Brewing

Fit for the Royal couple

There’s nothing quite like a wedding to get people excited, and when that is a royal wedding, it is the event of a generation! My Grandmother, Nellie, would be ecstatic over the festivities scheduled for tomorrow. We look forward to seeing all the news coverage as well; what will everyone be wearing? …the bride?…the queen?…the mother of the bride? Who will we spot among the guests? …and what will they be wearing?

Please stop by the shop this weekend to sample some of our specially made Kate and William Royal Wedding Blend with some goodies to go with it. We raise our tea cups in a toast to the young couple’s marriage and wish them a long and happy life together!

Now that schedules have settled down a bit, here are our new fall hours, effective immediately:

Thursdays:      1 to 6 PM

Fridays:           10 AM to 5 PM

Saturdays:        9 AM to 1 PM

Other times by apointment. It’s a good idea to call ahead in case there has been a change due to a special event.

About the spice…yesterday I had this gorgeous juicy tomato and some wonderful mozzarella cheese on hand, so decided to have them for lunch. I had some basil, which was great, and I had some lovely Maine sea salt. So, the makings for a beautiful salad for my lunch were at my fingertips. But, I LOVE pepper, and I didn’t have any at the shop. I then realized that my new chai blend has a nice peppery tone to it and decided to try it on my salad. I sprinkled some of the dry tea blend over the tomatoes and cheese, cut into them with a little piece of basil, and…heavenly! The combination of tea with spices…cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander, ginger, cardamom, and pepper was so enriching to this salad, setting the tastebuds into nirvana. I highly recommend experimenting with using tea and tea blends as seasonings. If you think a dry tea might taste good as an ingredient in a dish you’re making, it probably will. Use them as you would any spice or seasoning.  Bon Appetit!

This has certainly been a good winter for reading, so I thought I would pass along a few thoughts on some new titles out there.

I was curious about a new book which has been receiving quite a bit of press, The Ultimate Tea Diet, by Mark “Dr. Tea” Ukra. Although recent research clearly supports many health benefits of tea, including slight boost in metabolism, I was curious to see what an entire book on the subject of tea and weight loss would have to say. I am relieved to report that Mr. Ukra’s book also includes sound advice about the importance of healthy food choices and regular exercise. He clearly is enthusiastic about his subject and shares numerous testimonials from happy “Tea Diet” followers. The book includes basic information about tea and its preparation as well as two weeks’ worth of menus and many recipes, all of which include tea as an ingredient.

Although I am reserving judgement until I have a chance to ask the author some questions in person at this year’s Tea Expo, my first thought is following the diet can’t hurt, and it might help. It provides a sensible food plan and might introduce you to some teas you will love.

The book I am currently reading is THE TEA HOUSE FIRE by Ellis Avery. Set in late nineteenth-century Japan, the story chronicles the life of a young American orphan taken in by the family of the premier Japanese Tea Master of the time. Woven among the trials and tragedies of the characters is a priceless description of life with Tea Ceremony during a period of time when the West began to have more access to this exotic and alluring culture. Both the writing and the details of Tea Ceremony are exceptional in the hands of the author who studied Japanese tea ceremony for five years in New York and Kyoto. This book is one to curl up with on a wintry day, as you don’t want to put it down.

Neither of these books is available at Nellie’s, but can be easily found at your local book sellers. I hope you will enjoy some cozy reading. Please feel free to write with some books you have been enjoying.

Best Regards,

Marianne

The ground is white, the wind is blowing, and whether you’ve been out trekking in the cold all day or snuggled inside where it’s warm, there is nothing more welcome than a fragrant cuppa at a certain time of day. I suspect this is the reason January has been officially designated as “Hot Tea Month”. Whether you have one favorite that you drink all the time, or prefer to try something different each time you have tea, THIS is the month to treat yourself to something special. Maybe it will be your standby favorite English Breakfast blend, or an aromatic Oolong. If you need a decaf, I have been getting excellent reports on our new Comoro Vanilla by Harney and Sons, a smooth decaffeinated black tea flavored with just the right amount of vanilla.

If your Valentine is a tea drinker, try giving a different type of flower this Valentine’s Day: a Blooming Flower Tea. There is nothing more beautiful than these globes of hand tied tea leaves as they open in a clear glass of boiled water to reveal the inticate floral design hidden in the center. Scented with Jasmine, these flowers create a mini-vacation in the midst of a busy day as they can be re-infused up to three times. What better way to say ” I love you ” to your special person?

I honestly don’t know where to begin in reporting to you the highlights of this year’s Tea Expo which I attended in Atlanta almost a month ago. With almost 5,000 attendees this was the biggest in its five year history. Everyone has their own idea for a unique niche in the tea business, and there is no sign of the growth slowing as of yet. I guess as always, the real highlight for me was meeting new people who are enthusiastic and passionate about tea, hearing their stories and plans, and then reconnecting with those I’ve met before to see how they’ve progressed. This is true for other tea business owners as well as vendors of products.

One of the products I’ll be carrying as a result of the EXPO is a scone mix from Victorian House Scones. The owner has perfected a scone mix which draws on a memory of scones and tea enjoyed in her youth with an elderly neighbor. Available in original or original oatmeal formulas, the mix is accompanied by handy directions for freezing and baking the dough as needed, as well as recipes for modifying the scones with various flavors and additions. You will want to try these for sure.

I had the pleasure of meeting a lovely young woman designer from Philadelphia. Harshita Lohia is a native of India, educated in the United States and married into a family in the tea business. A designer of clothing, jewelry, and home decor, she has developed a line of lovely tea themed accessories. For now, I will have some of her beautiful cotton/silk blend drawstring bags, and a few scarves, with the hope of increasing the selection of her designs in the future.

We are definitely now in the midst of iced tea season, and it’s easy to make any of your favorite teas into a perfect glass of iced tea. The secret is doubling the amount of tea leaf used, steep as usual, and pour over a container (individual glass or pitcher) packed with ice. If you like your particular blend sweetened, you can either add the sugar to the hot steeping tea, or make a simple sugar syrup by mixing equal parts sugar and water, bringing to a simmer and stirring until sugar is dissolved. This simple syrup can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. One of our favorites with customers is Harney and Sons Hot Cinnamon Spice Tea prepared in this way. I also have a customer who likes to blend the Hot Cinnamon Spice with Earl Grey in equal proportions for her iced tea. The possibilities are endless, so experiment and enjoy!

The 2007 tea harvests are beginning to arrive in the U.S. and we will soon be receiving our first shipments of single estate teas. Within the month we will have a Yellow Mountain Green Tea from China, an Oranic Oolong, and a new batch of the popular hand-tied flowering tribute teas.

I hope your summer is going well, and that we will see you soon at 265 Main Street. Downtown Biddeford is hopping, and the ART WALK, being held the last Thursday of every month is becoming a popular event. On these evenings, we are open until 9:00 PM. Have a Happy and safe 4th of July!

Calling all tea drinkers! This is your opportunity to win $20,000 in scholarship money, just for talking about your love for tea. This competition is being sponsored by the United States Tea Association and the prize is fantastic. For making a very short You Tube video in which you tell your favorite way to drink tea and include some facts about the health benefits of tea, you win scholarship money, a trip to NYC, and a grand time! To learn the details of the competition and to view some of the videos already submitted, visit the web site of the Tea Association at www.teausa.org and click on the Calm-A-Sutra picture in the lower right hand corner. But hurry! There are only seven more days to submit your entry! Wishing you the very best! Marianne

We have been having so much fun recently at Nellie’s with teatasting classes, Red Hat visitors, (and visits from my grandson)! Since I am currently clumping around in a rigid orthopedic boot while my broken foot heals, that in itself is cause for some laughs. But we’ve also enjoyed wonderful groups and classes, which is what makes this endeavor so worthwhile. There is still time to enroll in our next TEA 101 class taking place next Sunday March 18th from 2 to 4:00 PM. The cost is $15.00 per person. So please call or e-mail with questions or to save your spot in the class. Please enjoy some photos from our recent events.

I am so excited to introduce our new products from Thistledown Cozies, located in our neighboring state of New Hampshire. Annelise of Thistledown has designed a wonderful array of styles with an exciting selection of fabrics. Included in this line are tea wallets from the same selections of fabrics. This an item for those on the go who don’t want to get caught without their favorite tea. A compact and portable accessory, it will hold six teabags and four packets of sweetener. Be sure to check these items out!

As we say good-bye to the year 2006, I would like to thank all of our loyal customers for the good wishes and favorable comments you are so generous with when you visit the shop. Until a few years ago, the retail industry was totally foreign to me, except as a consumer. I have come to appreciate how incredibly difficult it is to create and maintain a thriving retail shop. The passion which pushes us to pursue this dream is only part of what keeps us going. The other part is you, the customer who shares their day, their stories, and their personalities with us. We learn to recognize your moods and your body language on our good days. It is often your kind words which lift our spirits on a dreary or long day. We enjoy being part of the community and are grateful for your support and acceptance of us in your midst.

So, a hearty Thank You, and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year to each and every one!

With Warm Wishes,

Marianne and Company

Just in time for your last minute gift giving, the long awaited Japanese green tea sweets have arrived. Try these lovely and unique chocolates for their smooth, creamy texture with the rich, chocolate flavor cut by the slight bite of organic Matcha green tea from Japan. This is a taste treat you won’t want to miss. Available in bars of white chocolate blended with powdered Matcha Green Tea, small bite size chocolates of the same recipe, or Matcha Mountain, a mound of ground pistachio nuts blended with Matcha Green Tea and honey, covered with rich dark chocolate, then sprinkled with green tea leaves.