teaspoons & petals

tea talk: ashley english of small measure

 

Last week, I mentioned that the lovely Ashley English had featured teaspoons & petals in her weekly column on design sponge, Small Measures. (I'm still excited about this shout out! hooray!)

As an avid reader of her personal blog, Small Measure, I was familiar with her culinary abilities to craft delectable jams and jellies (not to mention the fact that she wrote a book Homemade Living: Canning & Preserving with Ashley English: All You Need to Know to Make Jams, Jellies, Pickles, Chutneys & more.)

Considering that she devoted an entire column to her love of tea and is a master when it comes to jams & jellies, I was curious to learn just a bit more. 

Without further ado, here is an interesting and delicious Q&A with Ashley English:

If you were hosting a tea party, what jams, jellies or fruit butters would you serve?

Oh, I love tea parties! The ritual of it, the slowness, the savoring...I'm ready for one right now! I would probably serve a palate-wide array of options. Alongside buttery scones and berry-riddled muffins, I'd serve something spicy, like a clove/cinnamon/nutmeg-laced apple butter, something floral, like a peach and lavender jam, something herbal, like my Meyer lemon & lemon verbena curd, and something unexpected, like a lemon/orange/grapefruit & star anise marmalade.

beyond sweet tea, Lapsang souchong & homemade chai, what other teas do you enjoy sipping?

Well, I'm sipping on my old standby, Earl Grey, right now! Otherwise, I hold a very special place in my teapot for jasmine tea. It's my go-to green tea of choice. I also enjoy Gunpowder and Sencha green teas for their grassy, yet mildly metallic flavors. Herbal tisanes and infusions are pretty big in my pantry, too. I usually brew up a large mug of nettle & red raspberry tea for sipping on throughout the day. My winter herbal tea of choice lately has been wildcrafted Douglas Fir tips-lemony and piney, at the same time.  I once found a black tea infused with rose petals that was absolutely transcendent. As you can see, I'm pretty open to almost all varieties of tea. I'm an equal-opportunity tea imbiber!

have you ever considered incorporating tea when making your jams?

I've considered it, but I've yet to do it. I've worked Earl Grey into ice cream and crème brûlée, but never into a preserve. I could see that happening in the future, though. Lapsang Souchang would also definitely take a jam to a whole different realm, too. 

do you have a favorite cup, mug or jar that you like to drink your tea from?

Yes I do! Several years ago, my husband and I attended the summer showing of the Southern Highland Craft Guild, an Asheville-based crafters organization. We found beautiful pottery from a local ceramicist, John Ransmeier, and purchased two of his mugs. They're stunning, sort of a mustard and coffee gradient blend. I do worry about breaking them, though. Fortunately, John lives nearby and sells more of his mugs at the neighboring Folk Arts Center.

tea today: spicy revelry from serendipiTea

 

while treating my taste buds to a delicious meal at Mario Batali's Babbo Ristorante, I anxiously awaited the dessert menu to see what teas he had selected to complement his savory dishes. I was delighted to see a spicy blend of Cloves, Cardamom, Ginger & Blood Orange, otherwise known as SerendipiTea's Spicy Revelry.

this tisane was flavorful and fragrant. The spices were warming and soothing after an evening of edible treats. the deep red color seemed to glow in the delicate, white teacup.

teaspoons & petals mentioned in designsponge!

Last Friday, teaspoons & petals' blog and haiku teacups were mentioned in design sponge's weekly column, small measures, written by Ashley English. Last week's featured column was appropriately titled "time for tea," as Ashley spoke of her childhood memories of sweet tea, the celebration of national hot tea month, and all of the aesthetic appeal that is associated with the ritual of tea (teaware, tea gardens, etc).

I was thrilled and honored to see that Ashley had given a nod to t&p when she noted, "Teaspoon and Petals maintains a gorgeous blog of all things tea, from artfully designed tea packaging to her own line of Etsy original haiku tea cups."

Hooray! Many thanks to Ashley for this sweet shout out! I highly recommend that you steep a cup of tea and sip while you read this fabulous piece that celebrates the small measures that make the act of tea such a wondrous experience.

come back and visit soon. I'll be sharing an interview with Ashley that takes a closer look at her love of tea...

dreaming of spring...

My dreams are still sprinkled with memories of last year's tea party at the lovely vintage boutique in Philly, Vintage Connection. Heather, VC's owner, hand selects beautiful pieces to line the exposed brick walls. I am often scouring the racks for dreamy dresses and delicate blouses that inspire a spring tea party or picnic in the park.

In an effort to beat the winter blues, I asked Heather to send me a photo of the ultimate spring tea party dress that is currently in her shop. Of course, I was giddy with spring fever when I opened my email and treated my eyes to this beautiful blue dress. Heather shared that "the dress is blue lace with a rosette from the 1950's." She had me at "the 1950's," as my vintage-loving heart skips at beat when you mention any year between the 20's and the 50's. What can I say, I'm an old soul.

Many thanks to the lovely Heather for taking the time to select the perfect spring tea party dress. And consider yourself lucky if you're a Philadelphian, because Heather is offering a special discount to teaspoons & petals' readers. Just mention "teaspoons & petals" at the register and you'll only pay $250 (it retails for $350).

Not in Philly? Head over to your nearby vintage shop and scoop up a warm-weather dress. Hang it on your wall as you sip a cup of tea and let it inspire a spring tea party, or at least suppress your winter blues.

hanging by a tea leaf...

You might have already come across this exciting tea packaging. If so, consider it a welcomed encore. If not, then treat your eyes to this inspiring tea bag design. Hanger Tea's designer, Soon Mo Kang, carefully crafted these tea filled bags to literally hang onto your cup. A companion to its delicate curves.

Beyond spicing up a normal tea bag, this particular design truly aligns with the role that tea plays in our daily lives.  We wake up every morning and choose a shirt hanging in our closet and select a tea from our collection. In essence, this playful packaging embodies a routine that is simple yet also filled with exciting colors and tastes to brighten each morning.

tea takes flight

Love at first sight. Sigh...

Russian designer, Natalia Ponomareva created this beautiful origami tea bag for a sencha & berry tea. As you steep this delicate blend, the carefully designed bag expands into the shape of the bird. As it spreads its wings to take flight from your cup, one can imagine it soaring to your senses and captivating your taste buds.

Now if only this was more than a concept design....

introducing teaspoons & petals' new teacup and winter haiku line

It's been quite a while since I've shared my tea filled thoughts with everyone. Oh how I've missed it! But during this quiet time I wandered through the land of teaware as I searched for a new cup. And I'm thrilled to announce that teaspoons & petals has a new signature cup. Hooray! This delicate little beauty will hold 8oz of your favorite tea and its curves will rest gently in your palm. Its elegant handle is roomy, allowing a few of your fingers to rest within its bends and arc.

But before you scroll down to take a closer look at the new member of the teaspoons & petals family, just let me whisper one more secret in your direction. While searching high and low for the perfect tea cup, I fed my senses musical caffeine from the lady songbirds of jazz & blues: Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington, Lena Horne, Billie Holiday and Etta James. These smoky notes inspired my newest line of haiku that features 5 haiku exploring the intimate relationship between tea and music. Each word was inspired by a sip of a nutty oolong or floral jasmine and blues notes or a jazzy scat. Hear my inspiration for yourself. So without further ado...I'd like to introduce you to Music & Tea:

nina cup

tea drips like the rain

music sheets lined with blue notes

my stormy weather

etta cup

torn between two loves

voice draws me to the record 

kettle calls me close

 

ella cup

sing dear lady blue

teapot whistles harmony

enchanting duet

 

lena cup

steam rises from tea

gently catching her soft breath

the music begins

billie cup

smoky voice lingers

steam brushing against flushed face

lost in gentle warmth

Be sure to check my etsy site shortly, as I'll be uploading the cups to my shop later today so that you can take a closer look at each musically inspired haiku. But before you go, I'd like to send some love to Courtney Apple, the fabulous photographer who creatively shot the new music & tea line. I highly recommend that you steep a fresh pot of tea and browse her online portfolio that allows viewers to see the world in a light that is hopeful, vivacious and honest. I hope you've enjoyed this sneak peek treat!

Meet Ella, Etta, Billie, Nina and Dinah...

The Meaning Of Tea

Back in the fall, I hopped on a Bolt Bus headed towards NYC to attend a private screening of The Meaning Of Tea, not yet knowing that this film would greatly deepen and grow my connection to tea. The Meaning Of Tea is “a 74-minute documentary film that travels through India, Japan, Taiwan, Morocco, England, France, Ireland, and even Tea, South Dakota to ask a variety of people about their relationship to tea as a beverage, a means of relaxation, and a way of life.”

To state it rather simply, this film intensified my love affair with tea as it explored the emotional, historical, cultural and experiential role of tea throughout the world.

Scott Hoyt, the director of this cinematic journey, notes that “In this film, I seek to capture the compelling essence of tea as philosophy, art form, and as an old tea master once said, a means to cleanse the senses. While other documentary films on tea have focused on its history or sociology, I will focus on what Suzuki calls “the spirit of tea,” the rediscovery of simplicity, harmony, purity, and reverence for life.”

I feel truly fortunate to have experienced such a defining film, as it offered me the opportunity to take a look at how those closely connected to tea viewed its deeper meaning and significance. From tea sellers and pickers, to tasters, teapot traders and plantation owners, each offered an honest insight into the complexities of this plant and beverage from a deeply emotionally perspective. Each carefully crafted and seamlessly integrated scene touched upon the ritual, history, picking, selling, buying and tasting aspects of tea. 

teaspoons & petals' tea granita recipe featured in Food Trust

Hooray! My tea granita was featured in the Food Trust's newsletter (yes, this announcement is a tad delayed as the warm weather was just fading to chilled air when it was published). For those of you not familiar with the Food Trust in Philadelphia:

"The Food Trust strives to make healthy food available to all. Working with neighborhoods, schools, grocers, farmers and policymakers, we've developed a comprehensive approach that combines nutrition education and greater availability of affordable, healthy food."

Lots of love for the Food Trust. Take a peek at the recipe featured in the newsletter right here.

tea style: leanne marshall

I often dream of the day that my closet will be filled with the elegant creations of Leanne Marshall (winner of project runway 2008). When I stumbled across this dress on her blog and in her etsy shop, I was blown away by it's delicate beauty. Even though it's designed to be a wedding dress, I've imagined wearing this to a garden tea party while serving flowering teas from large glass pots. Champagne pink roses and lilacs would be strewn about the table. Maybe I'd serve lavender cookies.

While dreaming of wearing the dress, I was inspired to write this haiku:

peony tea blooms

ivory waves of cotton

catch falling petals

tea talk: NYC sous chef Melanie Franks

While exploring the multiple ways in which I can use my tealeaves beyond the steep, I stumbled across info about environmental chemist turned sous chef with a passion for tea, Melanie Franks. After realizing her heart was in the kitchen, Melanie dove into the culinary world as a sous chef at Hook Restaurant and minibar chef at think FOOD group (Chef Jose Andres), just to name a few.

Although her passion for food spans cuisines, there is one beverage that excites Melanie’s palate. Yes, you guessed correctly, it’s tea. Beyond serving as a tea sommelier and training her staff about pairing and serving tea, she also completed all level three certification classes with the Specialty Tea Institute. Now a sous chef at NYC’s Degustation, Melanie is developing recipes that incorporate tea. How fabulous!

Lucky for me (and you), Melanie (pictured below) agreed to answer a few questions about her love of and experience with tea! Enjoy!

1. What are your top 5 favorite teas?

This is almost impossible to answer there are so many teas I love. However, there are a few favorites that I always come back to. In general, I am an Oolong girl. The complexity of flavor and aroma is unequal. From Pouchongs to Champagne, the range of oxidation levels in Oolongs creates an exceptionally pleasurable experience. I can talk endlessly about Oolongs so it is best for me to move on. Another tea I would have to mention is Silver Needles. Indeed, this tea has the power to transport me to a misty mountain day whenever I take a sip. From the leaf style to aroma, it is simply amazing. Another tea I can't live without is Puerh, because of its' distinct earthy qualities and deliciously mellow finish. There is almost a change in mood one experiences when they drink this tea. It is for this reason that I often drink Puerh after a long day at work. Pi Lo Chun, is a great tea that I revisit on a regular basis. Between the tea bushes of Pi Lo Chun apricot, plum and peach trees are planted which yields a beautiful aroma and clean finish. The last tea I will mention is Sencha. I love the oceanic quality of Sencha and brilliant color of the cup. It simply energizes me. In reality, I could easily mention a dozen more teas.

2. Do you have any favorite tea accessories?

tea granita: jasmine pearls, lavender honey & spearmint

As cooler breezes tangle with the warm air, I am beginning to feel hints of fall drawing near on a summer evening. Although as the sunshine is slipping, I am treating my taste buds to a refreshing treat that celebrates everything that is sweet in summer, a spoonful of my tea granita. Earlier this morning I soaked up the sun while walking over to my my favorite local market in Philadelphia, Headhouse Farmers' Market, to purchase the last ingredient for my tea granita, fresh mint. Although the aromas of summer's bounties lured me in for a much longer stay, as I left with the spearmint and another bag filled with sweet corn, eggplant and peaches. When I returned home, I gathered the three local ingredients needed for my summer tea granita, the spearmint from Weaver's Way Farm , a bottle of lavender honey from Busy Bee farm (purchased at last week's farmers' market), along with jasmine pearl green tea from my favorite teashop in Philly, TBar.

For those of you not familiar with this summer treat, granita is a partially frozen dessert that is usually made with sugar, water and other flavorings. I've added a bit of a twist to this traditional treat by infusing tea and using local ingredients. Jasmine Tea Granita With Lavender Honey and Spearmint:

• 5 cups of water
• 4 teaspoons of lavender honey
• 7 teaspoons of  jasmine pearls
• 2 handfuls of spearmint leaves
• teapot
• kettle
• blender
• 2 ice cube trays

Fill your tea kettle with cool water and heat it on the stove until the water begins to steam from the spout. Place 7 teaspoons of the Jasmine Pearls (hand rolled green tea that has been scented with fresh jasmine) into the tea infuser in your teapot. Pour 5 cups of the steaming water over the Jasmine Pearls (watch them delicately unfold as they release their fragrant aroma), and steep them in the teapot for 3 minutes. 

tea today: Kokomo's Pai Mu Dan Peach Blossom

Phew it's been quite the busy summer and I've fallen a bit behind on posting. Oh how I've missed sharing my tea experiences on teaspoons & petals! Although, I have been jotting down notes on new post ideas and even have a few interviews with fabulous tea people that I'll be sharing over the next few weeks...and a fabulous contest coming soon! While I've been busy writing for my clients, I've been deliciously fueled with fabulous teas perfect for summer, like Kokomo's Pai Mu Dan Peach Blossom.

Pai Mu Dan Peach Blosom Subtle and seductively sweet, Pai Mu Dan Peach Blossom will capture your heart without you even noticing. This superb white tea blend with a dash of Sencha and rose petals provides a perfect distraction from stress or when chilled, the overbearing heat of a mid-summers day. Pai Mu Dan Peach Blossom is an excellent white tea blend with a sweet, peachy aroma and flavor meant to be enjoyed both hot and chilled.

As soon as the hot water (around 190 degrees) coated the leaves, the steam gently filled my kitchen with an aroma of sweet peaches, the delicate smell of summer. The deep orange color vibrantly glowed in my glass teapot, like that of the the sun’s setting rays.

I steeped the tea for four minutes (2-6 recommended on the package). First sip, the peach flavor is fragrant and incredibly refreshing, tasting almost as if I bit into the soft flesh of a peach picked straight from the tree. The taste is smooth and slightly sweet. The white peony’s grassy undertones and floral notes blend perfectly with the peach flavor.

The floral notes from the white peony and rose petals balance nicely with the Sencha, which gives the first sip a grassy kick. Even though a 2 to 6 minutes steeping time was recommended, I was thrilled to have steeped for 4 minutes, which allowed the flavor of the white peony to bloom without oversteeping the sencha. If steeped any longer, the sencha might have become bitter and compromised the other tastes.

After each sip, the peach taste seemed to slowly build, as if it was blossoming in my mouth. When my cup was empty, the peach blossoms still lingered on my tongue .As I finished the last few sips, the white tea shared the flavor reigns, as it too took hold of my taste buds, coating my tongue with its sweet and smooth flavor. Although the white peony offered a delicate, sweet taste, it also had great body.

In an effort to sustain this white-peach-petal extravaganza, I am resteeping it and icing it down for a change. Maybe I’ll serve it in a glass pitcher with fresh peach slices tucked inside to offer a generous burst of fresh peach flavor. The perfect way to celebrate the bounty of summer’s fruit!

tea talk: George Jage, Owner of World Tea Expo

What I love most about tea is how often I find myself sharing a cup with a friend and chatting about life. Teatime offers those opportunities to just focus on friendship while sipping something truly fantastic. If alcohol is referred to as a “truth serum,” then tea is a “liquid companion,” best when shared with others.

That being said, I’ve recently had the chance to ask a handful of fabulous individuals about their experiences in the tea world. I look forward to sharing their answers that are filled to the brim with noteworthy tales and insider tea info to excite your palette and your curiosity about the world of tea.

I am honored to begin teaspoons & petals’ Tea Chat series with George Jage, owner of World Tea Expo. Many thanks to George for taking the time to share his tea insight below:

Since you have been owner of the World Tea Expo for the past 7 years, can you share a few of your favorite memories from the Expo?

Honestly, during the Expo life becomes a blur as the work our team put into planning the event comes to fruition.  One of my favorite stories never happened at the Expo.  In 2008, when we launched the World Tea Championship, TeaGschwendner won the Assam category.  Following, Charles Cain forwarded us a letter from the garden he bought the tea from.  The family had been tea growers for decades and was facing extremely difficult times.  The father told his son he had to sell the farm and would look for work elsewhere.  His son pleaded to try and hang on just a little longer, their family had been tea growers for generations and this is their craft.  After the Expo, Charles contacted them to share the news that the tea they grew on their farm and made with their skill had won the top prize in the WTC.  The reason this story is so important to me is because it is the quintessential reason I love doing what I do everyday.  We have the ability to have a profound and positive affect on people’s lives all over the world.  It also embodies the connectivity we all have in the world, and the mindfulness we should all have when we drink our tea.

What tea trends were you made aware of at this past expo?

There were so many new products at this year’s expo, but most significantly I see continued growth for specialty tea as a whole, major retailers doing private label, and strong growth in the under 30, or Millennial generation drinking tea.  The industry is really still young in the US and there are a lot of directions innovation is heading.  I also do see companies developing “quick-steep” methodologies to bridge the gap between the time it takes to make tea and the attention span of customers to increase to-go sales for tea.

What are your 5 favorite pieces of teaware?

We have so many beautiful tea pots and tons of accoutrements both at our office and home.  One of my favorites is a hand painted clay tea pot from Rishi Tea that is perfect for brewing kukicha.  Northwest Glass also introduced this year a double walled glass that is amazingly simple, but perfect for pouring the same kukicha into.  We have had them for years, but the steepware made by The Tea Spot is perfect for brewing a single cup of loose tea, I usually use this for my oolongs.  At this year’s expo, I was given an amazing gift by Lambert, a new exhibitor, from The Whole Leaf in San Diego that was given to him by a tea family in China.  The pot has been used by the family and conditioned for over three decades.  Again, it is the simplicity of this pot that makes it a favorite.

What are your top 5 favorite teas at the moment?

I primarily drink green teas and occasional a nice cup of puer.  With the greens, I have been drinking a ton of kukicha as some great friends have keep me supplied and this is always best drank as fresh as possible.  I have also been enjoying some excellent Korean green teas presented to me at the Expo by an amazing young lady, Jiyu and her mother, who represented the Korean tea culture association.  And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention some wonderful dark oolongs made in Hawaii that I was given on a recent trip there.  I hope the US tea community pays attention to what is going on in Hawaii.  They only have about 10 acres under cultivation at this time, but the potential is huge.  Almost all of the tea is grown by small famers and hand-crafted.

Can you share any news about next year's expo?

Some I can, other news we will be announcements in the months ahead.  First, we are actually doing a second event in Boston this September, World Tea - East.  It is a smaller conference and pavilion held in conjunction with Natural Products Expo – East.  This is really geared to give us a presence on the East coast without diminishing the value and demand for the event in Las Vegas.  The most important part of this co-location is we are defining tea as a natural product, not just a beverage, and certainly not a commodity.  For our annual Expo, we will remain in Las Vegas , but will shift back into June (and will be for the future), and will be moving over to the Las Vegas Convention Center.  Both of these will have a very positive affect for the Expo.  But do stay tuned, we will have a major announcement at the end of July. Here are a few pictures from this year's Expo that George graciously shared with us.

Many thanks to George Jage for taking the time to answer my questions with such detail, insight and passion!

tea blossoms

green leaves tightly bound

slowly sway as steam rises

petals blossoming

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photo credit: austin.happel

tea party in style

When planning a tea party, I tend to focus on the delicate leaves and dainty cups, and unfortunately forget to give much thought to my outfit.  although while planning ahead for a few summer tea parties, I want to ensure that I will be serving in style.

While window shopping online (my favorite form of retail therapy), I came across the Floral Halter Layer Dress from Forever 21, that combined my love of the vintage,  floral look with a modern twist (pictured above). I adore each detail of this feminine frock, from the floral print, to the pintucking, vertical pleat and layered hem. And at only $22.80, I can splurge on floral centerpieces for the table.

This dress would pair perfectly with a menu of lavender scones and jasmine oolong tea...or maybe even a white peony.

What is your favorite tea party outfit?

Tea Today: Davids Tea's White Tiger

 

White Tiger One powerful tea Look out for white fur, black stripes and ice-blue eyes. White tigers tend to be bigger and stronger than their orange cousins. This blend is just as powerful. It’s got the smooth, immune-building strength of organic white peony tea. Plus the additional antioxidants of pomegranate essence and whole blueberries. A real fighter! It’ll scare off every free radical in the area.

As I shuffled through my bags and containers of loose tea, I was instantly drawn to its fierce and enticing name, White Tiger. As soon as I broke the seal of the bag, the dry aroma of the sweet pomegranates and blueberries instantly brought me to a sweeter state of mind.

As I poured the almost boiling water over the leaves, the hot aroma of the pomegranates and blueberries was sweet, fruity and slightly tangy, and was followed by the light floral notes of the white peony.

First sip: smooth white peony with slight floral notes and subtle grassy undertones builds into the flavor of the tangy pomegranate and finishes with the sweetness of blueberries. Although delicate, the white peony tea is the perfect canvas for the sweet fruity notes. The white peony, although floral, is more refreshing and clean than perfumy like that jasmine tea. The natural floral notes take turns with the sweet fruity elements, a seesaw of flavors, until the final flavor combination blooms.

After a few more sips, the white peony presence intensifies, although the blueberry and pomegranate still maintain a delightful flavor presence.

I would imagine that this would be a fabulous beverage companion to a dessert, like a blueberry pie. It would also freeze into amazing White Tiger popsicles, perfect for your next BBQ. Or if you’re looking to spice things up a bit, White Tiger would be a wonderful addition to your favorite martini, especially if you opt for blueberry vodka. The name does lend itself to a drink menu.

Overall, a lovely, clean, refreshing and sweet tea that I will continue to enjoy all Summer long.

celebrate national iced tea month

 

For the past ten days I have been gleefully celebrating National Iced Tea Month! After stocking my freezer with ice, I reached into my cabinet to happily retrieve my Bodum iced tea pitcher tucked away during the chillier months.  This iced tea pitcher (purchased from Mighty Leaf's site) is probably one of my favorite pieces of teaware, as it holds 50oz of tea, has a built in infuser that you can remove after steeping, along with a ridged spout that catches any tea leaves that escape into the pitcher while brewing.

As I set the pot of water on the stove, I reached for the stalks fresh mint just picked from the garden and filled the pitcher with the vibrant green herb.  I knew that a black tea would compliment the intense mint flavor, so I chose Tavalon’s Ceylon King (sent to me the month before from their sommelier’s choice tea of the month club- a Christmas gift I am still enjoying!).

Ceylon King:  A smooth, pure black tea with bright notes of honey and fruit.

I gently placed 6 teaspoons (1tsp per 8oz of water) of the beautiful deep brown and delicately rolled whole Ceylon leaves into the infuser. The grand tea leaves truly live up to their majestic name, Ceylon King. I poured the boiling water over the leaves and steeped the tea for 5minutes. The tealeaves bounced about as they painted the water a deep golden brown shade.

After removing the infuser, I added two teaspoons of honey before allowing the tea to cool to room temperature. After speaking with many tea experts, I’ve learned that it’s best to let the tea cool before adding any ice, as the ice will instantly melt in the hot water, dilute the tea and shock it to a state of bitterness.

The heat of the tea released the intense aroma of the mint in my kitchen as it cooled. I impatiently waited for the heat to rise and escape before filling the pitcher with ice.

I poured myself a tall glass. First sip: The strength of the Ceylon King is complimented by the refreshing dose of mint. The bit of honey cut any bitterness that the Ceylon, when iced brewed, might have had. The mint sensation offers a naturally sweet and incredibly refreshing flavor, and continues to linger on your palette after every sip.

The intense mint flavor is followed by the crisp and hearty taste of the smooth Ceylon. The bright notes of Ceylon’s honey are subtle but beautiful in this brew, as the taste of mint dominates the sweet sensory experience.  Although, the addition of honey along with Ceylon’s natural notes of honey provide a sweet foundation to this bold tea. My taste buds also pick up on Ceylon’s fruity element, which tastes very citrusy in this particular brew.

Ceylon King is a wonderful companion to the refreshing mint addition, and a fabulous tea for icing. I’m looking forward to replacing the mint with a nice dose of milk and a bit more honey during the next brew, as I create an icy, sweet treat. Happy Iced Tea Month! Cheers!

Steep It "The Simplest Internet Tea Timer Ever"

Steep It-the simplest internet tea timer ever."

Just type the time in the box, click "go" and you'll be redirected to a new page displaying the diminishing time. The screen's color changes mimicking the transformation of your steeped water. And finally, a pleasant bell rings, which lets you know that it's time to take your infuser or tea sachet out of the water. And if you're unsure about proper brewing time, Steep It has a tea time cheat sheet to calm your over-brewed fears. Happy Brewing! for more info, follow them on twitter and read their blog

I often steep my tea in the comfort of my own home, experiencing the peaceful moments as I watch the minutes dwindle and tea leaves unfurl. Although when I step outside my four walls and into a nearby cafe, I normally can't replicate that experience and instead attempt to check the time on my computer as I skate through emails. I inevitably lose track and sometimes over-brew a cup, which is my tea-loving heart skipped a beat when I stumbled across the web tea timer "

tea on etsy

on lazy Sunday afternoons I can often be found peeking at etsy's tea accessories. here are a few gems that sparkled during my last search....

tea party-tea towel from stitchado

100% cotton tea towel, measures approximately 25" x 25". 100% handmade embroidery from a vintage pattern :)

silkscreen art print poster from BluLima

"I have designed and hand screen printed these lovely posters on Rives Heavyweight printmaking paper. It is just off-white and oh so tough-but-tender in character. Natural and torn deckle edges, each print is signed and dated on the verso. Image size is 9"x12", easily framed with pre-cut mattes. Open edition in multiple colors, check out my other listings and look for more to be added!"

tea-time small stamp set from CraftChi

"Tea Time stamp set includes 5 charming tea friends: April Apron, Tizzy Teapot, Tilly Teacup, Tom Teaball, and Teeny/Tiny Teabag. All stamps are 1x1inch except for Apron (1x1.5inch) and Tea ball (1x1.25inch)."

well that ' s new: teaspoons & petals haiku teaware

I've experimented with a new font and some new cup styles that I hope you'll like. I've also welcomed a new ceramic duo to the teaspoons & petals' family, the cream and sugar set, inspired by creamy chai tea.

(these cups will be coming to my etsy shop soon!)

And over the next few months I will be seeking out the perfect vintage cups to add to my etsy shop (summer flea markets, where are you?) I'll also be adding a new limited edition tea haiku line shortly (since I was tickled pink when creating the Philadelphia line). But until the big reveal, I wanted to give you a hint about the new line before I release anything in my shop. Fill in the lyrical blank: "come on babe. why don't we paint the town. and all that _____." Hope you guessed correctly!

Have a lovely day filled with countless cups of tea!

a nibble & a sip: tea party baked goods

"Handpainted flowers atop almond royal icing on scalloped vanilla sugar cookies."

"Reminiscent of pretty vintage fabric or a lush blooming garden, these cookies are sure to delight. Scalloped vanilla sugar cookie rounds with almond royal icing."

My favorite Philadelphia Baker, Zoë Lukas of Whipped Bakeshop, is always tantalizing my taste buds by sharing photos of her latest sweet creations on her site or in her etsy shop. I was particularly drawn to her most recent batch of artistic sugar cookies (shown above), as I could envision them as the edible centerpieces for a summer tea party. The vivid colors and vintage floral patterns are so feminine and dainty! I would serve iced jasmine green tea and a formosa fancy on a wooden picnic table draped with an old lace table cloth. p.s. if you're not in the Philadelphia area, Zoë will ship her cookies to you whether you're near or far. lucky you!

teaspoons & petals father ' s day promo in Etsy Finds!

Many thanks to Etsy for all the love they have given to teaspoons & petals over the past week. I'm thrilled that they included my father's day promotion in their Etsy Finds:48 hours of Deals for Dads email and Storque article. I intended to share this promo via a blog post today, but I guess they beat me to it :) Looking forward to writing custom haiku for Father's day teacups this year!!

tea today: yumchaa ' s regent ' s park blend

My dear friend, Jolene, recently returned from a quick trip to London. While there, she picked up a Yumchaa tea blend to surprise me with when she returned. Much love to such a thoughtful lady!!! Here are my thoughts on Yumchaa's Regent's Park blend of green tea, papaya, pineapple, strawberry, raspberry and rose petals: The dry aroma is incredibly fragrant with intense fruity notes (although pineapple seems to dominate my sense of smell). Visually, the dry blend is quite beautiful with pops of pink and yellow fruits peeking from under vibrant green tea leaves. Considering that it's quite warm in Philadelphia today, I decided to brew an iced pitcher of Regent's Park blend. I added 5 spoons of the blend to the infuser of my Bodum iced tea pitcher, which I then steeped in just boiling water for 4 minutes. (Note: I only filled half of the pitcher with almost boiling water since I will be adding ice after the liquid reaches room temperature) It was beautiful to watch the leaves gently float to the top of the infuser as bits of pineapple and papaya lingered at the bottom, the anchors of the blend. After the 4 minute steep, the water transformed into a golden color with hints of green. I impatiently waited for the tea to cool to room temperature before filling it with ice cubes and popping it into the fridge. The berries also dominate the brewed aroma, offering a bright sensory experience. Sip #1: The first word that comes to mind is "refreshing," not just because it's chilled, but rather the grassy green combination with fruit creates a flavor that awakens my taste buds with crisp green notes and bursts of berry gently supported by tropical flavors of papaya and pineapple. I didn't identify the rose petal presence, but then again I am a bit of a novice when it comes to that particular ingredient. There is a smidgen of faint bitterness at the end of the first sip (that eventually disappears from my taste buds after a few more sips), but it was the risk I was willing to take with the first iced brew of a new green tea. I'm sure once I become more familiar with the tea after a few more steepings, I will find the perfect brewing process. overall, I truly enjoyed this fruity green tea blend. It's refreshing and has clean taste thanks to real bits of fruit that offer their natural flavor. On a scale from 1 to 5, I would give it 4 cups up!

teaspoons & petals on etsy ' s front page! hooray!

One of my haiku teacups was included in the list of "handpicked items" on Etsy's front page yesterday afternoon-May 21st (top right)! This was teaspoons & petals' first front page showing! hooray! I was thrilled to find out that etsy had a widget for such an occasion (noted in my sidebar). The featured haiku: tea leaves leaping through water gracefully as the steeping dance begins --------------------------- Thank You Etsy! UPDATE!! While I was out and about visiting family during the holiday weekend, I returned home to find a lovely tweet from @handmadeinpa letting me know that another haiku cup (shown below) was featured on etsy's front page at 10 am today (May 23rd). 2 front page honors in 3 days! I am so thrilled and thankful!!