Celebrating a Passion for Tea, Victorian Treasures, and Friendship
The Tea House Times
A Bi-Monthly Publication
Preserving the Traditions of Afternoon Tea™
™
January/February 2010
Inside This Issue:
Tea with the Editor p. 2
Society Page p. 3
Tea Across the Pond p. 3
Recipes p. 4
Tea Connoisseur p. 5
Victoriana p. 6
Etiquette p. 7
Craft/Activity p. 7
Tea Room Directory p. 8
Events p. 11
Turning Over a New Leaf p. 12
Tea Assoc. USA p. 12
Featured Tea Room p. 13
Picks of the Trade p. 14
Friendship Poetry p. 16
Red Hat Society Tea Time p. 17
Travel p. 18
Renew your Subscription p. 19
Advertising p. 9-11, 20
Happy New Year!
Enjoy all your “Tea House Times”
Yixing Pottery - Tea Connoisseur p. 5
Victorian Valentines and Romantic Flowers p. 6
Changing for the Better - Turning Over a New Leaf p. 12
Message from The Tea Association USA p. 12
Featured Tea Room: British Tea Garden p. 13
Home Spa Escapes by Kathy Hatch p. 15
Tea Poetry Contest Winners p. 16
Tea with a Clan Chieftan p. 18
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Copyright 2003-2010
The Tea House Times™
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction is
prohibited in whole or part. The Tea House
Times is published bi-monthly.
Subscribe today--details on page 2 & 19.
2
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January/February 2010
The Tea House Times Tea with the Editor:
™
Dear Readers,
With the New Year always comes change or hope for
changes in our own lives - mostly for the better.
The November/December 2009 issue of The Tea House
Times marked six years in publication. Our website
recently underwent complete redesign to bring it up
to modern standards. This change now allows various
options for our subscribers/readers. If you want to save
a tree - register at our website for free access to view the
most recent issue - if you want to print one copy, you
may. If you are like many who prefer to have a paid
subscription with each issue mailed to you, you may
order subscriptions and renewals at our website or mail
the form at the back of each issue. Watch your label for
expiration date and renew 12 weeks ahead.
Our new website offers new self-service options to our
advertisers as well. Registered Businesses/Ad Level
users receive discounted print advertising and a lot of
perks.
You may join our email list at the website to receive news
and announcements. Use the blue box on the home page
to add your name to our email list at
www.theteahousetimes.com
Access to back issue columns will be found at our
website under the link for columns and news. Back
issues may also be ordered at our website.
Tea Room owners will have user specific access areas
once logged in at our website - including trade show
reports, a help center, discussion forums, and more.
So, off to a new year, fresh new ideas, new paths, new
experiences. Happy New Year to you!
Enjoy all your “Tea House Times”
“Lady Gayle”
Editor -in-Chief
Readers Say:
Send all comments to [email protected]
or mail to address below.
~Dear Gail, I love it! The new website is so “tea” and professional. You do such a great job. Thanks for all you do.
~ Marcella Farina
The Tea and Hat Lady, Mechanicsburg, PA
Thanks to all who took the time to send email in
favor of our new website! We appreciate you!
The Tea House Times
Seal of Approval
is awarded for Quality
Books and Products
and Exemplary Customer
Service. See who has been
awarded
The Tea House Times
Seal of Approval. Go to
theteahousetimes.com/
sealofapproval.htm
Subscribe to The Tea House Times - Use the form on pg. 19 to subscribe or renew.
Contact us to distribute The Tea House Times in your shop with a bonus directory listing on pg. 8 & online.
January/February 2010
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3
Society Page
Dedicated to Groups and Individuals Sharing Passion for Afternoon Tea
Share your stories with us. Mail letters to: The Tea House Times, PO Box 1049, Sparta, NJ 07871 or Email: [email protected]
Tea Party Angels Take Flight
Christie Brinkley and her daughter Sailor Support a New Fundraising Program for
Mothers and Daughters to Raise Money for Girls in Need Around the World
Tea Party Angels, a national fundraising initiative, is one woman’s story on how to change the world one tea party at a
time. Cheryl Beck, Founder and Chief Executive Angel, first got the inspiration for Tea Party Angels after reading the
bestselling books Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson and Leaving Microsoft to Change the World by John Wood.
Both men she found doing extraordinary things to help educate girls around the world. Passionate about their mission
that only through education can we achieve peace and prosperity, she too wanted to do something to make a difference.
Beck came up with the simple idea of using tea parties as fundraisers and enlisted support from both men’s non-profits,
Mortenson’s The Central Asia Institute and Wood’s Room to Read. In turn each will be the beneficiary of Tea Party
Angels fundraising along with other organizations such as Orphaned Starfish and Miracles in Actions. Imagine
mothers and daughters hosting tea parties across the country to raise money for girls around the world in need of
education and at the same time teaching girls here social responsibility.
Visit www.teapartyangels.org for more information.
Correction to book title from NovDec09 Society Page: Linda J. Hawkins is Author of The Unspoken Language of Fans and Flowers
tea across the pond
sharing tea news from tea magazine © - UK
Our latest tea magazine over here was packed with all things tea for the discerning tea drinker
and tea room customer. We reviewed rose flavoured teas – Rose Congou, as it is often known,
and were able to share some superbly blended teas for our readers
to consider sampling for themselves. Where would we be without a
teapot though? Teapots to Talk About, a UK company painting
teapots to standard or bespoke designs, showed how one woman’s
vision is keeping many tea drinkers happy.
www.teapotstotalkabout.co.uk
Whilst being based in the UK, I do my best to keep up with tea
across the globe and have offered our readers tea news and views,
as well as places to drink tea (and eat cakes), from as far as
Sri Lanka to, slightly closer, in France. We will be featuring tea in
Canada in 2010, so watch out!
Our website is ever developing, as is our shop where you can
purchase my own blend of teas, as well as tea towels and tote bags
bearing the slogan, “Mine’s a loose leaf!” Do keep up to date with
our developments over this year by visiting me at
www.teatalkmagazine.co.uk for news and views on all things tea.
Margaret Thornby
Cartoon from Autumn
2009 tea magazine
© Doug Hawkes
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January/February 2010
Recipes for a Pleasant Afternoon Tea
Currant Pecan Scones*
1 cup all purpose flour
3 Tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
6 Tablespoons butter or margarine
1 cup quick cooking oats
1/2 cup dried currants
1/3 cup chopped pecans
2 beaten eggs
more sugar and beaten egg for garnish if desired
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Grease a cookie sheet and
set aside.
In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and
salt. Cut butter or margarine into cubes and cut into flour
mixture with pastry blender or 2 knives until the mixture
resembles coarse crumbs.
Stir in currants, pecans and oats and mix well. Stir in the
beaten eggs until just moistened. On lightly floured board
or surface roll out or pat the dough with floured hands into a
7-8 inch circle about 1/2 inch thick. Either cut into wedges
or cut with a floured biscuit cutter and transfer to the reserved
cookie sheet. If desired, brush with the extra beaten egg and
sprinkle with the extra sugar.
Bake at 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes or until lightly
browned. Remove to wire rack to cool. May be served
warm or when cooled. Makes approximately 12 scones.
*Ruth Weston, Time Was Antiques, www.timewasantiques.net
*Recipes taken from The Tea House Times Best Afternoon
Tea Recipes Volume I - Recipes submitted by those noted*.
Black Forest Ham & Avocado
Sandwiches*
Dark rye bread
1 ripe avocado
Black Forest Ham
Olives with pimento
Cucumber
1/2 cup soft butter
3/4 Tbsp minced garlic
1 Tbsp chives
1 Tbsp parsley
Combine butter, parsley, chives and garlic. Stir until a creamy
mixture. Spread over 4 pieces of bread. Cut bread into squares,
then long rectangles. Using a vegetable peeler, peel thin slices of
cucumber and place on bread, cutting ends to fit. Cut ham to fit
and place over cucumber slice. Peel avocado, cut in half, and slice.
Place slice of avocado on each sandwich. Decorate with sliced
olives and serve open faced.
*Maxine Holmgren, Maxine’s Mystery Tea Parties,
www.mysteryteaparties.com
Mom’s Banana Nut Bread*
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup shortening
2 eggs
3 mashed bananas
Cream sugar and shortening. Add well-beaten eggs and mashed
bananas and mix. Add the sifted flour, soda and salt. Mix and add
nuts. Bake in 2 loaf pans about an hour at 350 degrees.
*Patty Suchy, Novel Explorations, www.novelexplorations.com
The Friendship Garden
Artwork by Laurie Siebert
See Review, pg. 14
�
Used by Permission,
Harvest House
Publishers
2 cups flour
1 tsp soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup nuts
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January/February 2010
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Tea Connoisseur
Yixing Pottery*
Yixing pottery, also known as zisha (purple clay) is a unique traditional
Chinese ceramic art. It represents a type of ceramic ware with
characteristics of both pottery and porcelain. Generally, the inside and
outside surface of Yixing ware exhibits a natural texture, displaying the
color and luster of refined pottery without any added glaze. Yixing ware
includes the tea set, bottle, tripod caldron, flower pot, artistic and scholarly
accessories, and sculpture. However, the tea set remains the principal
category and has accounted for most of Yixing ware’s notoriety.
With respect to the origins of Yixing ware, a legendary folk tale was
recorded in the Collection of Famous Ceramics published during the
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911): Once a strange monk roamed into Dingshu,
Yixing, where he hollered to passers-by: “Riches and honor for sale!” The
villagers, however, all sneered at him, and no one paid him any attention.
So the monk changed his cry, “Nobody wants to buy honor, but how about
riches?” The villagers were now interested and the monk led them to a spot
outside the village. There the villagers found marvelous, multicolored clay
rich in iron. They used the clay to make pottery ware which became worldrenowned, and a never-ending source of wealth for them.
Cai Sizhan of the Ming Dynasty wrote,
“I bought a zisha pot in Baixia (today’s
Nanjing) with five characters inscribed on
it: ‘Having tea and keeping detached.’”
*Taken from Yixing Pottery by Pan Chunfang. Used by Permission. Long River Press www.longriverpress.com
See also Book Review on pg 14.
Readers’ Choice Top Tea Rooms
Maine
~Clipper Merchant Tea House, Limerick
~Jacqueline’s Tea Room, Freeport
Visit our website for details about Readers’ Choice Tea Room listings: www.theteahousetimes.com
NOTE: All tea rooms are lovely, these just happen to be reader favorites.
Where is your favorite tea room? Do you know of a new tea room or one for sale? Email: [email protected]
Tea /Tea Room Reviews
Tilly Mints Tea Room, 20 West Chestnut Street, Souderton, PA 215-723-2620, www.tillymints.com Tilly Mints Tea
Room has a lovely gift shop and serves afternoon tea Wednesday through Saturday. Tilly Mints offers a variety of
afternoon tea menu options. I experienced the Wavertree - their full tea which included soup or a savory (quiche that
day), salad, assorted tea sandwiches, scones with cream/curd/jam, fresh fruit, assorted dainty desserts and a pot of tea.
The soup was served in a pretty teacup alongside a delicious salad - these were served first, followed by a tower of
luscious sandwiches and treats, all a feast for the eyes. I traveled over 2 hours to this tea room to meet with a friend and
it was worth the trip! The owner and staff are friendly and they offer a great selection of loose teas.
Reviewed by Lady Gayle
Read reviews in more detail. ~ Visit www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com See a Tea Room Directory & Events at our website.
Send us a review of your favorite tea room. Email to: [email protected]
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January/February 2010
Victoriana
Victorian Valentines and Romantic Flowers by Patrice LePera
The antidote to the gloomy, sniffly days of winter:
Hot tea, a few friends, a new friend, and a pretty
project. Even in these days, Gentlemen spend
twice as much on Valentines as women, so why not
have friends over for tea and a Valentine-making
afternoon, make a few special Valentines, and send
or give them to treasured loved ones and friends? A
Valentine’s project with creative work means so very
much to people you care about. Not only romance,
but friendship was highlighted with loving Victorian
missives.
Queen Victoria herself wrote and signed around 200
Valentines a year. Originally, Valentines were handmade and often trimmed in real lace, ribbons and
gold & silver foil and later, incorporated beautiful
prints using the new 4-color printing process. Paper
lace was introduced in the mid-1800s, called doilies originally the name of a fabric from Doiley - a London
draper and lace manufacturer.
Queen Victoria declared Valentine’s day an official
holiday in honor of Brother Valentine (later sainted)
in the era of Roman Emperor Claudius II (Claudius
the Cruel) who was having difficulty getting men
to leave their homes, their loves and their families
to join his armies. Therefore, he cancelled all
marriages and engagements (and it is said, named a
huge marriage price). The Monk Valentine married
couples secretly, and was beaten & beheaded for it
on 14th day of February, about the time of the very
ancient Lupercalia festival, also a tribute to young
lovers, where names of young women were drawn by
young men, who were then linked romantically for the
coming year.
See also cover image and Craft on pg. 7
Treasured paper ephemera is a collectible, and actual,
original pieces are available through Beryl Peters
Designs www.victorian-imagery.com We’d like to
thank Beryl for allowing us to reproduce many of the
Valentines in this article, as well as preserving the
original Victorian ephemera.
©2009 by Patrice LePera ~ Authority, Victorian Era, Historical Writing ~ www.afterimage-art.com
January/February 2010
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Etiquette
Your Manners Matter® Minute with Cynthia Grosso
Personal and Professional Presence
by Cynthia Grosso, founder, Charleston School of Protocol & Etiquette
With the recent starting of a new year, most of us make our New Years
resolutions and set our annual goals. Two of the most common goals are to
exercise more and eat healthier. These items of course, relate to how we look
and feel. Along these same lines, I would like to suggest something that is often
overlooked. That is to improve our personal and professional presence.
Etiquette does take into account our appearance, which when appropriate,
shows respect for the situation, as well as ourselves. Part of our professional
appearance consists of how we dress.
There are many studies that relate how we dress with our success…how we
leave the house in the morning tells the world how we value ourselves. As
attractive packaging can set a product apart from the others, so dressing well
often sets us apart, helps our attitude, and depicts a positive image that people
are attracted to.
Portraying an image that people respect is not only part of good manners, but it
is also good business.
~The Charleston School of Protocol and Etiquette specializes in helping people handle life’s events and changes with style, polish
and confidence. The Charleston School of Protocol offers seminars and consulting services in business etiquette and medical/dental
office protocol. Visit www.charlestonschoolofprotocol.com Contact: Cynthia Grosso, (843) 207-1025
Craft /ActivityCorner
Victorian Valentines
An easy project: Cut out printed Victorian Flowers & Valentines and glue them onto
paper doilies, foil, decorate with ribbons and bows, and glue onto a paper card in
brilliant colors to match the Victorian Valentine. Letters and loving missives warm the
heart – why not add a pretty foil teabag, as a loving touch.
Supplies
Victorian Floral and Valentine
designs, paper doilies
foil, ribbons, bows, glue, cards
Valentines Day colors: Pink, red, rose, pink, peach, violet - warm colors to brighten
a winter mood. Happy and special touches for the tea-table: Peppermint tea, box of
peppermints, delectable chocolates, a yard of lace from a fabric store over a peachypink tablecloth, paper flowers.
See Also Victoriana pg. 6
©2009 by Patrice LePera ~ Authority, Victorian Era, Historical Writing ~
www.afterimage-art.com
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January/February 2010
Directory - Where to Find The Tea House Times
Alabama
Spiced Pear Tea Room, 1708 29th Court South, Homewood, AL
~205-879-0063~www.spicedpeartearoom.com
California
A Cup of Tea & A Cozy Quilt, 14833 Mono Way, Sonora, CA
~209-533-2333~www.acupofteaandacozyquilt.com
Crown & Crumpet, 900 North Point, San Francisco, CA
~415-771-4252~www.crownandcrumpet.com
Tea Anytime, 5907 Fair Oaks Blvd, Carmichael, CA~916-488-8864
Truffles and Lace Tea Parlour, 28410 Old Town Front St. #111,
Temecula, CA~951-694-9TEA~www.trufflesandlace.com
Colorado
My Cuppa Tea, 7828 North Academy Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO
~719-593-2386
Connecticut
M-Bellish Cafe & Tea Room, 116 Bridgeport Ave, Milford, CT
~203-283-5472~www.mbellishtearoom.com
Delaware
The Victorian Lady, 112 NW Front St, Milford, DE
~302-424-8272~www.victorianlady.net
Florida
Polly’s Pantry, 819 South Main St., Wildwood, FL~352-330-6532
Hawaii
A Cup of Tea, 407 Uluniu St, Ste 101, Kailua, HI~808-230-8832
~www.acupoftea.com
Tea at 1024, 1024 Nuuanu Ave, Honolulu, HI~808-521-9596
~teaat1024.net
Indiana
LadyBugs Gifts & Décor/Simply Elegant Tea Parties,
101 W. Kirkwood Ave, Fountain Sq Mall, Bloomington, IN
~812-337-9908
Maine
Clipper Merchant Tea House, 58 Main St, Limerick, ME
~207-793-3500~www.clippermerchant.com
Maryland
Friends For Tea, PO Box 18929, Baltimore, MD~410-254-2277
~www.friendsfortea.net
Massachusetts
The Tea Leaf, 487 Moody Street , Waltham, MA~781-891-1900
~www.thetealeaf.us
Michigan
Franklin Village Tea Room, 32749 Franklin Rd, Franklin, MI
~248-538-4300~www.franklinvillagetea.com
Tea Garden Cafe, 112 E Chicago Blvd, Tecumseh, MI
~517-423-7873~www.thebritishpantry.com
Victorian Tea Room, 130 Maple St, Wyandotte, MI~734-284-8080
~www.victoriantearoom.net
Minnesota
Avalon Tea Room, 2179 4th St., White Bear Lake, MN
~651-653-3822~www.avalontearoom.com
Montana
Chris’ Tea Cottage, 124 2nd Ave. E., Kalispell, MT
~ 406-756-4TEA ~www.christeacottage.com
New Jersey
Amelia’s Teas & Holly, 26 South Main St, Mullica Hill, NJ
~856-223-0404~www.ameliasteasandholly.com
Ana Beall’s Tea Room, 415 Westfield Ave, Westfield, NJ
~908-264-4221~www.anabeallstearoom.com
Brick House Farm B&B, 125 Sparta Ave, Sparta, NJ
~973-726-5713
High SocieTea House, 20 Old Newark Pompton Tpke, Wayne,
NJ~973-696-8327~www.HighSocieTeaNJ.com
Lillagaard Hotel Victorian Tea Room, 5 Abbott Ave., Ocean
Grove, NJ~732-988-1216~www.lillagaard.com
Set to a Tea, Ringwood, NJ~www.settoatea.com
Sweet Hannah Rose, 73 Market Street, Salem, NJ~856-935-6113
The Tea Hive, 310 Route 94, Newton NJ~973-579-7177
~www.teahive.com
New York
Grandma Hattie’s Tea Party, 267 High St, Victor, NY
~585-742-2293~www.GrandmaHattiesTeaParty.com
Rosemont Inn B&B, 1423 Genesee St., Utica, NY
~866-353-4907~www.rosemontinnbb.com
The Barstow House 1888, 485 E Main St, West Winfield, NY
~315-822-5162~www.thebarstowhouse.com
Tracy Stern SALONTEA™, 501 E. 75th Street, NYC~salontea.com
North Carolina
Suzanne’s Tea Room & Cafe, 3754 Brevard Rd, Ste 95 Horse
Shoe, NC~828-891-7575~www.suzannestearoom.com
Oklahoma
A Spot For Tea, 3812 N. MacArthur Blvd, Oklahoma City, OK
~405-720-2765~www.aspotfortea.com
Sugar Plum Tea Room, 305 E. Broadway, Drumright, OK
~918-352-4400
Oregon
The Tea Parlour, 664 Greenwood St., Junction City, OR
~541-998-8775
Pennsylvania
Christine’s Secret Garden, 1022 Pennsylvania Ave, Pen Argyl,
PA~610-295-7493~www.christinessecretgarden.com
South Carolina
Charleston Tea Plantation, American Classic Tea Lane,
Wadmalaw Island, SC~843-559-0383~www.bigelowtea.com
Fuschia Tea Emporium, 113 Church St, Charleston, SC
~843-937-0502~www.fuschiateaemporium.com
Texas
Serenitea Tea Room, 13889 SW Freeway, Sugar Land, TX
~281-491-4588~www.sereniteatearoom.com
Virginia
Gourmet Briar Patch Tea Room, 4817 B Prince George Dr.,
Prince George, VA~804-458-6006
~www.gourmetbriarpatch.com
Tea, Lace, & Roses, 123 W. Davis St., Culpeper, VA
~540-829-9700~www.tealaceandroses.com
Washington
Nonna Rosa Café Tea Room, 116 E 5th Ave., Olympia, WA
~360-705-0850~www.nonnarosatea.com
January/February 2010
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9
Shopping ‘Center’
www.AfterImage-Art.com
Illustrations, Images, Portraits, Concepts
www.BotanicalBakery.com
Crisp, Buttery, Handcrafted Tea Cookies
www.CatalystGourmet.com
Catalyst Tea Enhancers, Cookies, Holiday Gifts!
www.CharlestonSchoolofProtocol.com
Seminars, consulting services, etiquette, protocol.
www.EarleneGrey.com
Tea Poetry and presentations. Unexpected fun!
www.LawofTea.com
www.RoryDorys.com
Keepsakes, Tea Ware, Affordable Gifts & Décor
www.SBSTeas.com
High Quality Loose Leaf Teas & Accessories
www.StartATeaBusiness.com
Learn the Tea Business from your Home Computer
www.TeaBureau.com
Tea Business Directory, News, Speakers Bureau
www.TeaCourse.com
Education & Networking for Tea Enthusiasts & Pros
www.TeaFoodHistory.com
T
A website by Lawyers for the Tea Trade
www.MissMariesTea.com
Fine teas, accessories, cozies, teapots, gifts & cards
www.MysteryTeaParties.com
Many fun, unique party plans to choose from.
www.NovelExplorations.com
Where Fiction and Travel Merge
T=Trade Only
Speaker, Educator, Tea Consultant
www.TheMeaningofTea.com
Lyrical DVD, book, CD: Meaning & Music of Tea
www.TeaNTeas.com
T
Teas-Tisanes-Herbs-Spices-direct from source
www.TeaRadio.com
Instant “On-Demand” Tea Talk - FREE
www.TeaTimeFinery.com
Designer aprons, tea fashions & accessories
www.VictorianHouseScones.com
Scone mixes-superb (almost) effortless scones
www.VictoriasJewelryBox.com
Let Us Help You Dress Up For Tea
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Tea Course is Produced by The Tea House Times
Events
Find Current Events at www.theteahousetimes.com, www.TeaBureau.com and www.TeaCourse.com
•Tea & Victorian Fundraiser Event Listings •Tea Room Directory with Events by State
•Mid-Atlantic Tea Business Association Networking/Seminars: www.midatlanticteabusinessassociation.org
•Trade Shows, Festivals, and other events listed. •Victorian Real Estate •Tea Rooms For Sale
Tea-themed Fundraisers listed at website for FREE. Tea events/classes/businesses listed for a small fee.
Find a Speaker for your next event or get listed as a speaker at www.TeaSpeakersBureau.com
STI - SPECIALTY TEA INSTITUTE
Tea Certification Courses
Tentative dates for 2010 ~ San Francisco, CA-January 2010; Anaheim, CA-April 2010
Las Vegas-June 2010; Charleston-September 2010 www.teausa.org ~ 212-986-9415
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January/February 2010
Turning Over a New Leaf ™
Changing for the Better
The New Year is here and it is time for a change! How many
times have you said that before?
2009 was a rocky year for most. The economy has taken a toll
on all of us in one way or another. Hopefully you are looking
forward to the year ahead with good health and optimism for
better things.
Can you control the year ahead through your own actions?
There are many things you can certainly control on your own.
Want to be healthier and weigh less? (The most popular resolution.) Well, you have the power to make it happen - just do
it - make changes to your diet, add or increase your exercise
routine - and overall, make healthier choices for yourself.
What about your job? If 2009 was not so good to you and your
employment status - is it a sign? Time for a change? Have you
looked into job fairs, searched for resume help, searched for
continuing education classes? What can you do to increase
your chances of keeping your job, receiving a promotion, or
finding a new - more fulfilling - job? What can YOU do?
Move ahead by taking control of your future goals.
And, what if employment statistics are still unkind? Why not
spend some of your time volunteering? You never know where
it will lead. You can search for volunteer opportunities in your
own community, through the local newspaper, or online.
If you are someone who has not yet accepted some of the
advancements and changes in technology, it is time to have a
closer look and find ways to use it to your advantage - both
personally and professionally. The internet can be good and
connect you to things you never thought were available to you.
On the other hand, technology may have taken us away from
human interaction, traditional networking, and bonds with
family and friends. Re-think human interaction and make positive changes for 2010!
Gail Gastelu is Founder and Publisher of The Tea House Times, LLC, Tea Bureau, Tea Speakers Bureau, Tea News Bureau, and Tea Course.
Connecting consumers and businesses to information and resources relating to tea - to enhance their quality of work, take businesses to the next
level, and enrich their personal lives. NEW - Lifelong Learning & Continuing Education - at TeaCourse.com
Message From the President of The Tea Association USA
The last two years have been challenging for us all and although there are significant signs that the economy is finally moving in
the right direction, the visible evidence of the disastrous affects of the worst downturn in the economy since the great depression
will haunt our memories for years to come. Tea has always been considered a beverage that could withstand tough economic times
because of its relatively low price and status as a staple food product but even tea did not come out unscathed. Tea imports into
the country have slowed a bit for the first time in several years and many tea purveyors report that “flat” is the new growth term to
describe the tea industry in 2009.
For all those tea businesses who have survived the negative affects of the economy in 2008 & 2009 the key point to remember is
that the long term positive trends for the tea industry remain very promising. The body of scientific evidence linking tea to a great
many health benefits continues to build as does the tendency of consumers to take ever increasing responsibility for their own
health. These perfectly matched trends will virtually assure that tea will grow in popularity as a means to improved health. Further,
the convenience of RTD tea and the ever increasing array of flavor combinations will make this category the preferred beverage
for tomorrow’s increasingly mobile consumer. RTD tea will always be considered a more natural, healthy, flavorful alternative to
soft drinks and even bottled water. As the economy improves so will consumer’s disposable income which will drive them back to
the tearooms, restaurants, and hotels to explore and enjoy the wonderful world of specialty teas while escaping the stresses of their
recent past. An improving economy and employee disillusionment with the corporate world will drive more entrepreneurs to the tea
industry thereby increasing consumer awareness and availability of specialty tea and helping to keep tea growth rates strong.
For those tea businesses that did not survive the economic turbulence of the recent past, we urge you not to become overly
depressed as you were not alone. Some of the biggest financial institutions in the country and the bluest of the blue chip
corporations have also struggled with many failing or moving into bankruptcy. Your decision to move into tea was not flawed and
you were simply a victim of circumstances which were totally out of your control. Someday you may find the financial resources
and the intestinal fortitude to come back into the industry that I know you still believe in. We wish you better fortune and will help
support your efforts in any way that we can.
We wish the entire tea industry good fortune in 2010 and look forward to hearing of the success stories that will surely come! We
wish everyone a very happy holiday season and a New Year full of promise and joy.
Joseph P. Simrany - www.teausa.org
January/February 2010
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
13
Featured Tea Room
The British Tea Garden - Tecumseh, Michigan
Rochelle Bird opened the British Pantry and Tea Garden Café in
Tecumseh, Michigan, in 1998, with one cook /dishwasher, one wait staff
and one clerk at the front counter in the gift area. Today there is a staff
of 12 fantastic employees, who not only know guests by name, but also
remember their favorite menu items. The British Tea Garden compliments
the historic downtown, bringing customers from all parts of the Midwest
to enjoy tea and lunch in the café and shop the day away. It has become a
destination in itself.
A customer comments about the shop:
“When I hear the name Tecumseh, MI, I always think of the British Tea
Garden. Show me a tea room anywhere and I just have to visit it, so when
I first saw the British Tea Garden, several years ago, I stopped in for
tea and lunch. I’ve been stopping there frequently ever
Friends enjoying a relaxing “cuppa” at the
since. I love the cozy old English atmosphere, with wall
British Tea Garden’s cafe.
murals that make you think you stopped in an old English
country tea room. Six quaint booths and three small tables
beckon the visitor to sit down and enjoy a cup of one of the
numerous teas that are offered. The lunch menu lists so
many great offerings to accompany the teas. Some of my
favorites are the soups…Philly tomato, cream of asparagus,
and most recently, cream of pumpkin (especially for
cold fall days). It’s difficult to resist the profiteroles. The
delicate miniature cream puffs are topped with whipped
cream and drizzled with chocolate topping and served on
flowered china plates. I always think that if you are sad,
overworked or need a break; you will become totally
refreshed by the atmosphere, beautifully presented food and friendly staff
Delightful children’s tea sets
of this darling tea room. Before I leave the tea room, I love to visit the
small pantry and gift shop connected to the café. I like to browse among
the fine china tea cups and teapots, beautiful tea towels, night lights,
books on tea and unusual greeting cards. The staff is so welcoming
here. They are always cheerful and so glad to see you, whether you are
a regular customer or visiting for the first time. I always say to myself,
“Tea and lunch at the tea room, and a little bit of shopping…what could
be better that that?” …Dorothy Schoell from Monroe, MI
A coffee lover comments on the delightful tea room: “The British Tea
Garden Café (British Pantry) has been a very special place to me for
many years. The food is delicious, the coffee is the best in town, but by far the best feature of this exceptional place is
the outstanding service. From the moment you enter the door, you feel more than welcome. You feel nurtured. Every
person who works there is gracious and helpful and I have never seen people who are such superb multi-taskers. They
juggle an amazing variety of duties with ease and cheerfulness. How can a place be elegant and cozy at the same time?
The coffee is brewed as soon as you enter and served to you in a lovely tea cup, and you’re greeted with a hospitality
that makes you feel ‘at home,’ that’s how.” …Charmine Stangl from Tecumseh, MI
The British Tea Garden & Pantry, Featuring The Roof Top Café,
112 East Chicago Blvd., Tecumseh, MI 49286 517-423-7873 www.thebritishpantry.com
14
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
January/February 2010
Lady Gayle’s ‘Picks of The Trade’ ™
HAVE A BOOK ABOUT TEA, VICTORIANA, OR FRIENDSHIP TO RECOMMEND? OR - A PRODUCT FOR US TO REVIEW?
Email: [email protected] Authors/Publishers/Businesses -- mail samples for us to review -- Address on page 2.
Home Spa Escapes ©2009 Harvest
House Publishers w/Artwork by Kathy
Hatch ISBN: 978-07369-2303-3 Small
and beautiful hardcover gift book filled
with great, stress-reducing at-home spa
ideas. It even has some ideas for your
pets! See page 15 for a sampling.
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
The Friendship Garden ©2009 Harvest House Publishers w/Artwork by
Lori Siebert ISBN 978-0-7369-2432-0
Another beautiful, small hardcover gift
book. Quotations for New Friends, Old
Friends, True Friends and more. See
page 4 for a sampling.
www.harvesthousepublishers.com
Listen to the Wind for young children.
©2009 Greg Mortenson and Susan L.
Roth ISBN: 978-0-8037-3058-8 A
beautifully illustrated hardcover picture
book with story and collages - The
Story of Dr. Greg & Three Cups of Tea
www.penguin.com/youngreaders
Watch for the sequel to Three Cups of
Tea - Stones into Schools due out Dec. 2009
Three Cups of Tea young reader’s edition
©2009 Greg Mortenson and David Oliver
Relin ISBN: 978-0-14-241412-5 Adapted
from best seller Three Cups of Tea. Updated
for young readers to bring Greg’s remarkable
story to life. Glossary, photos, illustrations,
& reader’s guide with discussion topics.
www.threecupsoftea.com
Yixing Pottery: The World of Chinese Tea
Culture by Chunfang Pan ©2004 Long River
Press ISBN 1-59265-018-X Photo after
photo of beautiful Yixing teapots. If you
collect and enjoy these, the book is a must.
Learn the origin and development, famous
teapot artists, characteristics of Purple Clay,
Decorative Methods, Sculpture and Painting.
See also p. 5 for an introduction to Yixing
Pottery. www.longriverpress.com
Botanical Bakery Crisp,
buttery tea cookies,
with an alluring aroma
of the world’s finest
herbs and spices.
Handcrafted, all natural organic ingredients. Delicately
sweet, they pair beautifully with tea. Flavors to try:
Lavender, Cardamom, Cinnamon Basil, Lemon Thyme,
Ginger Lemongrass, and Fennel Pollen.
www.botanicalbakery.com
Trudeau Tea-Riffic Tumbler Brew loose tea
or tea bags in minutes in this convenient
carry and go design. Features a built
in, removable mesh strainer and sip lid
for on the go. Clear tumbler is 16 oz,
double wall insulated and keeps beverages
hot for up to 2 hours! Find a retailer at
www.trudeaucorp.com
Two Leaves and a Bud - Two
Leaves and a Bud teas are
offered loose or in whole leaf tea
sachets. The clear packaging for
the sachets make them as eyecatching as they are delicious.
We tried Organic Assam - rich
brown leaves with golden tips
yield a distinguished multilayered “malty” flavor. We
also tried Jasmine Petal Tea
- green tea dried with petals of
jasmine flower. Some jasmine
petals remain for a great
taste and visual experience.
www.twoleavesandabud.com
Virginia Dare Vanilla Virginia
Dare has been one of the world’s
leading producers of vanilla
extracts and flavors since 1923
and sells to major food and
beverage manufacturers. VD
offers a comprehensive list of
flavors and tea concentrates. We
tried their pure vanilla extract
and it is delicious, made from the
best Madagascar Bourbon beans.
www.virginiadare.com
January/February 2010
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
15
Home Spa Escapes - Artwork by Kathy Hatch
Home Spa Escapes, Artwork by Kathy Hatch, Used by Permission, Harvest House Publishers. Review pg. 14
“There is no trouble so great or grave that
cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of
tea”~Bernard-Paul Heroux
LABEL CHECK - TIME TO RENEW?
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“Tea should be taken in solitude.” ~C.S. Lewis
*Receive Free weekly tea quotes via email when you sign up for Tea Radio at www.TeaRadio.com
16
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January/February 2010
Friendship Poetry
Enjoy poetry from our library of Friendship Quotes from the late 1800’s and early 1900’s along with beautiful poetry written by Earlene Grey.
One Small Heaven
My Special Guest
Oh, deep steep, I await your embrace.
For all my woes you shall erase.
I must get ready, I must get dressed,
I must prepare for my special guest.
Within your steaming amber brew
Are all the forces due to you;
The table is set with mother’s best dishes,
A plate with cookies and a bowl of gold fishes.
The stars, the sun, the moon, the rain,
The earthly soil from which you came.
Where’s my hat, my gloves and my shoes?
I’ll polish my nails, while the teapot brews.
All of these you blend for me
As one small heaven in a cup of tea.
“Sit here, Teddy, but don’t start yet,
I need to put in my hair barrette”.
©2009 Linda Palmer
Now I am ready, I’ll open the door,
“Come in daddy, have a seat on the floor”.
©2009 Kristina Wiley
The Edge of the Win
In a world of push and trickery,
Of all the cunning and sly
That we may apply to our effort,
Of all the smart and clever
With which we may cloak our purpose,
It is simple grace that will give us
The winning edge.
~Earlene Grey~
Earlene Grey is a published author
and the latest addition to her work
is a lovely hardbound collection
of her original tea poetry. The
book, Musings With a Cuppa – The
Poetry of Tea, presents the wit
and wisdom of a simpler, more
gracious time and is as essential
at teatime as quality tea, good
company and fine conversation.
To learn more about Earlene
and her poetry visit her website:
www.earlenegrey.com
Photo by Chris Durham
First Annual Earlene Grey™ Tea Poetry Contest
Earlene Grey has announced the winners of her
First Annual Tea Poetry Contest. First Place was printed NovDec09
First Place: Tea Leaves by Joanna DeRungs
Second Place: One Small Heaven by Linda Palmer
Third Place: My Special Guest by Kristina Wiley
Special Mention: Afternoon Tea by Dharlene Marie Fahl
For more information and rules, please email [email protected] or visit www.earlenegrey.com
January/February 2010
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
17
Red Hat Society Tea Time
The Red Hat Society is a global sisterhood of women who have found fun and friendship after 50.
April Showers Bring May
..Umbrellas?
The Tansi Tarts (Crossville, Tennessee, United States)
held their second annual gala on May 2, 2009. They
really went all out, and made the event into a formal
event, and invited other Red Hat chapters. As these
gorgeous gals entered the room, they saw a large
umbrella, red of course, with lights over it and a bubble
machine sending bubbles over the top! What a perfect
setting for pictures! They had also placed decorated
umbrellas around the room to add to the theme. Vice
Queen Laura Kappel writes, “The food was good,
the band was good and the Red Hat Ladies all looked
GREAT! Everyone enjoyed themselves. It was a
wonderful event and to have other groups join us made
it perfect!” All RHS members have 24/7 website access
to use our Online Event Calendar, which helps Hatters
find fabulous local events such as this one!
Hatters in Training
Queen Anne Lawless of the Prairie Wrinkles (Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)
wants everyone to know about two very special young ladies! She writes, “They
started serving tea and cookies at the Tea Parties for the Prairie Wrinkles and
fell in love with the whole Red Hat Idea! Anne Sophie and Emma’s mom is a
Pink Hatter in my chapter. So dedicated are they that when the school had career
day, Anne Sophie brought a red hat and a boa and explained to her class that
when she grows up, she wants to be a Red Hat Lady!! When the teacher didn’t
know what that was, Anne Sophie said that they are really happy women who
have lots of friends and tons of fun! Who could say it better!”
18
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
January/February 2010
Travel
Tea with a Clan Chieftain by Patty Suchy
Having tea with friends in a special place is always
memorable. But take a unique place and add unique
people, you have an event that won’t soon be forgotten.
On a recent British Isles cruise with the Royal-tea Club,
that is just what happened – a unique and special tea
with some unique and special people.
Patty with Clan Chief
Hector Munro
While sailing around Scotland
and visiting the port of
Invergordon, we were offered
an excursion to visit Foulis
Castle in the Highland Area
northeast of Dingwall and to
have a personal tour of the
castle along with afternoon
tea with Munro Clan Chief,
Hector Munro and his mother,
Mrs. E Munro. What a
delightful host and hostess
they were.
Foulis Castle has been home of the Munro clan since
the 14th century. Although the original structure is
mostly gone, the current castle still dates back to the
middle 18th century. I wish I could say this was a very
private affair, with just me and the Munros, but there
was a coach full of people (about 30+), including some
members of the tea club. And yet the Munros were
able to entertain us all in their living room, where they
told of the history of the house and the Clan. It’s
still a working property and Clan Chief Munro was a
little late to the discussion because he was out on his
equipment working the land, growing crops that are
sold to nearby whiskey distilleries.
Mrs. Munro was very proud of her friendship with the
late Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother – a friendship
that lasted for over forty years. The connection
between the families goes back even before their first
meeting. Mrs. Munro’s late husband, Patrick, was
taken as a prisoner of war in WWII and was in the same
German prisoner camp as John Elphinstone, a nephew
to the Queen Mother. And it was Mr. Elphinstone’s
sister, Elizabeth who had asked, back in 1959, if
the Queen Mother, who had been restoring a nearby
property, the Castle of Mey, could have a picnic lunch
on the grounds of Foulis Castle. Needless to say, the
Munros suggested that she lunch with them instead and
the friendship began. The Queen Mother was last at
Foulis in 2001 when she was 101 years old, still very
much bright of spirit.
The Munros were grand guides taking us to many
parts of the castle, including the old kitchen. What I
wouldn’t have given for some of the lovely pottery that
is still on display. In addition we learned about the
Munro tartan. I learned that color is not what makes a
clan tartan; rather it is just the unique pattern. As long
as the pattern is there, it doesn’t make a difference what
color the tartan is.
Mrs. Munro herself prepared
the afternoon tea, baking the
cookies and bars we enjoyed.
There is nothing like Scottish
shortbread -- one of my
weaknesses when I visit
Scotland. And as a matter of
fact she personally poured
the tea in the lovely dining
room where the large group
was all able to sit. They
truly made us feel welcome.
Maureen Posth
It is a memory those in
(Patty’s cabinmate)
attendance cherish on our
and Mrs. E Munro
return home.
So in your next travels, look for the opportunities
to have a unique and special experience, hopefully
involving tea. They are out there. We just have to be
ready to grab onto them when they pop up.
~Patty Suchy is founder of Novel Explorations, Where Fiction and Travel Merge. Dedicated to providing unique travel
learning experiences. For further details about creating a tea tour for your tearoom or a group of friends, you can contact her at
[email protected] or call her at 815-714-2981. Visit www.novelexplorations.com
January/February 2010
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
19
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