Table of contents for March - April 2015 in TeaTime

The colorful blooms in chintz-patterned tea wares are cheery reminders of warmer weather to come. Ideal for teatime year-round, these popular designs are especially nice during springtime. Easter Time, which begins on page 40 of this issue, showcases this collectible china, along with a delightful menu to celebrate the holiday. A seasonally appropriate pansy-inspired tea (page 32) makes the most of these cool-weather blossoms on contemporary china, while Lion and Lamb Tea (page 23) offers an elegant interpretation of the adage “March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb.” Whether you favor chintz patterns or simpler ones, this issue offers tasty inspiration for the coming season. In Australia and New Zealand, where seasons are opposite ours, afternoon tea is experiencing increased popularity. Contributing editor Jane Pettigrew…

Stylish Service Use these lovely silver-plated tongs to serve sugar cubes with elegance at your next tea party. ($6.50; svtea.com or 800-282-8327) Cozy Up Keep tea at an ideal drinking temperature by wrapping your teapot with this charming tea cozy by Thistledown Cozies. ($26; mainstreet-store.com or 909-223-0680) Steep and Strain This teapot by finum, made of high-quality German porcelain and equipped with a built-in infuser basket, offers a delightful mess-free way to steep a delicious pot of tea. ($59.95; amazon.com) Classic Look These simple white napkins are versatile and well suited for any teatime, and dainty lace trim adds a sophisticated touch. ($24.95 for set of 4; surlatable.com or 800-243-0852) Displaying Treats for Tea Follow afternoon-tea tradition by arranging your fare on a three-tiered server in a pretty toile design.…

Photography by William Dickey / Tea Pairings by Capital Teas TEA sommelier Delight your teatime guests with a trio of offerings from Capital Teas, ideally suited to each course of this menu. To purchase, visit one of Capital Teas’ 14 locations, go to capitalteas.com, or call 888-484-8327. SCONE COURSE: Monk’s Blend Organic SAVORIES COURSE: Cherry Blossom Rose Sencha Organic SWEETS COURSE: Coconut Chai Rooibos Organic Poppyseed-Orange Scones Yield: 12 scones | Preparation: 25 minutes Bake: 13 minutes 2 cups cake flour, such as Swans Down ⅓ cup sugar 1 tablespoon fresh orange zest 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon poppy seeds ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to…

SHERATON ON THE PARK 161 Elizabeth Street • Sydney, NSW 2000 800-325-3535 (from the U.S.) sheratonontheparksydney.com The sumptuous Sheraton on the Park, in the heart of Sydney’s central business district, offers intimate views of Hyde Park’s lush trees from many of its guestrooms and from The Gallery Tea Lounge. In this comfortable, uncluttered setting away from the city’s hustle and bustle, visitors can enjoy the hotel’s signature Fashion High Tea, which features a threetiered stand of handmade savories and sweet pastries accompanied by a selection of Twinings fine-leaf or Penelope Sach organic herbal tea. SHANGRI-LA HOTEL, SYDNEY 176 Cumberland Street, The Rocks Sydney, NSW 2000 • 866-565-5050 (from the U.S.) • shangri-la.com/sydney The luxurious Shangri-La Hotel, Sydney, in Sydney’s historic district The Rocks, offers tremendous views of the harbor and…

Yarn and Tea How often I’ve sat with a knitting or crocheting project, a cup of tea beside me, wishing I could combine my two favorite things professionally! Your feature on yarn and tea shops, “Warm and Cozy,” in the January/February 2015 issue, made me want to hop on a plane to Washington and visit each of them. Instead, I downloaded the tea cozy pattern graciously shared by Patricia McHugh from The Tea Cozy Yarn Shop, and made one for my favorite Christmas teapot. It was the perfect little project to relax with during the hectic holiday season. Since Editor Lorna Reeves shared the photo of the stunning sweater her mother made for her, I’m sharing a photo of my new tea cozy. Thank you for a lovely magazine! ANDREA…

1. Kamairicha CAMELLIA SINENSIS “This tea has a pleasant nutty aroma and flavor with a slightly sweet aftertaste.” —Cailyn Haynes, Art Director 2. Ginger Orange Green Tea ELMWOOD INN FINE TEAS “The contrast of the sweetness of orange with the bite of ginger makes a delicious green tea blend.” —Lucy W. Herndon, Stylist 3. Lime Blossom THE OCTAVIA TEA COMPANY “I love the flavor of lime in this tea; it’s bright and fresh. I think it would be nice iced with a little sugar.” —Janet Lambert, Test Kitchen Professional 4. Boulder Blues THE TEA SPOT “Light flavors of rhubarb and strawberry enhance this delicious blend of Japanese Sencha and Chinese Dragonwell.” —Kellie Grammer, Editorial Assistant 5. Fiji Green Tea SERENDIPITEA “I like the smell of this wonderful tropical fruit tea.…

Pho tography by Mac Jamieson Tea Pairings by Simpson & Vail “March comes in like a lion,” or so they say. But even if it is still cold and blustery outside, the promise of a new season is just around the corner. Anticipate its arrival with our Lion and Lamb Tea. We’ve created a springlike atmosphere with vintage hand-painted Minton china and lavish bouquets of fresh flowers. Clever touches like lamb’s ear foliage in these centerpieces and lions’ heads on the napkin rings and soup bowls carry through the theme. Think warm thoughts, and it won’t be long before March “goes out like a lamb.” TEA sommelier Welcome springtime with a tea to accompany each course of this tea luncheon menu. To purchase, go to svtea.com, or call 800-282-8327. SCONE…

Photography by Marcy Black Simpson / Tea Pairings by Grace Tea Company TEA sommelier Delight your Easter guests with an impressive selection of teas from Grace Tea Company to accompany each course. Go online to gracetea.com or call 978-635-9500 to order. SCONE COURSE: Dragonwell Green Premium Long Jing SAVORIES COURSE: China Keemun Spring Mao Feng SWEETS COURSE: China Oolong Fine Ti Kuan Yin Raspberry-Mint Scones Yield: 14 scones | Preparation: 20 minutes Bake: 20 minutes 2 cups all-purpose flour ⅓ cup sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces ¾ cup freeze-dried raspberries, such as Just Raspberries 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh mint ¾ cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided ½ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. •…

• Once home to 10 colonial governors, Old Government House in Parramatta sits on 200 acres of parkland and is Australia’s oldest public building. High Tea is served on the grounds of this National Trust park in Lachlan’s Restaurant and Café (lachlans.com.au) in the historic Garrison Building. • Prato Café and Diner (pratocafediner.com.au) in Abbotsford offers a classic High Tea in a heritage-listed building overlooking picturesque gardens. The building was once the clubhouse of the largest chocolate factory in the Southern Hemisphere. • The Victoria Room Bar & Restaurant (thevictoriaroom.com) in Darlinghurst serves weekend High Teas in a plush Victorian setting with a choice of traditional, children’s, dairyfree, gluten-free, vegetarian, or vegan menus. • Just northwest of Hyde Park, The Tea Centre (theteacentre.com.au) sells a colorful selection of tea ware…

Brewing tea with herbs from my own garden is a reminder that herb plants have a connection to the past. The British government taxed tea for export to the new world, which prompted the colonists to use other herbs instead. When I think of infusing herbs, the mint family immediately comes to mind. If you incorporate mint into your “tea” garden, plant this highly invasive plant in a container. There are many mints from which to choose—apple, orange, spearmint, peppermint, and pineapple. My favorites to dry are orange mint and apple mint. Bee balm is also a member of the mint family. Also known as bergamot and Monarda, its tubular flowers appear in clusters in shades of pink, rose, scarlet, mahogany, deep lavender, or white. Butterflies, hummingbirds, and bees flock…

March 5, 12 & 19 Royal English Tea Service 2:00 p.m. Powel Crosley Estate Sarasota, Florida Experience the Royal English Tea Service—a British tradition that began during the reign of Queen Victoria—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 tea Queen Elizabeth hosts each year at Buckingham Palace. Enjoy culinary delights, and savor a properly brewed cup of English tea. Tickets are $32. Call 941-225-9122 for reservations and more information. 21 & 22 Coffee & Tea Festival NYC 11:30 to 5:00 p.m. Brooklyn Expo Center Brooklyn, New York The Coffee & Tea Festival NYC moves to the borough of Brooklyn in 2015. Come experience this international extravaganza that celebrates all things coffee and tea.…

Tea’s renaissance can, in large part, be attributed to the need for ritual in our lives. This ceremonial aspect of the tea event—whether the Japanese tea ceremony, afternoon tea, or simply sharing a pot of tea with a friend—is the reason I often speak of the celebration of tea. James Norwood Pratt shares this idea. He writes, “Celebrating afternoon tea, like the making of the beverage, calls for a certain amount of ceremony. This is because tea is preeminently a social beverage, and any social situation calls for manners. In fact, the ceremonies of teatime can raise our manners to the pinnacle of refinement.” For more than two decades, Norwood and I have proclaimed that the tea ceremony is an exchange of simple courtesies and the sharing of a simple…

Tea Pairing by Global Tea Mart TEA sommelier Accompany this flavorful scone with an exquisite oolong tea, such as this offering from Global Tea Mart, available at globalteamart.com or by calling 888-209-4223. Black Dragon Oolong Lemon-Poppyseed Scones Yield: 16 scones Preparation: 25 minutes Bake: 18 to 20 minutes 2 cups gluten-free all-purpose flour* ⅓ cup sugar 1 tablespoon poppy seeds 2 teaspoons baking powder 1 teaspoon fresh lemon zest ½ teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold salted butter, cut into pieces 1 cup plus 1 tablespoon cold heavy whipping cream, divided 1 teaspoon lemon extract ¼ teaspoon vanilla extract • Preheat oven to 350°. • Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment paper. Set aside. • In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, lemon zest, and salt,…

Nestled on the sandy shores of a shimmering blue harbor with the iconic white-tiled Opera House glistening beneath a host of skyscrapers, Sydney, Australia, is one of the most celebrated and beautiful cities in the world. It is also the largest, oldest, and most cosmopolitan city—and the heart and soul—of this fun-loving nation. English culture was introduced here when the First Fleet dropped anchor near Circular Quay, the city’s central ferry hub, in 1788. That culture included the royal tradition of afternoon tea. Today, many of Sydney’s tea venues are reinventing this ritual. The result is a uniquely Australian experience that reflects the casual culture and the fresh, local ingredients their creative chefs are incorporating into the cuisine. So after boogie boarding at Bondi Beach, wandering the Royal Botanic Gardens,…

It can take a long time to realize the dreams of our youth, but that doesn’t mean we should give up on them, successful business owner Marian Caso tells women’s groups. It took Marian more than 40 years to turn her childhood love of tea into the reality of owning a tearoom. But the proprietor of Lady Bedford’s Tea Parlour in Pinehurst, North Carolina, says it was well worth the journey. Marian grew up in California in a home where her parents never drank coffee. “We only had tea in our house,” she recalls. But she didn’t fall in love with the ritual of afternoon tea until her great-aunt Helen Martyn treated her and her sister to the experience at Marshall Field’s in Chicago. As a preteen, Marian thought the…

COVER Bernardaud Pensees cup and saucer ($360 for a 5-piece place setting) and rectangular platter ($175), 212-371-4300, bernardaud.com. Royal Crown Derby Carlton Green teapot ($269.95) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. TITLE PAGE Page 2: James Kent Dubarry cup and saucer ($99.95) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. MASTHEAD Page 5: James Kent Dubarry salad plate ($59.99) and cup and saucer ($99.95); Alvin Chateau Rose flatware ($209.95 for a 5-piece place setting) from Replacements, Ltd., 800-REPLACE, replacements.com. Herend Golden Edge dinner plate ($75), 800-643-7363, herendusa.com. Festival place mat ($58 for a set of 4) from Sferra, 877-336-2003, sferra.com. OUR FAVORITES: GREEN TEAS Page 15: All cups and saucers from Bromberg’s, 205-871-3276, brombergs.com. 1—Waechtersbach USA Renaissance Celadon Gold cup and saucer ($199); Kamairicha ($13.54 for a 1.76-ounce package) from Camellia Sinensis, 514-286-4002, camelliasinensis.com.…