Table of contents for September - October 2010 in TeaTime

Celebrate autumn! The vibrant colors of the season fill me with a sense of awe. They seem to beckon me to steep a pot of tea and linger at the window or on the porch, taking in the beautiful view as I sip. It’s only natural to bring those golden hues to our tea tables during this time of year, whether in the centerpiece, the tableware, or the food, as we enjoy time together over an afternoon snack. And this issue is filled with inspiration and infusions to make your autumn teatime a memorable experience. From our seasonally appropriate tea menu to a scrumptious butternut scone to a clever mystery-lover’s afternoon, you’ll find many reasons to celebrate the season. Pink is one of my favorite colors. Though it’s not traditionally…

Water accounts for 98.5 percent of the volume in a cup of tea, so the quality of the water you use is equally as important as the quality of your tea. You could steep fantastic teas in poor water, and the result would always be less than perfect. Students of tea have been aware of water’s importance in the art of making good tea since Lu Yu, author of Ch’a Ching, in A.D. 780 stumbled upon a glorious spring whose water was extremely clear and clean. He brewed tea with this spring water and found that the tea tasted unexpectedly better than usual. Even the early settlers of Manhattan had designated “tea-water pumps” to be used only for drawing water for making tea. Most Americans are fortunate to have safe…

Some people like nothing better than reading a good mystery. Maxine Holmgren took this one step further. She had experienced a “disaster” of a mystery dinner party with some fellow members of the Sun City Players Group, a local theatre troupe she has been involved with for more than 10 years in Sun City, California. Her group found the dinner mystery play and clues confusing and hard to follow. It was then that she decided to try her hand at writing one. “I thought I should do something just for women, and what better than a tea party?” Maxine explains. Setting pen to paper, she came up with Who Killed the Darling Duke of Darjeeling? and a business was born. Her idea was so successful that word traveled, and soon…

Can tea be trendy? Kiley Holliday, 30—the youngest female certified Tea Master in the country—thinks so. Along with restaurateur Nicky Dawda (a former yoga student of hers), she has launched her own gourmet tea line, l’Âge de Th é. And her transition from yoga instructor to Tea Master seems as natural as the transition of tea into mainstream culture. “Tea drinking is on the rise in the United States mostly because people are becoming aware of the health benefits,” says Kiley. Adult tea parties, she adds, are becoming social events. Kiley is passionate about her product, traveling the globe choosing new ingredients and creating her own blends. Her tea shop, Bosie, opens on Morton Street in the West Village neighborhood of New York City this fall. Q: What was the…

september 11 & 12 Gone with the Wind Tea 2:00 to 3:30 p.m. David Davis Mansion State Historic Museum Bloomington, Illinois Fans of Gone with the Wind will enjoy this teatime inspired by the popular novel and movie—complete with movie facts, trivia, and prizes—hosted by The Tea Ladies, Inc. Attendees can come dressed as their favorite character for the dessert tea to be served in the formal parlor of the David Davis Mansion. Cost is $20 per person, and prepaid reservations are required. Find out more by calling 309-827-2200, or visit thetealadiesinc.com. 18 Four Seasons Tea 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. Historic Washington State Park Washington, Arkansas This seasonal event focuses on inspiration, quilts, and tea. Guests recall favorite memories and lessons learned while enjoying or creating a heritage quilt and…

What could be more enjoyable than curling up with a good book and a hot cup of tea— when the book is an entertaining tea-shop mystery, of course. New York Times best-selling author Laura Childs sets her popular Tea Shop Mystery series in Charleston, South Carolina. It’s a place full of Southern history and intrigue and perfect for a little sleuthing by Theodosia Browning, local Indigo Tea Shop owner with a flair for trouble and a nose for crooks. Childs’s newest novel in the series, The Teaberry Strangler (The Berkley Publishing Group, 2010), is filled with action from the beginning. Everyone is put on edge when a “back-alley crawl,” where shop owners invite customers in for food, refreshments, and special prices, ends with Theodosia witnessing a back-alley murder. The body…

COLORFUL BREW Steep a colorful tea, such as Cherryberry Green Tea by Zhena’s Gypsy Tea, in this adorable glass teapot from Little Angels Galleries. A portion of the proceeds go to breastcancer programs. Zhena’s Gypsy Tea is a partner of The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and a minimum of 85 cents of every dollar goes to research and awareness programs. ($9.95 and $29.95; gypsytea.com and angelsgalleries.com) BURNING BRIGHT Light a candle in support of breast-cancer research. Archipelago’s Ribbons of Love Glass Jar Candle is a lovely scent of pink grapefruit, clementine, and pomelo, as well as a great way to donate money to The City of Hope and other research institutions. ($17.50; archipelagousa.com) SHADES OF PINK Brew a delicious pot of tea, and help the fight against breast cancer at…

The teapot is a simple vessel—short and stout, with its handle and spout, as the childhood song indicates. A teapot doesn’t have to be beautiful, whimsical, or ornate to quietly steep tea while simultaneously holding the heat of the water. But variations in the teapot’s composition, shape, and design certainly add to its charm, giving it a side job as either a cherished family heirloom or a fanciful addition to a treasured collection. The teapot’s roots date to the fourth century, when the ewer was used to hold and transport water. This decorative pitcher evolved to become a piece of art, showcasing a unique craftsmanship and growing in popularity as a commonly used container. The ewer may have influenced Chinese pottery, as local potters fashioned pitchers of stoneware while also…

Can tea be trendy? Kiley Holliday, 30—the youngest female certified Tea Master in the country— thinks so. Along with restaurateur Nicky Dawda (a former yoga student of hers), she has launched her own gourmet tea line, l’Âge de Th é. And her transition from yoga instructor to Tea Master seems as natural as the transition of tea into mainstream culture. “Tea drinking is on the rise in the United States mostly because people are becoming aware of the health benefits,” says Kiley. Adult tea parties, she adds, are becoming social events. Kiley is passionate about her product, traveling the globe choosing new ingredients and creating her own blends. Her tea shop, Bosie, opens on Morton Street in the West Village neighborhood of New York City this fall. She served as…

THE SWEET AND NUTTY TASTE of butternut squash lends itself well to a toothsome treat. Cut into maple-leaf shapes, these memorable autumnal scones are served with flavorful Bacon-Sage Butter. Take a break from your day to enjoy the gorgeous fall foliage while sipping a cup of your favorite tea and savoring one (or two) of these delicious scones. butternut squash scones Yield: 8 to 12 scones Preparation: 40 minutes Bake: 35 to 40 minutes Cool: 5 minutes Refrigerate: 4 hours 2 ¾ cups all-purpose flour ¼ cup firmly packed light brown sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon baking soda ⅓ cup cold unsalted butter, diced 1 large egg, lightly beaten ¾ cup butternut squash puree* ⅔ cup buttermilk, divided 1 recipe Bacon-Sage Butter (recipe follows) •…

COVER Photography by Kamin H. Williams, food styling by Loren Wood, photo styling by Lucy Wilson. Philippe Deshoulieres Limoges Dhara 5-piece place setting ($400) and teapot ($450) from Bromberg’s in Mountain Brook, 205-871-3276. Gold 2-toned ruffled place mat ($22) from Lamb’s Ears Ltd, 205-969-3138, lambsearsltd.com. Floral arrangement by Park Lane Flowers, 800-721-7275. CONTENTS Page 3: Philippe Deshoulieres Limoges Dhara 5-piece place setting ($400) and teapot ($450), available through Bromberg’s in Mountain Brook, 205-871-3276. Gold 2-toned ruffled place mat ($22) from Lamb’s Ears Ltd, 205-969-3138, lambsearsltd.com. MASTHEAD Wedgwood Wild Briar 5-piece place setting ($57.99) from Replacements, 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. COME FOR TEA Page 8: Herend Rothschild Bird teapot ($420) from Bromberg’s at the Summit, 205-969-1776. Location courtesy of Miss Rosemarie’s Special Teas Salon & Shoppe, 5299 Valleydale Road, Suite 121, Birmingham, AL…