I apologize for my lack of posting yesterday. I was enjoying a short and very needed retreat with my daughter at Nana’s bed and breakfast. It certainly pays to have a tea educator in the family, as she brewed me many pots throughout our visit! The three generations enjoyed feasting on Babycakes, shopping in Paris, and having an urban tea experience together. I brought home two new UNFLAVORED black teas to try as well as a brand new Bodum Glass Kettle
. These purchases allow me to already fulfill two of the five New Year’s resolutions I wrote about on Tuesday. I came home to many chores but with no children. As a homeschooling mother, I know my priorities! I unpacked the kettle, brewed a 24-ounce pot of Mim Darjeeling, popped a leftover cinnamon pastry in the oven to warm, and sat down to write. The chores can wait.
In the meantime, let’s continue to consider how Teatime Magazine can spur us on to new tea experiences in 2008. Here’s the list and my response to the second half of their ten New Year’s tea resolutions.
Invite someone you care for to Afternoon Tea in your home. This resolution best explains the very goal I hold for the readers of Tea Party Girl. The simple gift of offering yourself, a friend, or others a pot of well-brewed tea with a little-touch-of-something will reward the partakers over and over again. It’s a simple grace anyone with a home can provide. Give the gift of afternoon tea to yourself first, and then offer it to a loved one.
Appreciate the aesthetics of tea. What does this mean exactly? It means slowing down and savoring the art of tea and NOT starting by dumping large quantities of sugar and milk in your cup. I can’t tell you how often I witness this. It’s like having your uncouth relative sit down to your well-made meal and dump salt all over it before even tasting it. Well-brewed tea has a unique bouquet, color, and flavor that is meant to be appreciated. At least take the time to experience the tea’s uniqueness first, and THEN add the milk and sugar if desired.
Try new teatime recipes. Yes. For the record, Tea Party Girl is looking for a food blogger who would like to contribute once a week to this blog focusing on teatime recipes. One of my regular readers, Mz Rita, asked why we don’t have a category of teatime recipes. There is a category called Tea Party Food and I try to add to it once per week. However, if you are interested in helping build this category here at TPG, be sure to contact me.
Learn to brew a perfect pot of tea. What IS a perfect pot of tea? It’s a pot that is piping hot, without bitterness, and has been steeped the appropriate length and strength. There is much to the art and science of brewing tea. It takes practice, and one size does not fit all. Be sure to see my article, “The Beginner’s Quick and Simple Guide to Brewing Looseleaf Tea” for more information.
Create your own personal daily tea escape. Hmmm. I take it back. I think this resolution best explains my hope for TPG’s readers. In a society filled with stimulation, I long for us to remember to stop, appreciate simple beauty, and make room for quiet. Because I truly believe it makes us better people for the sphere of influence we’ve been given.
Will you make room for the art of tea in YOUR life in 2008? How? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Entry Filed under: Tea Party Reviews
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5 Comments Add your own
1. Steph W | January 4th, 2008 at
What fun your retreat sounds like!
Darjeeling Mim is one of my all-time, top 5 teas!
2. GG aka Gossip Girl | January 6th, 2008 at
My goal this year is to get you to come up with a tea time ritual for mountain folks! Seriously, I do want you to include one. We don’t have the luxury of a great tea selection up here–the tea room disaster has prevented me from going back over there–what should I do?
Anyway, I finally got around to adding you to my RSS reader, been meaning to do it for ages. You really have been doing an outstanding job!
3. susan | January 6th, 2008 at
I dont know much about tea. But can you believe that one of my goals this year is to have several tea parties!
Once a month is too much of a committment for me at this stage.
I am so looking forward to doing this with the help of information from sites like yours. Thank you for the information.
As a side note, I’m a former homeschooling mom. Those were the best and hardest years of my life.
Susan
4. Kendralee | January 7th, 2008 at
Appreciate the aesthetics of tea! Now I had to chuckle at that one! I read it out loud and dramatically to my dear daughter who loves tea with sugar, and I had JUST told her to try it without sugar, earlier today! HOW FUNNY!
I am one of those uncouth tea drinkers. The latest tea I had though was a fruit and almond tea that was quite lovely. I definitely resolve to drink my tea without sugar or milk this year of 2008. And I resolve to try drinking tea more often. Perhaps I will be less uncouth and more educated by the end of 2008. Should be interesting anyway!
Wouldn’t it be nice to stop everyone in this little darn trailer at 4:00 (if that is even the right time) and sip tea together quietly while doing a half hour SSR (silent sustained reading). Hmmmm, sounds like something to incorporate! Will 4:00 never get here today??? Accckkkkkkkk!
TA TA
5. Melody | March 20th, 2008 at
I know I’m late jumping on this, but I would be interested in talking to you about posting weekly tea-time/party recipes.
Let me know if you are still interested/need someone.
-Melody
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