What Tea Are You Drinking Today?

I found I was getting low on tea, so went looking midst some of my travel packs. Whenever Jim and I travel I carry a variety of tea bags with me. Many motels now provide a coffee maker in the room, so I can heat water and make my tea, even if they don't have tea bags available.

As I browsed through my travel stash, I discovered black tea, green tea, peach tea, Earl Grey tea, lemon tea, Zen tea, green tea with lemon, English breakfast tea, and rosehip tea.

So I have many to choose from and will refresh my travel pack before our next trip.

What tea are you drinking today? I think I'll make a cup of peach tea now.

(Image: sxc.hu)

Carry Your Tea Bag with You when Traveling

Whenever I travel, I carry tea bags along. Then when I encounter situations where they don't serve tea, I usually can get a cup of hot water and make my own. I'll also have my favorite flavors with me.

Many motels/hotels nowadays have a coffee maker in the room. Usually they don't provde tea bags. Sometimes they don't even have tea bags in the lobby where they might serve coffee. If I have tea bags with me, I can enjoy my cup o' tea.

Also, I've discovered that many fast food places and coffee bars will give you a free cup of hot water, or at least charge you no more than the cost of the cup. Then I can add my tea bag and make my own, very inexpensively. I always offer to pay for they do have the cost of cups and heating water.

Do you have any tea bag traveling tips?

Tea in Cold Cups

One of my pet peeves (is that a term that dates me?) is asking for hot tea at a restaurant and being served it lukewarm. This might be due to several reasons:

*The water is only lukewarm when it comes to my table. Either it was only warm to start with, not piping hot, or sat in the tea pot too long.

*Perhaps the pot was cold, so the hot water cooled.

*Then the waitress might bring a pot of very hot water to the table, but present me with a cold cup. Sometimes it seems the cup has come from the refrigerator. I sit there with the cup in my hands, trying to warm it slightly, so the water won't get cold as soon as I pour it.

I like my cup of tea to start out hot. Then if it cools, it's my choice.

Books About Daylight Saving Time & Spring

Discover facts and figures (the curious and the ordinary) about Spring and Daylight Saving Time

Seize the Daylight: The Curious and Contentious Story of Daylight Saving Time by David Prerau
Spring Forward: The Annual Madness of Daylight Saving Time by Michael Downing
Crafting Springtime Gifts: 25 Adorable Projects Featuring Bunnies, Chicks, Lambs & Other Springtime Favorites by Tone Finnanger
Time for Change: Setting Clocks Forward by One Hour Thorughout the Year by Mayer Hillman
The Divine Hours: Prayers for Springtime by Phyllis Tickle

Discover Some Food Blogger Delights for Tea Time

Take a look at these delights contributed by the Food Bloggers you may like to try for tea time...and for your meals. There also are some cooking gadget ideas.

Chicken in Red Curry An easy, delicious curry with chicken and vegetables, served with rice.

Cooking Gadgets Would you like to get your pressure cooker out of the box?

Finding Food Memories in Community Cookbooks Mary Emma at Country Kitchen reminisces about food memories she finds in cookbooks of earlier days.

Nighttime Noshing: Getting Back on Track Jean had her first slip in the battle to lose the six ugly extra pounds she put on last year. And it was a biggie!

Plan Now For Summer Grilling With the proper planning your garden can be a great source for delicious summer grilling.

White Chocolate Chip Cranberry Cookies Delicious, easy cookies with white chocolate chips,cranberries and pecans

Do You Prefer Hot or Iced Tea?

Depending on the part of the country or the world where you live, you may be more accustomed to hot or cold tea. Hot tea is my preference, although I don't mind iced tea, especially in hot weather.

However, I find a cup of hot tea more refreshing, relaxing and reviving than a glass of iced tea. Perhaps that's because hot tea was more common in our household and my grandmother's when I was growing up.

I have found that when we travel in southern regions of the United States, it's more difficult to get hot tea served in restaurants. In fact, some don't serve it at all.

"We can heat up some sweet tea in the microwave," one waitress told me.

I appreciated her attempt to be helpful but that's not what I wanted for my breakfast. I also don't like sugar in my tea, so it heated sweet tea did not appeal.

If I travel with my own tea bags, I generally can get a cup of hot water when hot tea isn't served. So that has been one solution.

Which do you prefer, hot or iced tea? Or don't you care? Perhaps you don't drink tea at all.

Tea Time Notes Blogger Published

Tea Time Notes blogger, Mary Emma Allen has stories featured in the new release, Eternally Yours, an anthology of poetry, light essays, devotions and meditations, edited by Mary Ellen Grisham and published by Xulon Press.

Featuring some of the best Christian writers on the Internet, this book represents work that has appeared in the Eternal Ink E-zine since it’s inception in 1999.

In addition, Mary gives presentations and teaches workshops at schools, libraries, writers’ conferences, and for other groups. Some of her talks include topics such as Alzheimer's and caregiving, quilt history and quiltmaking, New Hampshire history, and writing.

I was pleased when Ms. Grisham selected some of my stories for inclusion in this anthology. It's exciting to encourage and inspire others with my writing.

Tea Parties of the Boston Type

Tea as a beverage for drinking and tea as a protest...it's been used both ways in American history.

Today, tea is brewing as a protest against President Obama's policies, reminiscent of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists rebelled against British rule and taxation without representation. Tea parties are cropping up all over the U.S.A. as citizens speak out against policies that will lead to greater taxation.

The power of tea! As a calming beverage when you're stressed, a social beverage for gatherings among friends or a symbolic one with overtures of protest as exhibited by the American colonists and citizens today.

Groundswell of Obama Opposition Called a "Tea Party"

More Tea Parties Are Brewing Along with Investigations into Obama's Birth

Will You Grow Herbs for Your Teas?

I came across an article today that says seed and gardening supply sales are up in spite of the hard economic times. Probably it's because of these hard economic times.

Backyard gardens are especially popular and more people are planning to raise their own vegetables. It's predicted that gardening supply sales will jump 40%. Also, vegetable seed and plant sales are squeezing out the flower sales.

This reminds me even more of the Victory garden era of the World War II years.

For tea drinkers, this might mean that more will raise herbs in their gardens or in window boxes and make their own beverages from them.

What types would you try for tea? Do you have any favorites?

Tea & Party Fare from the Food Bloggers

The Food Bloggers are a group of us who write about food, recipes and related topics. I hope you enjoy our selection this week and find something that will accompany tea, whether afternoon tea, breakfast or lunch.

A Homemade Fruit and Yogurt Parfait Use fresh or frozen fruit to make a midwinter healthy treat.

Busy Family Meals The best chocolate cookies Cyndi has ever had. Ever!

Butterfinger Buzz A review of Nestle's new caffeinated candy bar -- a twist on an old favorite!

Cooking Gadgets Cyndi has two Smith's Edge knife sharpeners to give away this weekend!

Mardi Gras Cocktail Recipe A delicious recipe for your Mardi Gras celebration

Quilled Pastry Hearts with Key Lime Curd You can make quilled hearts out of paper or get really creative and make them from frozen puff pastry.

School Lunch Variations Mary Emma at Country Kitchen chats about school lunches past and present and gives you a recipe for Mayonnaise Cake.

More About Tracy DiSabato-Aust

I mentioned Tracy DiSabato-Aust's book launch tea party in a previous post...an idea I thought fascinating. There Tracy was introducing her new book, 50 High-Impact, Low-Care Garden Plants.

I recently wrote about Tracy's gardening blog and her ideas for designing a garden if you don't know where to start. You'll find this on my Gardens Green & Glorious blog under, Learn Gardening Design from Tracy DiSabato-Aust.

So if you enjoy gardening, as well as tea, you'll find Tracy's post of interest.

Happy Valentine's Day from Tea Time Notes

Happy Valentine's Day!

May this be a special day for you.

We have been enjoying Valentine's Day flowers, cards and candy. This was a fun day at school yesterday with the Valentine parties.

Today the children in our household are enjoying it, too.

As far as tea...I've been drinking Assam tea today.

Will Obama Increase Tea Drinking?

Apparently Obama prefers tea, hot and cold, to other beverages. Will this increase tea drinking and tea sales?

According to the Bigelow Tea blog, President Obama Favors Organic Tea, especially chilled Berry Teas. So they and other tea companies apparently are introducing new organics.

Now I have questions...How are organic teas different? What's so special? Where are they raised? How are they processed?

If you have answers, let me know.

Flowers for Valentine Teas

Have you considered decorating with flowers for a Valentine's Day tea? Or giving a Valentine arrangement to your hostess?

A friend who works in a florist department of a supermarket as a floral designer says that Valentine's Day is the biggest and busiest "flower" day of the year. It starts for them at least two weeks before Valentine's Day when the flowers start coming in.

They must prep the flowers, getting rid of leaves and stems and preparing them for bouquets and arrangements. They must make sure they have enough vases and Valentine related decorations and embellishments.

My friend is very creative, so she's often requested to design special arrangements using her ideas. Flower arranging is an art and not simply putting a mass of flowers into a vase in a hodge podge way.

Silk flowers also are in style and popular because they'll save. Some florest departments work with these, too. However, look for craftspeople who specialize in silk flowers for special occasions.

Craft stores also usually handle silk flowers. They may even hold classes on silk flower arranging.

Are you including flowers into your plans this Valentine's Day...either to give as a gift or to decorate your tea party?

What Are You Planning for Valentine's Day?

Are you planning any parties? Do you have a special tea party in mind? Is there a particular tea you're going to serve?

This was an exciting time when I was a youngster, with parties at school and at home. My mom made this an occasion for us four children, even though she was busy with farm work and housework.

The schools still have Valentine parties. Where I substitute teach, the youngsters in grades K-5 are looking forward to a special afternoon on the day before Valentine's Day because they won't be in school on the 14th.

Adults often celebrate with a special dinner for two, giving flowers and gifts. A friend, who works in a florist shop, says this is the busiest day of the year for them. They start preparing and taking orders two weeks ahead.

At senior centers and nursing homes, they may plan a special Valentine's Day tea, with special decorations. Heart-shaped treats might be served. Valentine's given out to each one attending.

What are you doing for Valentine's Day in your family and your life?

The Delights of Tea Infusers

Tea Infusers

Tea infusers actually consist of almost any container that holds loose tea you can immerse in boiling water. Some of the more recent ones are glass or plastic inserts that fit into the glass container. My daughter Beth gave me one that has small slits in the bottom of the glass insert for the water to seep through into the glass cup.

I’ve been experimenting with tea bags, loose tea, and tea flowers, trying to decide what works best. I’ve enjoyed using some Earl Grey loose tea I had on hand. The tea flowers Beth gave me also are delightful.

Infuser Facts & Suggestions

In my research, I found a few facts about tea infusers.

*Infusers come in many sizes. Some fit tea pots and others are made for individual cups.
*Infusers are made in many materials.
*Infusers should be fairly large for your teapot or cup.
*To make good tea, the tea needs to have space to “swim” and the water to circulate.
*Tiny infusers made in novelty shapes will crowd your tea so the water doesn’t circulate through the tea leaves well.
*You should have at least twice as much space as utilized by a heaping teaspoon of dry loose tea leaves.

Now I wonder about those cute little tea infusers (sometimes called “tea balls”) I’ve been collecting. Some are no larger than a teaspoon of loose tea. One that I have is shaped like a teaspoon with a snap over top and will only hold a teaspoonful of tea.

Tea Infusers & Tea Flowers

I like to try different types of tea and collect tea accessories.

For Christmas, my daughter gave me a glass mug with tea infuser. I’d seen one of these…a glass tea pot with infuser when Jim and I had dinner with friends. But I hadn’t realized they came as individual tea makers.

Tea Flowers

The package also included a “tea flower” consisting of green tea scented with jasmine flowers. This made delicious tea, actually cup after cup to keep me going the whole afternoon.

In checking out information about tea flowers, I discovered they’re tea leaves hand sewn together in various bud shapes using different types of tea. When these flowers are steeped in hot water, they unfurl into attractive leafy arrangements. If you use glass tea pots or cups, you can watch the flowers take shape.

Tea Accompanied with Ideas from the Food Bloggers

The Food Bloggers are a group of bloggers who enjoy sharing their recipes or write blogs related to recipes, foods, health and nutrition, and cooking. They have some up with some more recipes that you may be able to serve with tea or at tea parties.

Alphabet Cake Pan Personalize your birthday cake with an alphabet cake pan. Make their initials, or their age in cake!
Busy Family Meals Vindaloo sauce can be used to flavor meats, but we like it best as a vegetarian delight!
Chocolate Covered Buttercrunch Bars Chocolate and buttercrunch treats made with a surprise ingredient.
Cooking Gadgets Space saving genius: collapsible colanders!
Horehound Drops A herbal home remedy for a sore throat or cough.
Old Woodenware Stirs Memories Mary Emma, at Country Kitchen, finds that old kitchen woodenware brings back memories of cooking in the farmhouse kitchen of childhood.
Super Bowl Snack: Edamame "Hummus" A delicious thick dip made with edamame, tofu and avocado The Experts' Suggestions to Curb Nighttime Noshing Most of the registered dieticians and diet websites Jean found as she tries to curb her nightly noshing habit have pretty specific suggestions to help.

Have fun as you try these. Let me know if there is something you particularly enjoy with your tea.

A Book Launch Tea Party - What a Grand Idea!

I just visited Tracy DeSabato-Aust's blog and learned of a fascinating idea - A Book Launch Tea Party. Tracy describes this gathering of friends to celebrate the launching of her new book, 50 High-Impact Low-Care Garden Plants.

Don't you simply love this idea? There are so many variations you can develop whether you're launching a fiction, non-fiction, children's or adult's book.

• Some tea parties might be costume ones.
• For others you could wear a hat.
• Foods served could be some mentioned in the book.
• If you do have a tea party in your book, recreate it at your launch.
• You also could arrange a virtual online tea party launch.
• If your book is set in a different country, find teas served there.

If you've ever had a tea party book launch, do share with us.

Do You Find Old Kitchen Woodenware Fascinating?

Although this isn't strictly a Tea Time topic, old kitchen woodenware could come in handy for it's decorative effect at tea parties. You might have some of your own, handed down in the family, like I do. Or perhaps you simply enjoy collecting antiques. Even modern woodenware looks lovely.

I've written a post over at Country Kitchen, about old woodenware evoking memories, that you might enjoy.

A Tea Party Accompanies a Beauty Break

Tea Parties seem appropriate most everywhere. The other day, as I conducted a skin care and make-up Beauty Break session at a friend's home, she combined this with a tea party for refreshments.

After I analyzed the gals' faces, then showed them how to use the skin care and make-up items, we chatted over cups of tea and dainty cookies. Since it was just after the Christmas holidays, the hostess had some pressed cookies with red and green decorations, as well as sugar-free cookies since her mom, who attended, is diabetic. Pretty napkins and dainty cups completed the arrangement.

Gathering around a cup of tea seems to enhance friendships and create a festive atmosphere.

Tea Party with J K Rowling

A month ago, I wrote about a tea party with Harry Potter author, J K Rowling, some children in England would be attending. This was a highly publicized event celebrating of the release of Rowling's new book, Tales of Beedle the Bard.

I was wondered if anyone attended the tea party who reads any of my blogs. It would be fun if you'd leave a comment and let us know how you enjoyed this special tea party. Was Mom as excited as you?

Were there any other tea parties going on to note this occasion...in libraries, bookstores, homes, schools? If so, what were they like?

Happy New Year's from Tea Time Notes

May 2009 be a wonderful year for you.

It's cold (3 degrees F.) and windy here where I live.

But we're looking forward to a grand 2009.