Table Settings book by Victoria

This lovely book is packed with gorgeous photos and lots of ideas for pretty tea table settings.  There is even a chapter with the title Indulging in Tea.

The cover photo shows the blossom fold from the Romancing the Napkin chapter.

 The caption for this photo reads:

Collecting teacups can become an unmanageable obsession, but if you narrow your focus to a single color scheme or motif, a compatible set is virtually guaranteed.

The book is by Mary Forsell and the editors of Victoria magazine and was copyrighted in 2002 by Hearst Communications, Inc.  I highly recommend this book to any tea enthusiast or collector of china, glasses, linens and other beautiful tea things.

Iced Tea

Last week Kroger had Honest Tea in their 10 for 10 promotion.  I picked up several flavors including Green Dragon, Peach Oo-La-Long, Mango Acai, Moroccan Mint, Community Green and Lori’s Lemon.    So far I have only tried the Green Dragon which was light, refreshing and not too sweet .  Their teas are sweetened with a hint of organic cane sugar or honey. 

I found this rather unusual quote about iced tea  on my  “Tea Calendar 2009”.

Iced tea may not have as much wisdom as hot tea, but in the summer better a cool and refreshed dullard than a steamy sweat-drenched sage – leave sagacity to the autumn! – Linda Solegato

Nevertheless, with temperatures in the nineties, I’m still enjoying my hot tea throughout the day.  I think the rest of my Honest Tea will be saved for road trips.

Royal Grafton cup and saucer

My yard sale find today was this Royal Grafton bone china cup and saucer.  I was delighted with the pale green and pink color, as well as the $3 price.

It was made by  A. B. Jones & Sons from the Grafton works in Stoke-on-Trent, England. 

  

The china mark on the saucer was used between 1957 and 1961.  This company was in business from 1900 – 1972.  So far I have been unable to find this pattern online, but it is fun to research these bargains. 

The Tea Bush

Isn’t it interesting that the tea plant, which is an evergreen shrub, can grow to a height of sixty feet or more.   I only picture it as those lovely tiered green rows of tea bushes growing at a height of about three to five feet (for ease of harvesting).

Those Camellia sinensis bushes thrive in tropical and semitropical climates with abundant rainfall.  The best teas grow at high elevations of 3,000 to 6,000 ft.  When the new leaves and buds sprout it is called a flush and early spring first flush teas can be expensive.

It is also interesting to me that there are around 2,000 sub-species of tea.  Tea connoisseurs can actually identify the different varietals.   I’m afraid my palate will probably not develop past discerning whether the tea pleases my taste buds, but that’s okay.  As long as I have a good cuppa to enjoy – I’m good.

British Tea Attitude

Tea reached England around 1645 and by the 1700s it was the nation’s favorite beverage.  However, it wasn’t until the 1800s that tea came within the financial reach of the masses.  

It has been said that next to water, tea is the Englishman’s proper element.

This little rhyme by Rudyard Kipling says it quite well:

We had a kettle; we let it leak;

Our not repairing it made it worse.

We haven’t had any tea for a week.

The bottom is out of the Universe.

Bruschetta or Grilled Bread

This tasty bread has been enjoyed in Italy since the 15th century.  Lately I have had a craving for bruschetta, so today I decided to make some for my lunch.   I started with a slightly stale baguette sliced 1/2 inch thick.  I pressed some fresh garlic and mixed it with olive oil, then brushed this mixture onto the bread slices.    Make sure to spoon any stray garlic pieces onto the bread.  Broil quickly until the bread is nice and crisp.

I then made a mixture of chopped tomatoes, chopped fresh basil, salt,  pepper  and a splash of aged balsamic vinegar.   Spoon this onto your bread slices and let the juices soak in.  Delizioso!

Since I don’t drink wine, I enjoyed this treat with a cup of Darjeeling tea.   

For those who would like to see the traditional method of preparation I’ve included this video.

Tea Break

Tetley tea is not a brand that I drink much anymore, but it was my favorite tea for many years when I lived in Toronto.  Everyone knew the Tetley Tea Folk and the commercial jingle.

I grew up making pots of hot tea with the little round teabags.  Brewing loose tea was something that would come much later, as my appreciation for tea developed.  My parents were both coffee drinkers, so my tea was enjoyed solo or during visits with my best friend Louise.

Joseph Tetley & Co. was founded in 1837 in the United Kingdom.  Tetley is now a subsidiary of Tata Tea – the world’s second largest manufacturer and distributor of tea.    It is the second largest in the United States.  I think most of the Tetley Tea here in the South is blended for brewing iced tea.