Table of contents for July - August 2016 in TeaTime

In addition to the pure pleasure drinking a cup of tea can bring, I cherish the relationships I have developed as a result of partaking of afternoon tea. There is just something meaningful about chatting over a steaming cup and delicious teatime treats. In this issue, you will find delightful menus and inspiration for summertime tea parties you can host for those you hold dear. Joyful tea moments extend as well to my trips to festivals and trade shows where I’ve sipped flavorful infusions and shared meaningful conversations. It was at the Los Angeles International Tea Festival a few years ago that I got to know founders Devan Shah and his wife, Reena. Pillars of the tea industry, this couple have also supported other festivals throughout the United States. They…

July 9 Queen’s Garden Party 6:00 p.m. Erika’s Tea Room Clermont, Florida Kick off summer the way the Queen does it—with a grand garden party at Erika’s Tea Room! Enjoy a five-course dinner, five teas, scrumptious cakes, and beautiful flowers. Dress in your tea-party finest, and don’t forget the white gloves! The cost is $30 per person, and reservations are required. For reservations, please call 908-670-2305, or visit erikastearoom.com. 9 Winnie the Pooh Tea 2:00 p.m. Miss Spenser’s Special-Teas Tearoom New Virginia, Iowa Celebrate bees, honey, and Winnie the Pooh, the golden bear who continues to steal the hearts of young and old alike. A lovely traditional afternoon tea will be served, infused with a touch of honey, of course! Although Winnie the Pooh is considered a children’s classic, this…

Just as Americans have refined their hot tea ritual, we are beginning to brush up on our iced tea–making skills as well. Pitchers of weak tea made with grocery-brand tea bags and sweetened with copious cups of white sugar have become passé. Here are a few suggestions that will leave your guests asking, “How did you make that great iced tea?” 1 Think outside the tea-bag box. More than 40 percent of the tea imported into America each year comes from Argentina, where fields of tea bushes are mechanically harvested to make a bagged tea that is inexpensive, quick to steep, and light in color. Consider starting with a full-leaf tea you would normally serve hot in a cup. Your guests will taste the difference because Indian, Chinese, Sri Lankan,…

Gluten-free Blueberry–Earl Grey Scones Yield: 12 1½ cups plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided 9½ teaspoons Earl Grey loose-leaf tea, divided 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour blend* 1/ ³ cup plus 1 teaspoon sugar, divided 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces ¾ cup dried blueberries ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • In a small saucepan, heat 1½ cups cream just until it begins to boil. Remove from heat, and add 9 teaspoons tea leaves. Cover, and let steep for 20 minutes. Strain and discard tea leaves. • Place infused cream in a covered container, and refrigerate until very cold, at least 6 hours. • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a…

The state of Maine is known for its craggy coastlines, as well as an abundance of old-growth forests teeming with balsam fir, northern hardwoods, and pine—impressive geographical elements that draw nature lovers and adventurers in droves. But there is a whole other side to the Down East area that appeals to those in search of delicious blends—and a few sweet treats on the side. Here, we highlight five of our favorite places for indulging in the singular serenity found only in a great cup of tea. TEA MAINEIA 115 Main Street • Winterport, ME 04496 207-223-5133 • teamaineia.com Standing amid tall cases filled with tins of tea, Dan Holmes explains that this enterprise began with wife Debbie’s love of loose-leaf tea—and the long distance she had to drive to get…

When Sandy Ramsey opened Burdett’s Tea Shop & Trading Company in Spring- field, Tennessee, in 2001, she hoped her tearoom would breathe new life into the town’s historic area. “We’re north of Nashville, and the interstates have missed us,” says Sandy. “They’re at either edge of our county, so we’re 12 miles from I-24 or I-65.” In its infancy, Burdett’s Tea Shop was open from 10:00 a.m. until 4:30 p.m., serving lunch and afternoon tea. But it quickly became apparent that residents of the agrarian county were not going to have tea at the typical time. “They were just too busy getting ready for supper,” explains Sandy. “So we refined our hours.” Opening at 11:00 a.m. and closing at 2:30 p.m. made better financial sense for the then-fledgling tea business…

Los Angeles Iced Tea Festival September 17, 2016 Japanese American National Museum • Los Angeles, CA icedteafest.com Northwest Tea Festival October 1–2, 2016 Seattle Center Fisher Pavillion • Seattle, WA nwteafestival.com  • 206-448-4054 Coffee & Tea Festival Philly November 5–6, 2016 Greater Philadelphia Expo Center • Oaks, PA coffeeandteafestival.com/philly  • 631-940-7290 Los Angeles International Tea Festival December 3–4, 2016 Japanese American National Museum • Los Angeles, CA teafestivalla.com…

Papaya-Lime Scones Yield: 11 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/3 cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 2 teaspoons fresh lime zest ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces ¾ cup chopped dried papaya, divided 1 cup cold heavy whipping cream ½ teaspoon vanilla extract 1 recipe Lime Glaze (recipe follows) • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, lime zest, and salt, whisking well. Using a pastry blender, cut butter into flour mixture until it resembles coarse crumbs. Add papaya, reserving 2 tablespoons papaya for scone centers. • In a liquid-measuring cup, combine cream and vanilla extract, stirring to blend. Add to flour mixture, stirring until mixture is evenly moist. (If…

Sweet Inspiration I always give an English tea in my garden each June for my “Soul Mates,” a singles group from my church. Last June, I used almost all of the recipes from the Jan/Feb 2014 issue. I brought out the Victoria Sponge Cake and returned with the Chocolate Biscuit Cake, announcing that our present queen must not be forgotten. My group knows that I am a real Anglophile, from my English garden to all my English garden tours and the china and accessories I use for my teas. I love TeaTime, and I always look forward to the next issue as it often transports me back to my beloved England. I have all the issues in a binder and can easily peruse them when doing a special recipe. I…

Mango Sunny Passion CAPITAL TEAS capitalteas.com • 888-484-8327 TEACUP: Royal Worcester Vine Harvest “Great hot or iced, this fruity green-tea blend has delicious mango notes at first and a sweet, pineapple taste at the end.” —Lucy Herndon, stylist Green Rose T2 t2tea.com • 800-718-4036 TEACUP: Philippe Deshoulières Chamarande “This soothing infusion is a wonderful mix of fruit and floral flavors—currants, papaya, and mango, with just a hint of rose.” —Janice Ritter, dealer program manager Mao Feng Tranquility Green MARK T. WENDELL TEA COMPANY marktwendell.com • 978-635-9200 TEACUP: Royal Worcester Bacchanal Cream “Wiry dark green leaves unfurl to yield an infusion whose notes are at once nutty, vegetal, and citral—simply marvelous!” —Lorna Reeves, editor Green Guava SIMPSON & VAIL svtea.com • 800-282-8327 TEACUP: Wedgwood Wild Strawberry “The…

Newcomers find there is a lot to like about Huntsville, Alabama, a former cotton town founded in 1805. Transformed into America’s Rocket City when German scientist Werner von Braun relocated the American space program there in the 1950s, Huntsville is now the state’s fourth largest city. A combination of high-tech jobs, good schools, and a relatively low cost of living makes it a great place to raise a family. But for the Knapp family—brother Connor, sisters MaryClaire and Brigette, and Brigette’s husband, Caleb Christopher—one thing was missing, a sense of community. “Most of the people we’ve met in Huntsville are not from here,” explains Connor. “We were looking for a way to build a sense of community.” A friend suggested they connect with people through local farmers’ markets, and that…

COVER Doily Lace three-tier glass server ($40) from Fancy Flours, 406-587-0118, fancyflours.com. Spode Stafford White salad plate ($99.95), teacup and saucer ($139.95), sugar bowl ($349.95), teapot ($599.95) from Replacements Ltd., 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. Flower arrangement from Flowerbuds, 205-970-3223, flowerbudsinc.com. TITLE PAGE Page 4 : Spode Stafford Flowers dinner plate ($219.95), Spode Stafford White salad plate ($99.95), bread and butter plate ($64.95), teacup and saucer ($139.95), creamer ($249.95), sugar bowl ($349.95) from Replacements Ltd., 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. Flower arrangement from Flowerbuds, 205-970-3223, flowerbudsinc.com. MASTHEAD Page 7 : Lenox Kate Spade Mercer Drive 5-piece place setting ($139) from Lenox, 800-223-4311, lenox.com. Navy stripe napkins ($4.95) from Pier 1, 800-245-4595, pier1.com. COME FOR TEA Page 9 : Coastline Imports Blue Toile teacup and saucer from private collection. THE COMPLETE TABLE: READY FOR A SEA CHANGE…