I enjoy Laura Child's Tea Shop Mysteries, set in Charleston, SC. The owner of this tea shop continually becomes involved in murder and mystery as she operates her shop. However, we learn a great deal about tea in the process.
Some of these mysteries include:
The Teaberry Strangler
Death by Darjeeling
The English Breakfast Murder
Shades of Earl Grey
The Jasmine Moon Mystery
Have you read any of these? Do you have any favorites?
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tea. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Saturday, August 22, 2009
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)
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
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?
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?
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
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.
*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.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
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.
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.
Friday, February 20, 2009
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?
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?
Saturday, February 14, 2009
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.
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.
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.
Monday, February 02, 2009
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 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.
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.
Monday, January 26, 2009
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.
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.
Monday, January 19, 2009
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.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
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.
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.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Planning In-Home Tea Parties
Tea Party
One of the latest innovations for in-home parties involves tea, according to the blogger at Tea Sippers. She tells about David Pilhirney, who owns a tea store in Calgary, Canada.
He conducts in-home parties with various types of tea, tea history, and conversation. This could generate tea sales at the party and serve as great PR for his business.
This is an idea others might like to try. There are so many variations and possibilities.
Perhaps you've attended or hosted an in-home tea party. Share your experience with us.
One of the latest innovations for in-home parties involves tea, according to the blogger at Tea Sippers. She tells about David Pilhirney, who owns a tea store in Calgary, Canada.
He conducts in-home parties with various types of tea, tea history, and conversation. This could generate tea sales at the party and serve as great PR for his business.
This is an idea others might like to try. There are so many variations and possibilities.
Perhaps you've attended or hosted an in-home tea party. Share your experience with us.
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Watching for Santa Over a Cup of Tea
Christmas Eve
The grandkids excitedly anticipated the wonders of Christmas and informed us they could watch Santa's progress by satellite. Simply check into the Norad site and follow on the map as Santa makes his way around the world to the United States.
So while I enjoyed a cup of tea, we watched Santa's progress. This also is a fascinating way for youngsters to learn geography and facts about different countries.
They finally gave up and went to bed as Santa headed toward South America. He has a few hours yet to reach our country.
Have you ever watched Santa via satellite? What will they think of next!
The grandkids excitedly anticipated the wonders of Christmas and informed us they could watch Santa's progress by satellite. Simply check into the Norad site and follow on the map as Santa makes his way around the world to the United States.
So while I enjoyed a cup of tea, we watched Santa's progress. This also is a fascinating way for youngsters to learn geography and facts about different countries.
They finally gave up and went to bed as Santa headed toward South America. He has a few hours yet to reach our country.
Have you ever watched Santa via satellite? What will they think of next!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Tea and Cookies Galore
After Bible Study tonight at church, we had cookies, tea, coffee or punch and conversation...a time to exchange Christmas greetings and enjoy friendship. Several of the ladies contributed homemade cookies of various types:
Cranberry Nut Jumbles
Coconut Drops
Krispy Rice Bars
Sugar Cookies with a dab of jam in the center
Frosted Sugar Cookies
Brownies
Chocolate Tarts with Whipped Cream
Chocolate Drop Cookies with cherry in the center
(I know there were more, but I can't recall them all right now.)
What kinds of cookies do you serve with tea during the holidays?
Cranberry Nut Jumbles
Coconut Drops
Krispy Rice Bars
Sugar Cookies with a dab of jam in the center
Frosted Sugar Cookies
Brownies
Chocolate Tarts with Whipped Cream
Chocolate Drop Cookies with cherry in the center
(I know there were more, but I can't recall them all right now.)
What kinds of cookies do you serve with tea during the holidays?
Sunday, December 21, 2008
Check Out the Quilt Book Giveaway at Quilting and Patchwork
Giveaway
If you're a quilter or simply like giveaways, why not stop over at Quilting and Patchwork and participate in the Giveaway of a Mini Quilt Book. It's in progress over there.
Do you like to sit down over a cup of tea and browse through quilt books or discuss them with another quilter? This can be relaxing and inspiring.
Perhaps you're not a quilter yourself, but know of someone who would enjoy this book by Patricia Mainardi.
If you're a quilter or simply like giveaways, why not stop over at Quilting and Patchwork and participate in the Giveaway of a Mini Quilt Book. It's in progress over there.
Do you like to sit down over a cup of tea and browse through quilt books or discuss them with another quilter? This can be relaxing and inspiring.
Perhaps you're not a quilter yourself, but know of someone who would enjoy this book by Patricia Mainardi.
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Tea Cup Ornaments
You can find ornaments for Christmas trees and other types of holiday decorations in the form of tea cups! A friend gave me one a couple years ago that was a tea cup with saucer attached. Another time there was a small teapot.
Recently I saw a tea cup ornament with a tiny dog inside.
Do you have any tea cup or tea party related ornaments?
Recently I saw a tea cup ornament with a tiny dog inside.
Do you have any tea cup or tea party related ornaments?
Saturday, December 06, 2008
Tea Pots and Tea Cups
I’ve seen a festive tea pot with holiday design at the local thrift shop where my daughter and I often stop for unique as well as useful items. If it’s there the next time we visit, I think it was meant for me to acquire.
I also look for interesting tea cups for serving tea on various occasions or simply to use myself. Today I found (at our local recycling facility…formerly called “the dump”…a Golden Wheat tea cup and saucer. This brought back memories because that was the first set of dishes Jim and I owned.
Where did they come from? Boxes of soap detergent. There was a promotion for Golden Wheat in the detergent my mother-in-law purchased (to wash laundry for a family of 10) She collected this dishware for us and accumulated a set of 4. The only other item I have left after 48 years is a soup bowl.
What do you collect for tea cups?
I also look for interesting tea cups for serving tea on various occasions or simply to use myself. Today I found (at our local recycling facility…formerly called “the dump”…a Golden Wheat tea cup and saucer. This brought back memories because that was the first set of dishes Jim and I owned.
Where did they come from? Boxes of soap detergent. There was a promotion for Golden Wheat in the detergent my mother-in-law purchased (to wash laundry for a family of 10) She collected this dishware for us and accumulated a set of 4. The only other item I have left after 48 years is a soup bowl.
What do you collect for tea cups?
Thursday, December 04, 2008
Tea With JK Rowing...What Fun!
Tea Party
To celebrate the release of her latest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, famed author JK Rowling invited approximately 200 school children to enjoy tea with her. What an exciting experience!
Read more about this at my One Book Two Book blog. This book is a spin-off of sorts from the latest Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows.
I wonder what they had for tea and refreshments. Possibly something with a Scottish influence since this was to take place in Edinburgh.
To celebrate the release of her latest book, The Tales of Beedle the Bard, famed author JK Rowling invited approximately 200 school children to enjoy tea with her. What an exciting experience!
Read more about this at my One Book Two Book blog. This book is a spin-off of sorts from the latest Harry Potter book, Deathly Hallows.
I wonder what they had for tea and refreshments. Possibly something with a Scottish influence since this was to take place in Edinburgh.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)