Teavivre–Tea For Life

I’m always excited when my mail includes a box of tea from Teavivre.  I know that there will be some excellent new teas to sample.  I really like how the tea is packaged for optimum freshness.  The detailed information on where the tea is grown, processed and the proper water temperature and steep time is great. 

This shipment included some Pu-erh and black teas. 

The company website contains so much valuable information on the different types of tea, as well as interesting pictures and videos.  If you look under Pu-erh tea, you will see: 

“ A unique form of tea, named after the town of Pu Er in
Yunnan province, that has a completely different processing
method,and usually taste, to other teas. Made from a broadleaf
variety of the tea grown in Yunnan, it is initially processed like a
green tea. However things then change radically! The dried tea is
then aged in a dark location – often for many years. During this time
the tea undergoes a form oxidation caused by the growth of yeast on the tea – in just the same way that wine is produced. Though the tea appears like a black tea, this secondary oxidation produces a tea
that has an absolutely unique taste. When done right – again just
like wines – it results in a tea that has an amazing bold, strong
taste and aroma!”

I sampled the Yunnan Palace Ripened Pu-erh Loose Tea 2005 first.  It is made from Yunnan large leaf tea trees.  It is mentioned that these trees are up to 100 years old!  I’m a Pu-erh newbie and have not tasted very many of these teas, but I found this particular one to be very smooth and it had a rich dark liquor.  I appreciated that the flavor was not extremely earthy, which is a characteristic that, for me, is an acquired taste.

For my morning tea, I sampled Superfine Tan Yang Gong Fu Black Tea.

Look at all those lovely golden tips.  The brew was refreshing and mellow, with just a little astringency.  I added a splash of milk, but I will try it without next time.  This was a very nice tea to start off a day of tea drinking.

I’m definitely looking forward to tasting the other tea samples, including Superfine Keemun Mao Feng Black Tea, Fengquing Ripened Tribute Pu-erh Cake Tea 2013 and Nonpareil Yunnan Dian Hong Ancient Wild Tree Black Tea. 

Check out this terrific tea retailer website for yourself here.

 

PUGG Teapot

The latest addition to my teapot collection is a 24 ounce Pugg teapot by Tea Forte.  I was looking for a small versatile teapot and this pretty little “Cherry Blossoms” pot seemed to be just right.

This teapot includes a stainless steel infuser basket for loose tea and an interesting removable stainless steel lid.  I read somewhere that you can take the lid off and put the ceramic pot in the dishwasher.

The large loop handle is great and easy to get a good grip on when pouring tea or rinsing out the pot.

I like being able to take the infuser out in the morning when I mostly use tea bags, and then replace it in the afternoon for my loose tea.  My only complaint would be how this pretty teapot pours.  It seems that whether I pour my tea quickly or slowly, the spout dribbles tea – maybe because of the unusual narrow shape. 

So, I guess I’d recommend this teapot.  You can check out the other pretty colors and patterns on the Tea Forte link above.  And for those of you who love yellow – that pot is $10 off today.  ☺

Downton Abbey Calendar

Don’t you just love a gift that can be enjoyed all through the New Year?  To go along with the excitement of a new season of Downton Abbey on GPB, I have a new Page-A-Day Calendar.

This calendar is filled with wonderful photos, history of the times and quotes by the characters.  There are some great quotes by the Dowager Countess – she cracks me up.

My favorite wall calendar is The Collectible Teapot & Tea Calendar, which I’ve been purchasing every year since 1998.  It’s amazing to me that this calendar has featured so many gorgeous teapots for so many years.  How about you – do you have a favorite that you purchase year after year?

Christmas Traditions

At this time of year, we all seem to pull out certain special recipes that are made each Christmas.  One of my favorites is steamed pudding.  I’ve been making the same recipe for thirty years.  My mom always made the pudding with hard sauce (dark rum) at Christmas and it’s a holiday favorite with the family.

As well as the usual raisins, currants and spices, my recipe includes grated carrots and potato (an old English recipe)  I know that sounds weird, but it truly is delicious.  It also has chopped suet in the mix – try explaining that to someone in a grocery store in Georgia.  The first time I tried to find suet in the South, the meat manager gave me a strange look and inquired did I know what suet was. ☺

See those gold and red crackers behind the pudding? – another tradition that I brought with me from Canada.  We always have them at Christmas and New Year’s Day dinner.  It is such fun to see everyone in their silly paper crowns and to listen to the jokes and laugh at each others funny little prizes.  My son-in-law liked this tradition so much, that now his family also has the crackers at Christmas dinner.  They are becoming more common in the South now and you can find them just about anywhere.  I buy mine at the after Christmas sales (the nicer ones, like Tom Smith brand, can be quite pricey).

MERRY CHRISTMAS  

   

World Market Tea and Treats

On our last visit to Savannah we came across a Cost Plus World Market store.  Since I don’t have one close to my home, I decided to do a little shopping. 

I’d never tried Typhoo tea and since I like British teas (London Cuppa and PG Tips) I decided to try a box.  When I got to the check out line there was a 75% off table with Thanksgiving things.  I thought the Republic of Tea Maple Pecan and Pumpkin Ginger black teas sounded delicious and would be  nice for Christmas too, plus $3 a tin sealed the deal.

 

The Lila Stix cookies and Tunnock’s Tea Cakes also ended up in my cart.  The Tea Cakes look interesting in their red and silver foil wrapping, don’t you think? 

Of course, I should have paid more attention to the label and read that they are a biscuit base topped with marshmallow – not one of my favorites.

 These look like a treat that my grandkids would really enjoy.

The Typhoo tea is quite good and so are the Lila Stix cookies.  I’m looking forward to trying the other flavored teas over the holidays.

Cross-stitch Christmas Cards

I’m not the only one in the family who is behind schedule on preparations for Christmas.  Hubby is still working on his cross-stitch Christmas cards for this year.

This is a sampling of what he’s been working on.

He stitches them on aida paper, instead of traditional cloth.

Then he mounts them in Christmas cards that have the opening precut (for displaying photos).

He has been doing this for many years now.  One old friend, who has been receiving his cards from the beginning, displays them all on her mantle each Christmas.

Hope I can get the cards going to Canada mailed out soon.  ☺  How about you – do you send any hand made cards? 

Macarons in Savannah, GA

My schedule lately has included a lot of traveling back and forth to Savannah to visit my grandson in hospital.  While I’m there, I can enjoy one of my favorite tea treats.  I’ve mentioned Maison de Macarons in a previous post here.  On my last visit I discovered that the name had changed slightly and that there may be a franchise opportunity in the works.

I have fond memories of my Mom’s homemade coconut macaroons (pronounced mah-kah-ROON) that she made at Christmas, but the French macaron (mah-kah-ROHN) is a whole different ballgame.  They both contain whipped egg whites, but the similarity really ends there.  One is homey and easy to prepare, while the other takes the skill of a pastry chef.

    

You’ve probably noticed how trendy macarons have become lately, popping up in all the magazines.  Even my “Complete Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer Cookbook” features these pretty treats on the cover.  I was also surprised that Sam's Club is selling authentic French macarons for the holidays.  Not sure how they can preserve these delicate confections that are best refrigerated and eaten within a few days.

 

This was the luscious variety that I brought home on my last visit to Savannah.  I’m ashamed to say that I only shared two, but at least they are a low calorie indulgence with around 100 calories each.  If you’d like to try making your own, Bed, Bath & Beyond is selling a kit with everything you need, although I would probably want to invest in the special baking trays as well.

I was a little disappointed that the Matcha flavor was dropped at Marche de Macarons to make room for more seasonal varieties (like pumpkin), but some new favorites are beckoning. 

Between trips to Marche de Macarons and Goose Feathers Café, I can see a diet will be in my near future.  ☺