a green tea. She characterized it as the worst she had ever tasted. Since I’m quite a fan of green tea, I knew it was likely that she had not prepared it properly. And, indeed, that was the case. I explained that using 160° to 175° water and infusing the leaves for only 2 to 3 minutes would yield a much better cup of tea. The following day, she called me to say that she was going to prepare that tea according to my directions. When the phone rang about 10 minutes later,…

A bird in the hand Stylized birds in Newport blue adorn these elegant note cards from Crane & Co. ($19 for a set of 10, crane.com or 800-268-2281) A charming nest egg Pretty, scented soaps in pink or blue, resting in their own nests, are the perfect favor. ($2.29 each, buybuybaby.com or 877-328-9222) The Bluebird of Happiness Sipping your morning cup of tea from these fine-china cups will surely start the day on a happy note. In cobalt blue or turquoise. ($16.95 each, svtea.com or 800-282-8327) Take-along teatime fun Delight a child with this petite tea set decorated with birds. The pink wicker basket holds a teapot, a sugar bowl, a creamer, and two sets each of plates, cups, saucers, spoons, and forks. ($32.95, svtea.com or 800-282-8327) A pair of…

Poppy Seed Scones Yield: 19 scones Preparation: 20 minutes Bake: 13 to15 minutes 1½ cups cake flour, such as Swans Down ¼ cup sugar 1¼ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon cream of tartar ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ cup cold salted butter, cut into pieces 1 tablespoon poppy seeds ½ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 recipe Lime Curd (recipe follows) • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt, whisking to blend. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Add poppy seeds, stirring to combine. • In a liquid measuring cup, combine ½ cup…

Driving across the state of Georgia along Interstate 20 can be a long, tiring trip, especially if you pass through Atlanta during rush hour. But for tea lovers, Greensboro, just 75 miles east of Atlanta, offers a welcome respite—The Potted Geranium Tea Parlor. This elegant tearoom is the brainchild of owner Laura Kanitra, a New York native who has been transplanted to the South. Her passion for tea began while she was growing up in Queens, New York—her mother added spoonfuls of tea to her milk. But Laura didn’t develop an obsession with tea until years later when she was working as a flight attendant for PEOPLExpress, flying regularly between Newark, New Jersey, and London. During layovers in the British capital, she fell in love with the local custom of…

A treasured tradition was created the day I opened a gift from my dear friend Nancy Allen, intended not for my newborn granddaughter, but for me, a first-time grandmother. She had sent the special grandma gift to congratulate me on my new title. It would set the stage for a special ritual my granddaughter and I would share for many years—teatime together. The beautifully wrapped box held a diminutive wicker suitcase. Nestled inside was a charming tea set. My friend envisioned my granddaughter and me sitting at a small table, wearing hats and sipping tea, sharing giggles and memorable moments. As my granddaughter, Anamaria, grew, anticipation of our first official tea party energized me. When she reached age 2½, I felt she was old enough to appreciate her first tea…

Downton is tops with TeaTime readers “Received the Downton Abbey edition of TeaTime magazine today. My favorite magazine, my favorite TV show, and a cup of tea. These are a few of my favorite things!” KIMBERLY ONDER via Facebook “Since reading the article about the Downton Abbey tea menu [in the January/February 2014 issue], I’m thinking of getting the DVDs and becoming a fan. I’m already a big fan of your magazine.” JOANNE SALIANI via Facebook When gluten-free is a treat “I was recently diagnosed by a gastroenterologist as having a nonceliac gluten sensitivity, and I can no longer eat wheat or gluten. Imagine my delight when I remembered that you have been publishing one gluten-free recipe in your magazine each month. … Thank you for your lovely publication. I…

1 Bangkok | HARNEY & SONS The package says Bangkok is like ‘a journey through the soul of Thailand,’ and I agree. I especially like the hints of lemongrass, ginger, and coconut.” —Janet Lambert, Test Kitchen Professional 2 Japanese Sencha Kyoto Estate Green GRACE TEA COMPANY Like any good Sencha should be, this tea is sweet and herby like spinach. It’s very pleasant and refreshing.” —Cailyn Haynes, Art Director 3 Gyokuro | CHADO This delicious high-grade tea is delicate yet complex with a natural sweetness and light, vegetal undertone.” —Daniel Ritter, Account Manager 4 Gu Zhang Mao Jian Organic Green Tea SIMPSON & VAIL Considered one of China’s rare and legendary teas, this Gu Zhang Mao Jian lives up to its reputation and yields flavor notes that are slightly nutty…

TEA sommelier Choose a spring-inspired infusion, such as this delightful offering from Tea by Two, to serve with our lemony gluten-free scones. To order, go to teabytwo.com, or call 410-838-8611. Razzleberry Lemon-Ginger Flowers Yield: 15 scones Preparation: 35 minutes Bake: 15 to 17 minutes Cool: 15 minutes 1½ cups gluten-free flour* ⅓ cup sugar 1½ teaspoons baking powder ¼ teaspoon salt 3 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces 3 tablespoons finely minced crystalized ginger 2 teaspoons fresh lemon zest ¾ cup plus 2 tablespoons cold heavy whipping cream ¼ teaspoon lemon extract 1 recipe Sugar Glaze (recipe follows) Garnish: crystalized ginger • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt,…

March 4 & 11 Royal English Tea Service 2:00 p.m. Powel Crosley Estate Sarasota, Florida Experience a British tradition that began during the reign of Queen Victoria—the Royal English Tea Service—at Seagate, the former estate of Florida industrialist Powel Crosley, overlooking Sarasota Bay. Local catering company Simply Gourmet will re-create the atmosphere of the Buckingham Palace tea Queen Elizabeth hosts each year. Enjoy culinary delights, and savor a properly brewed cup of English tea. Tickets are $32. Call 941-225-9122 for reservations and more information. 15 & 16 Irish Farmhouse Tea 11:00 a.m. (Saturday) and 1:00 p.m. (Sunday) Miss Spenser’s Special-Teas New Virginia, Iowa Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in a cozy farmhouse, and enjoy a fun cup of Irish “tay.” Listen to interesting folklore and tales while you savor a delicious…

My first experience with matcha green tea occurred, of all places, along the shores of a lake at Georgia’s Callaway Gardens. As our family enjoyed a spring morning bike ride that took us through brilliant groves of blooming azaleas and dogwoods, we encountered a Japanese tea master and her students seated on a log, where they enjoyed an alfresco tea ceremony. We were immediately invited to share a bowl of frothy green matcha, whisked just for us. The deep green tea was a bit bitter, quite vegetative, and as aromatic as newly mown alfalfa. After a moment of animated instruction and lots of encouragement, we downed the communal cups to the delight of our smiling hosts. Whipped powdered green tea became fashionable in Japan, beginning in the 10th century. This…

Easter is a time for rejoicing, and our simple but elegant menu—featuring traditional favorites such as deviled eggs, ham and cucumber tea sandwiches, and chocolate—is sure to enchant your guests on this special day. TEA sommelier Delight your guests with an assortment of stellar teas from Capital Teas to perfectly complement this Eastertide menu. These recommendations are available at capital teas.com or by calling 888-484-8327. SCONE COURSE: Mango Sunny Passion SAVORIES COURSE: Thai Lemongrass Oolong SWEETS COURSE: Chesapeake Sunrise Lemon-Coconut Scones Yield: 17 scones Preparation: 25 minutes Bake: 17 to 18 minutes ½ cup sweetened flaked coconut 2 cups all-purpose flour ⅓ cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh lemon zest 2½ teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces ¾ cup plus 3 tablespoons cold heavy…

Tea found its way into Ireland in the 17th century. Yet because of the exorbitant cost, it was considered to be a luxury beverage and was drunk only in upper-class homes. By the second half of the 19th century, as British-grown tea from the colonies became more available and prices gradually reached a level that made it affordable to the entire population, sturdy black tea taken with creamy milk became the standard daily refreshment. Today, favorite blends balance rich robust Assams with powerful Ceylon and punchy Kenyan black teas. The Irish drink between four and six cups of tea a day—more per capita than anywhere else in the world. Cups of tea punctuate the social round—tea at breakfast, tea midmorning, afternoon tea between 3:00 and 5:00, high tea as an…

Manelle Martino didn’t set out to start a tea company. The New York native, who is now chairman of Annapolis, Maryland–based Capital Teas, was working for a dot-com company in 2006 when a random conversation changed her life. The origins of Manelle’s life in tea go back five generations to her great-great-grandfather Francis Van Ryk. A Dutch immigrant, he was among the first tea-estate managers in the late 1800s to plant tea in the thendeveloping tea region of Ceylon, now known as Sri Lanka. His descendants have been involved in the tea trade for more than 120 years. His great-great-granddaughter Manelle was not one of them, that is, until the death of her grandmother brought family members from around the world together for her funeral. One of these was Manelle’s…

Flowers by FlowerBuds, Inc. 205-970-3223. COVER Photography by Mac Jamieson and photo styling by Lucy W. Herndon. Schumann Empress Dresden Flowers teapot ($399.95); Schumann Chateau Dresden cup and saucer ($49.99). * Classic linen napkin ($36 for a set of 4) from Pottery Barn, 888-779-5176, potterybarn.com. TITLE PAGE Page 2: Schumann Chateau Dresden salad plate ($69.95) and cup and saucer ($49.99).* MASTHEAD Page 5: Schumann Chateau Dresden salad plate ($69.95) and cup and saucer ($49.99).* Herend Princess Victoria dinner plate ($110); Towle Old Master knife ($160) and spoon ($210).† Tea strainer from private collection. COME FOR TEA Page 7: Herend Windsor Garden dessert plate ($125) and bread and butter plate ($95), 800-643-7363, herendusa.com. Mottahedeh Apple Lace dinner plate ($55) and tea for two ($340), 800-443-8225, mottahedeh.com. Fino Lino place mats ($100 for a set…