Brewing

Try to imagine a world without tea; no kettle on, no homely, or delicately shaped tea pots around the house, no delicate tea cups handed down from one generation to the next, no steaming cup of tea offered to a friend or a sick family member to calm the tummy, or nerves, or to linger over with a friend or new acquaintance. I can’t imagine it. So, this month we celebrate that cup which soothes, lubricates, and alerts us all at the same time. After more than 5,000 years the leaf is gaining a widespread appreciation around the world. Always revered in Asian countries where it was native, tea is the second most consumed beverage in the world after water. Having been the subject of espionage, wars, trade, and numerous legends and myths for millenia, the western world is becoming increasingly appreciative of all this good plant has to offer. The coldest month of the winter is the perfect time for us to celebrate it. Have a tea party and invite friends in; break out the prettiest tea pot and the delicate tea cups that are never used. Make tiny fingerfoods, or hearty comfort food to have with it. And most of all, be sure to inhale the aroma when you drink it and mentally observe its effect on your body as you sip.

 In honor of National Hot Tea Month, we are offering free tastings ever Saturday this month, with a focus on a different type of tea each week. Here is the lineup:

Saturday January 7th: Focus on Flavored Teas

Saturday January 14th: Focus on Black Teas

Saturday January 21st: Focus on Oolong Teas, and our Lunar New Year        Celebration

Saturday January 18th: Focus on Green and White Teas

Be sure to stop in and celebrate with us; you might just find a new tea you’ll enjoy!

Despite warmer than usual temperatures, the first day of winter is fast approaching and the holiday season is upon us. But I’ve recently noticed that inside, things are budding and blooming. At the shop, my Camellia Sinensis (tea plant) has finally opened it’s delicately fragrant, single blossom. And at home, both the Peace Plant and the Christmas Cactus are blooming. My amaryllis is not flowering yet, but I expect that it soon will push up its bud. This will be very exciting when the snow hits the ground. There may be nothing more homey than being surrounded by fragrant blossoms, drinking a cup of my favorite tea, with the cold wind and snow blowing outside. We hope you’ll join us often in the coming weeks and months of winter to warm your hands and your hearts with tea.
In the coming week

Please join us for our second Diva Day on Saturday October 23rd at The Woodfords Club in Portland. Our first event in July was a huge success, and we look forward to an even better event this time.  Meet a plethora of vendors of goods and services, get great ideas for holiday gift giving. Get pampered by the on-site massage and skin care provided, and win fabulous prizes. Sit and enjoy wonderful food from the on-site caterer. Tours of the Woodfords Club will be available; it’s a great place to hold your next event.

WHEN: Saturday October 23, 2010          

                  9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

WHERE: The Woodfords Club

                 179 Woodfords St.

                  Portland, Maine 04103

Fully handicapped accessible, plenty of parking, and great food onsite. No admission charge.

Nordic WalkingLots of vendors Jewelry

Lots of vendors

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!

In recognition of the birthplace of tea almost 5,000 years ago, we encourage you to celebrate the Year of the Boar as it is ushered in.   Celebration of the New Year starts the long Celebration of Spring, with the beginning of new life.  The new tea crops of the year are awaited with great  anticipation.                                                           

I encourage you to visit www.chinapage.com to learn more about the culture and customs associated with China. And to all, I say “FU” (Good Luck) in China!   

I’ve always loved the month of February. For such a short month, it has a lot going for it, don’t you think? I mean, it starts out with Groundhog Day where we predict the coming weather. Then add in the birthdays of two of our most revered and important historical figures, George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. Of course, the most exciting and widely celebrated day in February is that all important February 14th, the day that can make or break the future of your relationship with that significant other. From childhood to adulthood, Valentine’s Day is full of anticipation and excitement. Flowers, sweet frilly lace, rich smooth chocolate, heart shaped meatloaf…or cake…or cookies…all of these images explode in a sea of pinks and reds, and purples and lavenders. I mean, seriously! don’t you just love February?

…a book on the history of tea would be perfect for one who wants to explore more deeply this exotic plant which has been enjoyed since ancient times. Learn about the Chinese Emperor Shen Nung who legend credits for discovering the soothing and medicinal properties of this botanical when a leaf accidentally floated into his pot of hot water from the ancient tea tree above him. Such a wide variety of books are available, in every price range.

Or perhaps a selection of fine, vintage linens or service pieces to grace the table. Any of these would make a perfect gift for the Eleventh Day.

But ah, the Twelfth Day gift! This should be very special. Nothing is more special than that perfect heirloom teapot accompanied by a selection of fine teas. In such a wide range of materials…porcelain, silver, or pottery…and colors, the perfect teapot can be fancy or serviceable. Sure to become a family heirloom for everyday use is the one quart, sturdy pot in white or black with its’ own infuser basket and an insulated metal hood in stainless steel or copper finish. This is a pot which will fit into any decor and will last a lifetime!

… the perfect gift might be a stretchy beaded bracelet with a teapot dangle. Available in a variety of beads, from crystal to pearl, this is a wonderful look which your tea pot loving recipient will treasure for many years.

On the seventh day consider a tea for one set, including a teapot, cup, and saucer, already packaged in a festive red felt box along with a small tin of tea. All you need to add is your sentiment to delight the giftee. All of these for under $20.00 each!

On the eighth day, anyone would be delighted to receive a vintage teacup and saucer, a treasure from times past with years of enjoyment still ahead. Can’t you imagine the delicate hands, the endless types of tea, and the conversation to which it has been exposed?

Or on the ninth day, perhaps a set including tea pot, sugar bowl, and milk pitcher is what your tea drinker would enjoy. So many vintage items of teaware are available, something to fit every style and budget.

On the first day of Christmas, you might consider one of our unique tagalong tins of tea. Five silken sachets of premium tea in a decorative tin suitable for traveling or office. Available in a large variety of flavors at under $5.00.

On the second day of Christmas you might consider a beautiful handtied art tea. These beautiful globes open into a lovely flower when covered with boiling water, making for a soothing and serene experience both visually and in taste. A very special gift for under $5.00!

We’re very excited about our open house and hope you will stop in during our extended business hours between 10:00 AM and 7:00 PM. We will have special purchases available for your holiday gifting as well as samplings of teas, and a special gift for you as we celebrate Nellie’s 3rd anniversary!

From 2:00 to 7:00 PM artists from Gallery 265 will join us for you to meet, and will demonstrate their talents by sketching portraits. Refreshments will be served all afternoon.

In addition, Patricia of Cellar Door Floral Designs will be demonstrating beautiful holiday flower arrangements for your pleasure.

Be sure to join us for this holiday fun!

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