Tea Time with A.C. Cargill

10 Super Things to Toast with Tea in February

2012-02-01T09:30:00.000-05:00

One month of the year down already! Amazing how fast time flies, especially for those of us busy learning about, enjoying, tasting, and writing about tea. Time for another round of fabulous things in life that deserve a lift of the teacup and a cheery “Salute!”

Celebrate Cherry Pie Day on February 20th!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Forgetting to Time Your Tea

2012-01-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

Forgetfulness is not the exclusive province of the elderly. At least that’s what I keep telling myself, and thus am assured that being forgetful is not a sign of being over the hill. Many people — even some decades younger than me — forget things due to their busy lives, including attending to their children. I don’t have that excuse either. So, why do I often forget…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Jasmine Tea Roundup

2012-01-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

Jasmine teas fall into what the tea experts call “scented” teas. I just call them “flavored” teas, since items used to create the scents usually affect both aroma and flavor.

Whether you call it “flavored” or “scented,” jasmine tea has been around a long while, starting some time during…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

My reviews to date of Jasmine teas:
Review: Adagio’s Jasmine Bloom Flowering Tea
Review: Two Leaves and a Bud’s Jasmine Petal Tea
Review: Hsin Tung Yang Jasmine Green Tea
Review: Chaa Jasmine Green Tea
Review: Shui Tea’s Dragon Phoenix Jasmine Green Tea
Review: The Royal Tea Company’s Royal Green No. 3 (Jasmine)
Tea Adventure: Jasmine Tea from The Boston Tea Company
Review: Joy’s Teaspoon All That Jazz-mine Tea

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Book Review: “The China Gambit” by Allan Topol

2012-01-26T09:03:00.000-05:00

Just released this month is the latest mystery/action novel The China Gambit from Attorney Allan Topol. In a moment of mental weakness, I got persuaded by the press release to consent to read a copy and write a review. The copy that arrived was paperback and 442 pages long, so I knew it would require more than one potful of tea to get through the whole thing.

Before talking about this book, let me digress into the arts and society in general. Nothing too esoteric here. Having studied art history as well as having had a Literature Major in college, I’ve noticed that a trend that starts in one of the arts or one aspect of a culture gets picked up by the others. For example, the Rococo Era encompassed not just painting, but music, furniture, fashions, architecture, and yes literature. Similarly, the Minimalist Era spread across all those areas, as did Impressionism, Romanticism, and so on. This novel seems to have been influenced by the trend in music and movies for quick cuts and short, jerky actions. As annoying as I find that in movies, it is almost intolerable in a novel.

Okay, got that off my chest. So, what about The China Gambit otherwise? Definitely well-researched. Definitely written by an attorney. Definitely action-packed. Definitely a quick read. So much for the good points.

I have to bemoan the lack of good writing out there in literature these days. No, I don’t mean word usage, grammar, and punctuation. I mean a richness to the language, the imagery, the view into the hearts and souls of the characters. Instead we get a bunch of vapid, shallow, zipping around novels that are all about the action and not about the characters. This may be a bit biased on my part as a true fan of Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, James Joyce, Daphne du Maurier, etc. Even so, I have to state that The China Gambit will leave you feeling like you do about an hour after dining on Chinese food: wanting something more substantial. But first, if you’re like me, you will start out feeling pissed off at the death of Francesca Page in the Prologue. It was a necessary plot element and is the catalyst for the action that follows, but it’s still infuriating for this young, smart woman to die as she did. Also, to compare this novel to Scott Turow, Robert Ludlum, and others of that genre is not a very nice thing to say about those authors. When not writing choppy novels, Topol uses his time and efforts representing companies being harangued by the Environmental Protection Agency, the mainstay, it seems, of his legal career.

All I can say in summary is read at your own risk. But then, that’s always the case.

Time to steep some more tea!

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots — Part 3

2012-01-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

Part 1 gave you some idea what Yixing teapots were all about while Part 2 showed how to prepare your teapots for use. It’s finally time to start actually steeping tea in your teapot to drink and enjoy!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots — Part 2

2012-01-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

When you first dive into the world of Yixing (“Ee-sheeng” or “Yee-sheeng”) teapots, you need to be sure to get the real deal and a good deal (see Part 1). That accomplished, you are then faced with the scary question: “Now what?”

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Diving Into the World of Yixing Teapots — Part 1

2012-01-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Some of the most treasured teawares are made from a special clay called “zisha” by artisans who train for years. The clay and the best artisans are from the province of China called “Yixing” (pronounced “Ee-sheeng” or “Yee-sheeng”). I have always been a bit leery of taking the plunge and buying one or more of these little gems, but have finally…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

It’s Steep Off Time — Two Teapots Go Spout to Spout

2012-01-20T09:30:00.000-05:00

Keeping the peace among the teapots in my bevy can be a bit tricky. One teapot tends to get a bit envious when another teapot gets to steep a particularly special tea. They also can develop a competitive instinct, challenging each other to steep offs.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Cat Lovers and Tea

2012-01-19T09:30:00.000-05:00

Cats have a reputation for liking fishies, birdies, and other tidbits. They have been known to try to sip from teacups, too, especially if you use milk in your tea, and to nibble on whatever goody you are eating with your tea. Many tea lovers are also cat lovers, so it’s pretty natural to think of the two, that is, cats and tea, together.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Shown here: Ceramika Artystyczna Signed Polish Pottery from the Boleslawiec region of Poland

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The Stages of Tea Enjoyment

2012-01-18T09:30:00.000-05:00

You start out wanting something hot to drink. But you don’t want something too sweet, so hot cocoa is out. And you can’t take all that caffeine, so coffee is out. Then, you find that box of teabags in the back of the cupboard. Hey, if they can do it in the movies, surely you can dunk a teabag in a mug of hot water and end up with something potable.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Can You Brew Tea Like You Brew Coffee?

2012-01-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

The Tea-Cha company, headed by Ian Bersten, has proposed a revolution in tea preparation: brew it like you would brew coffee. Is that really possible? Ever being the one to like to test things out and run little mini-experiments, I looked forward to receiving the newest model of Bersten’s brew filter and giving it a whirl.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Dancing with Teajay

2012-01-17T08:40:00.000-05:00

Just as DJs (disc jockeys) get you moving to the beat, Teajay gets your tastebuds dancing with flavors. Founded by Selen Mostyn and located in the port town of Goole in East Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, their goal is to give tea drinkers alternatives to the humdrum tea choices currently available in the UK.

Wanting to attract younger people to tea, the company names its teas after songs and pieces of music, such as Club Bizarre by German-based DJ Brooklyn Bounce and Wind of Change by New York-based singer/songwriter Lew Doty. Their web site launched near the beginning of this year, and various sites were deluged with their press releases. They also made their presence known on Twitter and Facebook. Their line of teas and herbals consists of 10 carefully selected and flavored mixes, ranging from their own version of two classics: masala chai and Earl Grey.

Intrigued, I accepted an offer to try some of their flavors. The samples have arrived, and our adventures with them will be posted on Little Yellow Teapot Tea Reviews over the next few weeks.

Mostyn also runs a cleaning services company. The various press releases tout her as award-winning, but the award had nothing to do with tea. It was related to this cleaning company. Another reason why awards are hardly a reason to buy from a particular tea vendor.

Company site: http://www.teajay.com/

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Fave “Gulper” Teas for Breakfast

2012-01-16T09:30:00.000-05:00

Sylvakandy Estate Orange Pekoe

Busy lives need fuel to get the day started out right. For tea devotees, no breakfast is complete without a brisk cuppa. “Gulper” teas are best, usually having a bigger caffeine punch and stronger flavor that goes well with many typical breakfast foods like waffles and eggs and bacon.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea Kettle Philosophy ― “Decade Birthday Angst”

2012-01-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Celebrating birthdays with tea can be a great alternative to the age-old tradition of going out with friends and getting plastered, or having a mild heart attack when you walk in your front door and are greeted with shouts of “Surprise!” Yes, tea is a saner and safer way to celebrate. But it’s also a great soother of “decade birthday angst.”

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Shelley Jacobs Rodner — Inspired by Tea?

2012-01-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea inspires. From poets to painters, from writers to musicians, and most especially interior decorators. Such inspiration truly flows to award-winning decorator Shelley Jacobs Rodner of Bethany Beach, Delaware.

There is one word to describe the interior designs of Rodner, and it is not one…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Ian Bersten Proposes Tea, the 21st Century, and Beyond — Part 3

2012-01-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Part 1 talked about Bersten’s book to bring us tea drinkers into a more modern approach. Part 2 let you know who this dedicated tea inventor was. Now, we need to take a quick look at the tea company he founded in 2008.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Ian Bersten Proposes Tea, the 21st Century, and Beyond — Part 2

2012-01-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Part 1 was about a short e-book by Ian Bersten that was written with the intent of lifting tea drinking up into the marvels of the 21st Century. But who is Ian Bersten? Good question, and I have an answer for you.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Ian Bersten Proposes Tea, the 21st Century, and Beyond — Part 1

2012-01-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

How do you improve on tea steeping? Simple. Bring it into the 21st century. At least, that’s what Ian Bersten proposes in his latest book Tea for the 21st Century.

For those of us raised with porcelain teapots and bagged tea that we steeped in a mug of hot water, Bersten’s proposal can seem…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea Moments — The Chef Knows Best?

2012-01-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

This “Tea Princess” has a hard enough time getting a decent cuppa tea in a restaurant. Dealing with temperamental chefs just adds to the dilemma, especially when the chef proclaims that he knows best.

It’s tricky to be a chef, something I fully acknowledge. However, tastebuds are tastebuds, and we each have our own set, attuned to our particular sensibilities. While a good chef takes pride in his/her skill…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

How to Cure “Holiday Withdrawal” with Tea

2012-01-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

Suffering from “holiday withdrawal” now that Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve are behind you? Cheer up and cure those withdrawal symptoms with tea!

This endeavor should not be as laborious as it may…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Golden Pu-erh Is Truly Golden

2012-01-04T09:30:00.000-05:00

Pu-erh is one of those teas that can take multiple infusions and is often infused in smaller amounts. A lot of pu-erh is sold in large cakes where you have to break off a chunk to steep it. Some is sold in mini cakes (“tuochas”), which are sized about right for a small pot of tea. Recently, though, pu-erh has become available loose and even in…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Starting Off the New Year with a New Tea!

2012-01-03T09:30:00.000-05:00

The last chorus of “Auld Lang Syne” has drifted off into the night air, the last balloon inscribed with “Happy New Year” has popped, the confetti has been swept up, and Dick Clark has been put back in cold storage for next year’s dropping of the big ball in Times Square. Time to close the door on the old year and start off the new year with a new tea!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

10 Super Things to Toast with Tea in January

2012-01-02T09:30:00.000-05:00

True tea lovers certainly need no reason to break out the accoutrements and prepare some of that wondrous liquid. However, once prepared, tea makes a most excellent beverage with which to toast occasions both special and trivial. To start off the new year, you had your celebration at the stroke of midnight and…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2012 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Lining Up Those Tea Resolutions

2011-12-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

The time is near to line up those tea resolutions. Like the commonly made resolutions of losing weight, studying harder, being nicer to people, etc., tea resolutions are goals we set for the New Year in the hope of getting more enjoyment from the tea we drink.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Russian-Grown Tea

2011-12-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea is grown in Russia? Yes, some. Tea is certainly a popular beverage in Russia and has been since the first half of the 17th century, with regular deliveries having started in 1689 per an agreement signed with China. The samovar was contrived to make the most of every precious drop and to…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea and the Pioneer Spirit — Packaging Overkill?

2011-12-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea loose is for many people totally passé. Fine… people want convenience… sounds good to me. However, the “bags” that tea is now being put in for steeping is turning into fancy sachets in various shapes, and sometimes these are, in turn, packaged in special paper containers or other wrappers. Are we getting “packaging overkill” here? My Pioneer Spirit says, “Yes!”

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea Gadgets Rated — Round 2

2011-12-26T09:30:00.000-05:00

Once again, we’re taking a closer look at tea gadgets that seem to pop up on the market like mushrooms after a Spring rain. Over the past couple of years intrepid and tireless tea journalist William I. Lengeman III has sought out the weirdest, cutest, and downright silliest…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

More info on The Tea-time Tea Steeper shown above.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The Night Before Christmas and a Good Cuppa Tea

2011-12-24T09:30:00.000-05:00

It’s been quite a year and isn’t over yet, but I’m already winding down 2011 and gearing up for 2012. Before that, though, I wanted to present you all with this little missive, shamelessly based on Clement Clarke Moore’s classic poem:

Twas the night before Christmas
Where Santa Snoopy sat
In his red Santa suit
And a red Santa hat

The lebkuchen were set
’Side the tea mug with care
For gobbling by Santa
When he arrived there

The tea mug was filled
With most tasty tea
And milk and some sweetener
To bring Santa glee

Poinsettias and evergreens
Add their festive hues
And snowglobe with sleigh ride
Will cure Santa’s blues

In exchange for these goodies
Great gifts we’ll receive
Our thank you from Santa
’Cause we still believe!

Here’s hoping that you get all the great gifts you asked Santa for!

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

A “Tea Princess” Christmas

2011-12-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

Santa gets his milk and cookies, but what does a “Tea Princess” get for Christmas? That’s easy: anything she wants!

A “Tea Princess” Christmas is full of …

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Royal Albert Roses for Your Table

2011-12-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

One of the most sought after and exquisite china lines is Royal Albert. Their beauty and fine detailing bring a real aesthetic to any table.

Founded around 1896 by Thomas Clark Wild in Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, England, and trading under the name “Royal Albert,” the company specialized in…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

My Version of “Jingle Bells”: Gifts of Tea!

2011-12-19T11:00:00.000-05:00

Your gift list is as long as Santa’s list is (or at least as long as your arm). The malls are crowded and your shopping time is limited. You didn’t dare brave the Black Friday crowds and so were not able to take advantage of those “door buster deals.” Now, time is getting short. Gifts of tea can speed up the process, especially when you order online!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Yixing Teapots from Draphix Corp.

2011-12-19T10:51:00.000-05:00

The internet is the bringer of many things — information at our fingertips (some true, some false, and no good way to tell the difference), and a wealth of products (some good and some that look much better in their photos than in person). Recently, I discovered an Amazon.com “shop” called Draphix Corp. Among other things, they carry a limited selection of yixing teapots in some fanciful designs. I stress “limited” — we’re talking 1, 2, or 3 of each in stock, and when they sell, that’s it.

I’m passing this along to you anyway, in case you’re interested and might want to check them out while they’re still available. And, yes, the quality is good, or at least I can vouch for the 3 that I just acquired to be buddies to Little Yellow Teapot.

Genuine YiXing Teapot - Fishing Basket
Approx Capacity 175ml (6oz)
Approx Dimensions 5.5" x 3.5 inches

Genuine YiXing Teapot - Bamboo and Squirrel
Approx Capacity 225ml (7.5oz)
Approx Dimensions 3.5 inches x 3.5 inches

Genuine YiXing Teapot - Birds
Approx Capacity 300ml (10oz)
Approx Dimensions 6 inches x 4 inches

Authentic YiXing Teapot, Carved Peach with Large Handle
Approx Capacity 300ml (10oz)
Approx Dimensions 5.5 inches x 6 inches

Genuine YiXing Teapot - Elephant and Dragon Boat
Approx Capacity 400ml (14oz)
Approx Dimensions 7.5 inches x 5 inches

Genuine YiXing Teapot - Gourd
Approx Capacity 200ml (7oz)
Approx Dimensions 6 inches x 2.5 inches

Beautiful YiXing Teapot, Chinese, Fish and Duck
Approx Capacity 250ml (8oz)
Approx Dimensions 5 inches long (tip to spout) x 3.5 inches tall

Genuine YiXing Teapot, Frog on Lotus with Moving Seeds - Peace and Harmony
Approx Capacity 350ml or 12oz
Approx Dimensions 7 inches x 4 inches

Authentic YiXing Teapot, Yin Yang - Chi
Approx Capacity 300ml (10oz)
Approx Dimensions 7 inches x 4 inches x 3 inches

Disclaimer: I am in no way affiliated with the seller and am not paid any portion of the purchase price nor any other fee by anyone associated with these items.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Taking Photos of Your Tea Experiences

2011-12-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

Sharing photos of the teas you are drinking at any particular time online on your blog or on social media sites like Twitter and Facebook is becoming a rather common occurrence. The big question on your mind is probably: Why don't my photos of tea ever look as perfect as those on tea vendor websites?

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Another Cuppa, Please!

2011-12-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

The last drop of tea has been drained from your teacup. Your thirst for tea, however, rages on, plus some teas are ones so rich in flavor that they keep you wanting more, concerns about caffeine notwithstanding. You just gotta have "Another cuppa, please!"

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Genmaicha shown here. A lovely green tea with roasted rice kernels.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Royal Doulton by Wedgwood

2011-12-13T09:30:00.000-05:00

Since the founding of the Wedgwood company by Josiah Wedgwood in 1759, the company has been dedicated to creating the finest quality teawares and more. The company grew over the years and started acquiring other potteries and forming strategic partnerships. Today, Wedgwood is part of Waterford Wedgwood Royal Doulton (WWRD).

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

A Tea Gift Under the Christmas Tree

2011-12-12T09:30:00.000-05:00

While the kids are hoping for the latest must-have toy under the Christmas tree, tea lovers are putting their list of teas and related items in their letters to Santa (with copies laying around for their friends and family to find just in case). Nothing can bring that twinkle to their eyes like that tea gift on Christmas morning!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Making Tea a Part of Your Christmas Tradition

2011-12-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Christmas traditions build up over the years, from setting up the tree and decorating it to the after gift unwrapping clean-up. Tea can be a part of those traditions as a thirst quencher while you go about all of those holiday activities. Here’s my list…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Checking Out Teavivre

2011-12-08T10:41:00.001-05:00

Awhile ago I was pleased to receive some samples from Teavivre and meant to post a nice little introduction item here about them, but life got a bit busy. Anyway, we just had a chance to try the first sample, so I thought I’d better get busy and post my findings on the company here straight away.

According to the company web site, the company consists of “a group of tea lovers and aficionados from China, Australia, Canada and France” who live in China and travel a lot to the various tea gardens. Don’t hope for any specific names other than Angel Chen, the name used by the person who emailed me about sending some samples.

Personally, as good as a company’s teas might be, I find it hard to recommend them if you can’t know who the people are. Having found out that some samples I had received awhile back came from a company that had an agenda far different from my own and not at all in a good way, I now have a rule about not reviewing or promoting such companies. Such is the case here.

Little Yellow Teapot wants to proceed with the reviews but cautions you, dear humans, that we have no idea who the people are behind this company. You may have no problem with that and it is entirely your choice. We just want you to know up front.

See the reviews soon on that teapot’s blog!

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Stocking Up on British Seasonal Treats

2011-12-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

I am absolutely gaga for certain British foods, some of which are only available during the Winter Holiday Season. If you’re like me, then some stocking up is due here. Time to make a list, check it twice, and get that order in.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Have been scarfing these down since the day after Thanksgiving:

Read Your Tea’s Label

2011-12-06T09:30:00.000-05:00

Whether you’re trying a new tea or revisiting one that you haven’t had for awhile, check out the vendor’s label on the package or, if there isn’t one, their information about the tea on their web site. Even for teas with which you’re familiar, information about…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Dear Santa, I Want This Teapot!

2011-12-05T09:30:00.000-05:00

My wish list begins “Dear Santa, I want this teapot…” The problem is that there are so many choices out there. Stylish teapot designs abound, so selecting just one takes some careful consideration. It’s essential, though, this time of year for tea lovers to…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tsuki 0.5L Cast Iron Japanese Teapot

Tealightfully Tea Licious!

2011-12-02T09:59:00.001-05:00

The Tea Licious store, now closed

Running a tea room can be rather stressful, and many do not last long. Some who think about opening a tea room decide instead to open a tea shop, having far fewer regulations to deal with. But even tea shops are tricky business, subject to a number of things, including the ups and downs of the economy in general. So, switching to selling online is often the best alternative.

I bring this up because to some extent that has been the saga of Carol Inch of Tea Licious. She started with a tea shop in the city of Layton, Utah. According to an article highlighting local businesses, she carried:

“…a range of teas including black, oolong green and white, flavored blends, flowering teas, yerba mate, rooibos and phytotherapy teas. In addition, you can also pick up tea chocolates, tea jellies and jams, chai apple butter, tea mints, agave nectar, green and red tea smoothies, matcha green tea lattes, tea accessories and books about tea.”

She also served afternoon tea and crumpets. (I love crumpets, toasted with some butter and jam!)

Then, the economy went squish or boom or bust or kaplooey… whatever. So, renting store space and paying all the utility bills was a bit much. Time to switch her efforts to the company’s online store.

Originally from Nantucket, Massachusetts, where hot tea gets them through the cold winters, Carol now hangs out in Syracuse (just north of Salt Lake City, Utah) and focuses on being a great source for those who like both premium teas as well as flavored teas. A number of her herbals and some of the teas listed tout health benefits. I personally don’t pay attention to all the claims being made these days, so much of them being unsubstantiated. Many vendors include this information in part because customers ask for it.

What makes me happy is the bunch of straight teas she carries, including Houjicha, Yin Zhen, Royal Yunnan, Formosa Oolong, and Dragon Well, all at prices that seem most reasonable. That irascible little teapot buddy of mine and his Tea Gang will be reviewing a whole bunch of these and a few flavored teas over the next couple of months.

Here’s hoping that her online venture will be a huge success! Check out her listings for teapots and other accessories.

Take a few moments to read her informative About Us page on the company site.

Website: http://www.tealiciousllc.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/TeaLicious06

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

20 Reasons to Drink Tea in December

2011-12-01T09:46:00.001-05:00

December is upon us. It’s a month chock full of all sorts of activities, from cleaning up the Thanksgiving leftovers to baking and shopping and partying to celebrate the Winter Holidays. Keep the teapot full of hot, tasty tea to celebrate these times, to serve to guests who drop in for a holiday visit, and to keep yourself pepped up and well libated.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Winter Yard Work and a Cup of Tea

2011-11-30T09:30:00.000-05:00

Yard work doesn’t end when Winter comes. It just gets a bit easier, mainly because there are fewer bugs on the hunt for fresh feeding grounds (like my arms and legs). You do have to bundle up a little more, though, since the weather is usually a bit nippy then. A hot thermos of tea is also good to have on hand, too, to fend off the chill.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea and the Brass Buttons

2011-11-29T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea is known to stimulate and to calm. What better beverage to partake of while doing something tricky (at least to this person who rarely holds a needle and thread) like replacing all the buttons on an otherwise splendid blazer? For this teetotaler there is none.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Fortune Cookie Tea Time

2011-11-28T09:30:00.000-05:00

Fortune cookies aren’t just for that bit of something extra at the end of your meal at the local Chinese restaurant. They make great tea time treats, too. You can buy them by the boxful at some stores selling Asian foods and serve them at your next tea party.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Teapot Shape Defies Infusers

2011-11-25T09:30:00.000-05:00

Have you noticed that the best steeping teapots, no matter how “unique” they are, have a tendency toward stout? There are exceptions out there and some really “different” ones in that pack, but generally short and squat are regarded as the preferred dimensions for the best steepers. From the standard in many a UK kitchen…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

A Special Thanks to Tea Growers

2011-11-23T09:30:00.000-05:00

’Tis the season when we give thanks for the good things in our lives. Tea is one of the best things to us tea lovers out there, so a special thanks to tea growers is certainly warranted.

Most of us have some awareness of how produce items get from the soil they grow in to…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

My Christmas Mug Gift List Line-up

2011-11-21T09:30:00.000-05:00

’Tis the season for a host of those oh so cute Christmas mugs to pop up everywhere. I have a collection that hubby and I have bought and that others have given us as gifts. We tend to give such mugs as gifts, too, being careful not to give the same mug design to someone who gave that design to us in a previous year. Needless to say, it gets trickier every year.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Making the Switch from Bagged to Loose Tea

2011-11-17T09:30:00.000-05:00

Many of us tea drinkers start out with the proverbial tea bag and a mug of hot water when we make our first forays into drinking tea. Often, this is due to influences at home or from other tea drinkers. Mainly, it is a result of the…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea Can Keep You from Overindulging During the Holidays

2011-11-16T08:35:00.001-05:00

Overindulging during the holidays is so easy to do, but tea can help you keep your intake to a somewhat reasonable level. That will save you a lot of dieting in the New Year ― a feat in and of itself worth celebrating.

The main cause of this overindulgence, or so I theorize, is…

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Candlelight and Tea

2011-11-15T09:30:00.000-05:00

Candlelight can really set a mood, turning a humdrum dinner into a romantic encounter and a simple tea time into an exotic event. We all have our moods. We can be happy, sad, thoughtful, playful, solemn, and exalted. But the flicker of candle flames transcends them all and brings a relaxation to whatever you’re doing.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

5 Odd Uses for a Tea Cozy

2011-11-14T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea cozies are handy things, keeping teapots warm for those of us who take our time in consuming the tea within. They come in Dome style, Snuggie style, Knit-hat style, and something called The HOB, to mention a few. But these cozies have other uses besides “thermal conservation,” some not well known and others made famous by standup comedians. In fact, let’s start with that one.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea Gadgets Rated — Round 1

2011-11-11T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea gadgets abound, and over the past couple of years intrepid and tireless tea journalist William I. Lengeman III has sought out the weirdest, cutest, and downright silliest tea gadgets out there. Other people post their latest find on Facebook and Twitter, swearing that the gadget is a tea lifesaver. I have even…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Do Tea Awards Affect Your Purchases?

2011-11-10T09:30:00.000-05:00

Awards are given to many things, tea included. They are a sign that someone thinks that the time and effort invested in the award-winning item was well-spent. However, just as in wine, a tea winning an award is no guarantee that you will like it. Winning an award in a category like best package design certainly doesn’t. But even winning an award for taste is iffy since what the judges like can be quite different from what you like.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The Boston Tea Company Apple Cinnamon Scone Mix

2011-11-10T08:41:00.000-05:00

Here we go again. The Canadians are coming…to a scone mix near you! Hubby and I received a sample of Canadian company Cobblestone Kitchens Apple Cinnamon Scone Mix from The Boston Tea Company. That means it’s time to get baking!

The mix is in a plastic bag in the diamond-shaped box. (The box is a little large, with the bag only filling up about half of it. Our one beef with this brand is the excess packaging: big box, small contents.) Prep for getting the mix ready for the oven is pretty simple. A bit of milk and vegetable oil added to the dry mix, stir, plop on an ungreased cookie sheet, and into the oven they go. The mix has real apple pieces, which is so nice to see. We were able to stretch out the mix to 10 scones this time, which was expected based on the weight of the dry mix (7.5 oz.). The quality of these scones more than compensates for the small quantity.

The scones came out of the oven lightly browned and crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. Plenty of apple bits, and the cinnamon level is just right. Hubby and I pigged out, adding a little butter and getting a wonderful taste experience. It inspired the poet in us, and we came up with the following little ditty:

When the kids and the spouse
Are out of the house
And you need a true tea time delight,
Bake a batch of scones up
And fill your teacup
With your favorite tea steeped up just right.

While apple cinnamon is a flavor combo that is very popular during Winter Holidays, you can enjoy these all year round. This flavor and the others available from Boston Tea Company are great to have on hand for holiday guests. Keep some of each on hand for your hungry holiday horde, or fix just one for your special intimate tea time all by yourself or with a “certain someone.”

See also:
The Boston Tea Company Cranberry Scone Mix
The Boston Tea Company Lemon Poppyseed Scone Mix
The Boston Tea Company Blueberry-Cranberry Scone Mix
The Boston Tea Company Plain Scone Mix

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea and White Chocolate

2011-11-09T09:30:00.000-05:00

Tea and chocolate go together like love and marriage, like Cookie Monsters and cookies, like riverbeds and water, like… well, tea and chocolate! White chocolate is different from full-blown chocolate yet also goes well with tea.

Unlike regular chocolate, white chocolate does not include…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

The Real Issues with Flavored Teas

2011-11-08T09:30:00.000-05:00

The following is my personal opinion on the real issues with flavored teas. Some of you may relate to this, having experienced these issues first hand. Others of you will pooh-pooh them, saying you love flavored teas. Either way, here goes…

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Blackcurrant flavored black tea

Roundtable Topic: Pairing Teas with Teawares

2011-11-07T09:30:00.000-05:00

Another roundtable hashing of a topic of concern to you tea lovers. Do you invest heavily in specialized teawares so you can properly steep the growing array of teas in your stock? Or do you stick with your tried and true teapot or mug? Tea bloggers weigh in here, and your thoughts are welcome, too.

As for me, my motto is…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea and “Cookie Cutter” Movies

2011-11-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

A Dalek enjoying a “cuppa”

So many movies seem to follow the same mold these days that they seem not written but cut out like cookies with a cookie cutter. In a way, this makes these movies as perfect for tea time as real cookies are.

These “cookie cutter” movies have the same villains, the same…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.
© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Start Your Thanksgiving Plans with Tea

2011-11-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

Time to start making Thanksgiving plans, beginning with the menu. Turkey ― check! Cranberries ― check! Stuffing ― check! Sweet potatoes ― check! Green bean casserole ― check! Tea ― che… uh… huh?

Tea with your Thanksgiving feast sure isn’t usual here in the U.S. despite the…

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Last year’s feast featured Devonshire Tea

Tea Shop as Pharmacy?

2011-11-02T09:30:00.000-04:00

With all of the claims for health benefits from tea flying around online and just about everywhere else, tea shop owners are being besieged by people demanding the latest tea fad. When the shop personnel say “I’m sorry we don’t carry that tea,” the customer treats them as some horrible ogres who are personally responsible for their suffering. It’s a real rock and a hard place. Sigh!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

20 Reasons to Drink Tea in November

2011-11-01T09:30:00.000-04:00

November is upon us. Ten months gone, and two to go in our annual journey through space around the Sun. The biggies this month are U.S. Election Day (1st Tuesday after the 1st Monday), Veteran’s Day on the 11th and Thanksgiving (U.S.) on the 24th (always the third Thursday).

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Button Day is November 16th. Sort yours while sipping a cuppa!

Curds at Tea Time

2011-10-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

Let’s face it ― the word “curds” tends not to stir the appetite. Maybe it’s because of the nursery rhyme (Little Miss Muffet on her tuffet eating those curds and whey ― cottage cheese to you and me). However, curd is quite a pleasant thing sometimes.

There are two basic types of curds…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea Dilemma — The Awkward Bit

2011-10-27T09:30:00.000-04:00

It can happen — that tea dilemma — and usually does when you least expect it. You go to pour a cuppa from the teapot, anticipating that flow of fragrant, delicious tea to fill your cup, but … agh! you barely get enough for a good swallow or two. That’s the “awkward bit” leftover from a wonderful full pot of tasty tea.

Now what do you do? Well, that depends…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Making a Pumpkin Pie for Tea Time

2011-10-26T09:30:00.000-04:00

Those little pie pumpkins are popping up in grocery stores and farmers’ markets, signaling that it’s time to make a pumpkin pie for tea time! We picked our pumpkin and headed home to make this tasty treat that is becoming an annual tradition in our house (hubby baked pies the two previous years around this same time).

The great thing these days is…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

This pumpkin is only slightly larger that my intrepid tea buddy, Little Yellow Teapot.

When the pie was ready to scarf down, Little Yellow Teapot steeped up some Keemun Panda to go with it.

Sylvakandy Estate Ceylon Tea — Sheer Delight!

2011-10-25T09:30:00.000-04:00

Sylvakandy Estate Tea from Ceylon just upped my taste standards when it comes to a nice cuppa black tea. The taste is quite distinctive from teas grown in the Assam area of India despite the varietal of Camellia Sinensis being the same (Camellia Sinensis assamica).

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

See my review of this tea.

The Boston Tea Company Cranberry Scone Mix

2011-10-24T13:56:00.000-04:00

The Canadians are coming…to a scone mix near you! Hubby and I received a sample of Canadian company Cobblestone Kitchens Cranberry Scone Mix from The Boston Tea Company.

We began by pulling the plastic bag containing the mix out of the diamond-shaped box. (The box is a little large, with the bag only filling up about half of it. Our one beef with this brand is the excess packaging: big box, small contents.) You need a bit of milk and vegetable oil to add to the dry mix. The mix, oil, and milk stir up easily and form a sticky glob in the bowl. Plenty of cranberries in this mix, that’s for sure.

As we’d done previously, hubby and I used our drop method for the scones and once again got 8 scones, what we expected based on the weight of the dry mix (7.5 oz.). The quality of these scones more than compensates for the small quantity.

The scones came out of the oven lightly browned and crisp on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The cranberries were plentiful but not overly strong. That’s good if you like your scones au naturel (without butter, jams, clotted cream, etc., on them), and these are certainly light enough to eat that way. However, if you prefer to top your scone, try some lemon curd. I did, and it was a great flavor combo. The tea ably served up by “Tea Gang” member “Bruno” (from Louisville Stoneware) was an Assam steeped up lightly so that we could drink it straight and yet not yet have it overwhelm the delicate flavor of the scones. We scarfed down 6 of the 8 scones in no time, saving the final 2 for a treat later.

While cranberries are very popular during Winter Holidays, you can enjoy them all year round. This flavor and the others available from Boston Tea Company are great to have on hand for holiday guests. Keep some of each on hand your hungry holiday horde, or fix just one for your special intimate teatime with a “certain someone.”

See also:
The Boston Tea Company Lemon Poppyseed Scone Mix
The Boston Tea Company Blueberry-Cranberry Scone Mix
The Boston Tea Company Plain Scone Mix

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Tea and Candy Corn

2011-10-24T09:30:00.000-04:00

Candy corn is available all year round, but in Autumn it seems to be much more prevalent. Perfect for a little something sweet to have with a nice cuppa tea.

What Is Candy Corn

Candy corn is, as the name suggests, candy that is shaped like oversized kernels of corn. It is sugar laden, so indulge with caution. In fact, candy corn is made primarily from…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Developing Tea “Color Vision”

2011-10-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

Color is an important element in the world around us, whether it’s the color of the paint on the walls and other décor of your humble abode, the colors of Nature changing from season to season, or the color of the tea you’re drinking. You just need to develop your “color vision” to truly appreciate these hues.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Whether you’re buying, selling, or freshening, your painting the interior of your house can be very effective. Having good “color vision” is the key.

Before and after shots of the guest room. We didn’t let the purple paint on the walls keep us from buying this house. We could see the room as it would look after we painted it. That’s “paint color vision.”

One thing I can really see buyers objecting to is – ugh! – wallpaper. My husband and I bought a house a few years ago that had wallpaper on most of the walls. (We must have had some kind of moment of overconfidence in our ability to remove it all.) Most of the wallpaper was so well-applied to the walls, that we would have had one tough time taking it down, leaving us with the option of painting over it. We mulled that over for a couple of years and then decided to move (well, we also needed more space).

Tea Tin Parade

2011-10-20T09:30:00.000-04:00

That “Pioneer Spirit” is alive and well in me, the part that just can’t bear to let go of something with a smidgen of potential to be used in one way or another. This is especially true of empty tea tins.

Tea was originally shipped from The East to Europe in metal-lined wooden chests, fine ceramic jars, and…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Roundtable Topic: Sweeteners and Tea

2011-10-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

This is the first of what may be a series of “roundtable topics.” Several writers who contribute to this blog will be weighing in on various topics related to tea. We encourage you to join in with your comments.

Originally, we were all going to discuss which…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

“T” Is Not Just a Letter of the Alphabet

2011-10-18T09:30:00.000-04:00

A, B, C, D… the alphabet is great for tea! And the best letter is “T” for without it, how could we have tea? (Yes, I know, we also need an “E” and an “A” — bear with me here!)

There are lots of words for this beverage steeped from…

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British Candies Are Perfect for Halloween

2011-10-17T09:30:00.000-04:00

Halloween time is upon us once more. Time to line up treats for the kiddies. Some of the best options are those wonderful British candies. Stock up now before that doorbell starts ringing.

Let’s set the scene…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Keeping a Tea Log

2011-10-14T09:30:00.000-04:00

So, you are well on your way to being a truly Picky Tea Drinker — congratulations! But what was the scrumptious tea you tried the other day that knocked your tea-loving socks off? You think and think but can’t remember. And what was the perfect steeping time for that Dou Yun Mao Jian from…

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Pumpkins and Tea

2011-10-13T09:30:00.000-04:00

One of the favorite flavors of Fall is pumpkin. This is true for pies, tarts, breads, soups, and — yes! — teas. They make for a tasty tea time, especially as weather turns cooler.

If you opt for pumpkin pie, tarts, or bread, try some …

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My review of The English Tea Store’s Pumpkin Spice Black Tea.

Tea Time and Sticky Toffee Pudding

2011-10-12T09:30:00.000-04:00

Tea time and sticky toffee pudding is a very British combo but also one that is becoming better known here in the U.S. First, though, we have to get past the language barrier.

“Pudding” in Brit lingo is not quite the same as…

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Auntys Sticky Toffee Pudding

The Value of Boutique Tea Vendors

2011-10-11T10:43:00.000-04:00

Tea drinkers can rejoice. We have more than that aisle at the grocery store to choose from when needing to restock our tea pantry. One of the growing categories is the “boutique tea vendor.” They bring extraordinary value to your tea experience.

What Is a Boutique Tea Vendor?
I don’t know if that term is official, but “boutique” seems to fit tea vendors who bring you a carefully sourced selection of finer teas. Just like boutique stores where you can find some less cookie cutter merchandise that is often of higher quality than is available at a “big box” store. This is sort of built into their business model. The bigger stores, like the ones I described in my article on “chain store style” tea shops, carry quite a variety of teas, but seem to focus on lots of flavored teas. They depend on large numbers of people walking in, being attracted by the aromas, and making a purchase. The drawback: flavored teas don’t always steep up tasting as good as they smelled in the shop. Case in point is Bossa Nova from TeaGschwendner. Lovely vanilla aroma but not nearly as good tasting and, since it’s an oolong which would usually be good for several steepings but isn’t now because of the fading vanilla, tends to be a waste of money.

Boutique tea vendors will present teas that you most likely won’t get elsewhere. Most of the time, they seem to focus on presenting unflavored teas, emphasizing their natural flavors. If they do present flavored teas, they are mostly classics that have been around awhile such as Jasmines, spiced teas (chais), genmaicha, and Earl Greys, or flavors they have created special for you, the customer. They also try to present information about tea and methods of preparation so that you can fully enjoy the teas you purchase from them. Price-wise, their teas seem higher until you begin calculating the cost per cup where most of the teas can be steeped multiple times.

Some Boutique Tea Vendors I Know
Here are some boutique tea vendors whose teas I have had the pleasure to try:

Canton Tea ― A British company, consisting of the 2-person team of Jennifer Wood and Edgar Thoemmes, whose teas I tried awhile back. I tried their White Bai Mu Dan and Traditional Shui Xian (Oolong). Their lineup includes more than this, though. Each is special and personally selected by Jennifer and/or Edgar. More info on them.

Tula Teas ― Libby Gibson and her tea company are in Canada, where the “chain store style” tea shop David’s Tea has spread like wildfire. Still, she maintains her focus on a limited selection of very special teas and herbals. I’ve been honored to try several of her teas, including Formosa Green, Charcoal Roasted Dong Ding Oolong, Zealong Pure Tea, Zealong Dark Tea, Four Seasons Tea, and Green Mulberry Tisane. Each was a revelation, taking me a step further away from my teadust-in-a-string-and-tag-bag days. More info on them.

thepuriTea.com ― Going from techie to tea guy, Nav Nouhi puts his tea knowledge to good use connecting with growers in Asia and other tea growing areas. I’ve tried a list of teas, mostly unflavored, and was never disappointed. Nav offers some flavored teas, but unlike some online vendors, they are not his main focus. The site tries to give you detailed descriptions, but I have found some to be a bit too much and actually off putting. Ignore them and pick teas to try that look appealing to you. Sample sizes are available, so you won’t put out a bundle just to see if you like a particular tea you’re trying for the first time. More info on them.

Thunderbolt Tea ― My contact there is Benoy Thapa. He rides around the Himalayan mountains and foothills on his motorcycle visiting the various tea gardens in the Darjeeling area of India. He tastes and selects the best of the best and makes them available to you. If you’ve only had those Darjeeling tea blends, treat yourself to some First Flush, Second Flush, or Autumn Flush from some of the best tea gardens there, including Singbulli, Arya, Castleton, Giddapahar, Risheehat, and Goomtee, to name but a few. I’ve had the mind-blowing pleasure of trying bunches of samples from 2009 and 2010, and have several waiting their turn from the 2011 First and Second Flushes. More info on them.

Bottom Line:
There are other boutique tea vendors out there, waiting for you to check them out. Expand your horizons. It’s fine to shop with the big guys, but you will find some wonderful surprises at the smaller shop!

Disclaimer: While I have received free samples from the above companies, the views expressed here are my own and not paid for in any way. I truly find the above companies to be stand outs in the tea arena.

Tea Traditions — Malta

2011-10-10T09:30:00.000-04:00

In the blue Mediterranean lies an archipelago of islands, one of which is named Malta. Not quite the setting where you would expect tea experts and tea traditions dating back centuries. And best known as the origin of “The Maltese Falcon” — you know, that troublesome little statue that people were…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Enjoy tea at a sidewalk café like this one.

The Pros and Cons of Bodum Teapots

2011-10-07T09:30:00.000-04:00

Bodum teapots can be a real problem-solver for some tea drinkers and a big turnoff to others. Like many things in life, they have their pros and cons, in part because they are mostly glass and in part because of their overall design. Sleek, modern, European styling typifies these Bodum teapots, yet they are practical since the body is made from heat-resistant borosilicate glass.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Try using your Bodum teapot (the fat kind like this one) for blooming teas.
Just leave out the plunger and infuser basket.

Group Book Review — “Tea Reader” by Katrina Ávila Munichiello

2011-10-06T09:30:00.000-04:00

Another new tea book? You betcha! Writer/blogger/tea lover Katrina Ávila Munichiello put together Tea Reader: Living Life One Cup at a Time, a volume of various stories about tea (she is shown as the author but only wrote small intro pieces to each section). How appropriate, therefore, for fellow writers/bloggers/tea lovers to…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Apple-Flavored Teas and Tisanes

2011-10-05T09:30:00.000-04:00

Apple-flavored teas are enjoyed year round but become especially popular in the Fall, a time in the U.S. when apples are typically harvested. They are also featured in a number of caffeine-free herbal mixes.

Start with…

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Read my review of Mercedes Apple Spice from The English Tea Store.

Tea and Whiskers

2011-10-04T09:30:00.000-04:00

Tea and “whiskers” (beards and moustaches, specifically) aren’t exactly what you would call natural companions. Tea is — well — liquid and often flows where it prefers. Whiskers are the antithesis — bristly strands, grabbing like minute fingers at tiny tea drops. In short, tea and whiskers are at odds. A promo for the reality show "Whisker Wars" (no, I don't watch it — I just saw a promo) got me thinking about this feuding and how men with whiskers deal with it.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

A particularly fine example: Japanese Fine Porcelain Moustache Cup

20 Reasons to Drink Tea in October

2011-10-03T09:30:00.000-04:00

October is chock full of dates to commemorate, including the obvious: Halloween! It is a time of harvest and always seems to be the heart of Autumn. Time to make note of some of the special dates this month and how to appropriately celebrate them with tea!

But first, a few month-long observations…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

October 28th is Plush Animal Lover's Day. Treat your plush animals to a nice tea time!
From left to right: Little Yellow Bunny, Randy the Reindeer, Hugbear, Plushybear, Bob the White Bunny, and Pete the Pound Baby

“Chain Store Style” Tea Shops

2011-10-01T13:21:00.000-04:00

The issue of “chain store style” tea shops came up when I looked into a tea company that had sent me some samples to try. They turned out to be a “chain store style” tea shop. I wanted to stay focused on other aspects of that company, though, and postponed getting into the issue of these style shops for a separate article.

What Are “Chain Store Style” Tea Shops?

First, you might be wondering what I mean by “chain store style” tea shops. Simple. A bunch of tea shops owned or franchised by the same parent company. They look pretty much alike and have the same stock of teas and teawares in them. As the recognition of tea as a beverage worth noting in the U.S. and Canada grows, the market opens up for slick shops with rows of shiny tea tins, shelves bursting with brightly colored teawares, and tea bins overflowing with teas and herbals (usually labeled as “teas”) mostly flavored with all sorts of bits and pieces, along with a few straight teas. Thus the proliferation of these “chain store style” tea shops.

I repeat from the previous article: “To each his own” – no one is saying what a tea vendor should or should not be.

These stores usually cater to a wide range of tea tastes, relying on the aromas of the flavorings to create the appeal. It’s easier to mix in flavors people know and like than to educate them on what a nice Taiwan oolong should taste like and how to get several infusions out of the leaves.

The Downside of “Chain Store Style” Tea Shops

The biggest bugaboo with these stores is staff knowledge. Some seem to know more than the basics about tea while others do not, so you have a hit-or-miss experience. Not surprising. Tea is not a difficult subject to gain a superficial knowledge of, but it can take years to gain a really broad and in-depth knowledge. Still, employees should be able to tell Genmaicha from Sencha and Keemun from Assam. They should also have the sense to be aware of things like nut allergies and take care to keep the scoops for those teas that are mixed with nuts from also being used in those teas that are mixed with nuts. I have even heard of a teashop employee that said they put their bamboo whisks used for the matcha in the dishwasher. Astounding! That doesn’t even take years of schooling to know. It’s common sense.

My visit to the TeaGschwendner shop in North Carolina awhile back was prompted by tweets with an employee there who sounded knowledgeable. Considering that this shop was a bit of a distance from my home, I made sure he was going to be there before driving all that way. He was able to show hubby and me a number of teas that suited what we were looking for. (He has since moved away, but the store owner taught him all he knew about tea, so I’m not worried should a return visit be made.)

The second biggest bugaboo is the focus on teas heavily flavored to appeal to people who know little if anything about tea. I’ve gotten comments from a number of people who say they liked all those flavored teas until they learned more about teas and all their subtle flavors and aromas. That certainly was my case. (I still enjoy Earl Grey, masala chais, and some teas flavored with real pieces of fruit such as mango and peach.) You will often be greeted with a small cup of the tea of the day, usually something flavored. Tea tastings are held but are often again for flavored teas.

The third bugaboo is that these shops don’t help people learn about tea but cater to whatever the customer thinks is tea already. Personally, I see such places having a role in raising knowledge up among their customers. But if they do, they end up losing those customers or needing to split their business into the mass appeal side and the specialty side that features single garden teas, teas processed in ancient traditional methods, single flushes, etc.

Smaller Tea Vendors vs “Chain Store Style” Tea Shops

The distinction also should be made between these “chain store style” shops and smaller tea vendors. There are those who specialize in flavored teas such as Indie Teas, Joy’s Teaspoon, Tea and Jazz House, Necessiteas, and Mad Pots of Tea. These smaller vendors seem to have more of a connection to their flavored creations and, based on the ones I’ve tried, they aren’t just peddling tea of questionable quality hidden behind mint, fruit pieces, spices such as cinnamon, and who knows what all. There are also vendors who take the time to visit the tea gardens and know the growers and processors. Some examples are Canton Tea in the UK, Tula Teas in Canada, and thepuriTea.com here in the US.

Tearooms vs “Chain Store Style” Tea Shops

Some are better than others. Tea options are often limited by necessity. They can’t stock everything. The same issue with staff tea knowledge exists and varies widely. My experience has been that tearoom staff usually know the teas they serve but little else. Some don’t even know that much, though, but you get a sit-down tea experience and some nice food choices that you don’t get in the tea shops.

Bottom Line:

As the saying goes, to every thing there is a season. I guess to every tea shopper there is a venue, be it a Teavana or Davids Tea, or an online vendor, or the tearoom in your town. Happy tea shopping!

© 2011 A.C. Cargill photos and text

Replacing Your Irreplaceable Teawares

2011-09-30T09:30:00.000-04:00

People who have read some articles on this blog about Shelley, Wedgwood, Sadler, Byrd Pottery, Louisville Stoneware, Poplar Ridge, Hemisphere, Amsterdam, and other teapots, teacups, etc., have asked about how to value their pieces and how to find replacements. While valuing pieces is a very tricky business and best handled by those devoted to it, replacements are another matter.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

The Tea Provinces of China, Part II

2011-09-29T09:30:00.000-04:00

Six more provinces in China known for their fine teas:

Hunan
Located northwest of Anhui. Tea production goes back 2,000 years, and this province is now the second largest producer of tea in China, with compressed teas being…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

See more of my reviews of Chinese teas:

The Tea Provinces of China, Part I

2011-09-28T09:30:00.000-04:00

Tea lovers everywhere respond Pavlovian-style when one word is said: “China.” Small wonder. Some of the finest teas available and some of the priciest come from China. It is also considered by many to be the birthplace of tea drinking.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

See some of my reviews of Chinese teas:

Collectible Wedgwood

2011-09-27T09:30:00.000-04:00

Collectible Wedgwood tops the list for many collectors of fine pottery, china, figurines, and more. In addition, Wedgwood on your table is a mark of refinement. From the crisp, clean white of Signet Platinum to the more whimsical and fun Harlequin Collection, Wedgwood sets the standard for tea time elegance!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Diving Into David’s Tea

2011-09-26T11:07:00.000-04:00

This is a tough article to write. I am so torn with regard to David’s Tea (DT) and similar “chain store style” tea vendors such as Teavana, Tealish, and TeaGschwendner. Adagio is starting to develop along those lines, too. American Tea Room is another that could sprout in similar fashion. The best thing to do here seems to be to stick with just talking about who the people are behind this company and some other info for you, the tea drinker, to know before you dive into trying their teas or to enhance your enjoyment of the teas from their stores or online shop that you already love. I’ll address the “chain store” issue in another article.

First, is there a “David” and, if so, who is he?

Yes, there is a “David” – he is David Segal, who founded the company in 2008 (after having been in the tea business in one capacity or another since 1987) and aggressively grew the company across Canada to a chain of tea shops and around 500 employees.

There is no shortage of articles about David and the company. Whoever is doing the company’s PR is very busy. I had to really hunt to flesh out more genuine appraisals of the teas, the tea shop experience, and the company in general. The big issue I kept seeing online was about tea store staff who weren’t that knowledgeable about tea. Chalk that up to a too fast expansion, just like TeaGschwendner. The other issue is with shipments, which don’t seem to be accurately filled and shipped in all cases. Sounds like QTrade and Darjeeling Tea Xpress. A third is that the tea flavors smell nice but steep up weaker than expected.

Several sites started out with a review of Davids Tea, but commenters soon turned to talking about how much better the teas were at Tealish and how much more knowledgeable the staff was at Teavana (the opposite of what I’ve heard). These were often replied to by things like “You’re nuts” or “I love Davids teas!”, both of which sound like employees of DT wrote them. When reviews either degrade into a discussion of how much commenters prefer a competitor’s products or start to sound like they were written by employees of the company originally being discussed, that company had better listen. Bad reviews are just as useful as good reviews.

Basically, DT is just another tea vendor trying to make tea what it is not: a jumbled up mess of wild flavor combinations. Educating the consumer seems to be far from their minds, as it is with many other large tea vendors. (Segal calls “rooibos” by the term “tea.”) They promote their flavored concoctions as “hip tea.”

I should state here “To each his own” – I seem to need to keep repeating this since I get comments from people saying things like how dare I try to tell others what a tea vendor should or should not be.

Segal is definitely having success with this approach, which reflects more on the tea drinkers out there than on his business acumen. I am not a big business mogul because I can’t just give people what they want, I’d rather try to help them learn and better appreciate teas through that knowledge. It seems that to be wildly successful such matters need to be eschewed totally in favor of the expediency of throwing out there whatever appeals to the lowest common denominator.

DT makes good use of social media, including Twitter and Facebook, and are quick to post a bunch of positive comments to counter anything negative said about them, whether those negatives are warranted or not. It sort of takes away from the value of comments, which may be DT’s true intention: make all comments seem untrustworthy because of the obviously fake positives.

My buddy, Little Yellow Teapot, and his Tea Gang will be reviewing samples of three green teas they sent. I can guarantee loyal readers that the reviews won’t pull any punches. There are enough tea review sites out there that “scrub” the low-rated reviews (after a time or two of getting a review scrubbed, the reviewer learns to give the tea being tried a high rating no matter what – makes the whole process seem useless). Just giving DT fair warning here. Quite frankly, though, judging by the teas they sent (not an odd flavoring in sight), I am very hopeful of a good taste experience. Maybe along with their flavor collections like “Summer” and “Fall” they can have more like the one they sent me (3 green teas called “Orient Express”).

Watch for my upcoming article about “chain store” style tea shops versus tearooms that have a more intimate feel and like to educate their customers about tea.

Company store site: http://www.davidstea.com/

Tea Kettle Philosophy — Solar Flares

2011-09-23T09:30:00.000-04:00

Waiting for the kettle to boil and then the tea to steep can seem interminable, like waiting at the doctor’s office. This is especially true if it is your first cuppa of the day. Thank goodness there is a huge universe out there to ponder. Like solar flares. Fascinating!

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Rooibos Adventure

2011-09-22T09:30:00.000-04:00

From the highlands of South Africa the Cederburg area comes a little plant that is taking the world by storm: Rooibos. Trying some proved to be quite an adventure for hubby and me. But what is rooibos?

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Bourbon St Vanilla Rooibos

Tea Moment — That Fall-time Frame of Mind

2011-09-21T09:30:00.000-04:00

The calendar may say it’s still Summer, but my mind and heart are saying “Fall is here!” I’m in a Fall-time frame of mind, which means my tea time planning is being adjusted accordingly.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Kuding — Is the Bitter Worth the Bite?

2011-09-19T09:30:00.000-04:00

Tea has long had various healthful properties ascribed to it, but so have a lot of herbals, often labeled as “herbal teas.” Kuding is one such herbal. It is Chinese in origin and known as “bitter tea.” Judging by all the health benefits there are supposed to be in a cupful, this herbal should be labeled “miracle tea” instead. With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at what kuding is (and isn’t).

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Cupcakes at Tea Time

2011-09-16T09:30:00.000-04:00

Sweets at tea time are a natural. Scones, cookies, those finger-sized sandwiches, and, of course, cupcakes! The thought stirred my inner tea poet and inspired this ditty...

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Great with cupcakes!

Winding Down Summer with Tea

2011-09-15T09:10:00.000-04:00

Another trip around the sun, another Summer winding down, and another occasion to celebrate with tea: the Autumnal Equinox rolls around once more.

For those of you who don’t pay a lot of attention to the various phases of our journey through this solar system, I’ll give a…

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

Tea and Health — Who Can You Trust

2011-09-14T09:10:00.000-04:00

Tea and your health is a topic that abounds, both online and in print. The Internet, in fact, has led to an explosion of health sites, some legitimate and others — well, let’s just say that you need to be cautious and look at who is behind the site.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

The Teabag Holder — Unsung Hero of Tea Time

2011-09-13T09:10:00.000-04:00

Teabag holders are unsung heroes of tea time, along with those hardworking cream pitchers. They sit by, all humble, and await your pleasure, like a butler or the server at a really nice restaurant or a loving spouse. Every self-respecting tea hostess/host needs a few dozen on hand for tea party propriety.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

The teabag holder shown here is from Barnes & Noble and is much too pretty to cover up with teabags!

Tea Moments — A Castle on My Teaspoon

2011-09-09T06:10:00.000-04:00

Teaspoons are great for adding a touch of sugar to your teacup or for shoveling sticky toffee pudding and green tea ice cream into your mouth. Did you know that teaspoons are also capable of holding up castles? Ok, not real castles, but tiny replicas do well on them.

Read the rest of the article on The English Tea Store Blog.

A Teapot Worth Noting from Louisville Stoneware

2011-09-08T14:59:00.000-04:00

For those of you who think teapots are all bone china or silver or those tiny Yixing things or even cast iron or glass, think again. A new arrival from Louisville Stoneware shows that teapots can be sturdy and capacious while adding a touch of charm to your tea time.

Meet “Bruno,” a sturdy Brooke pattern 6-cupper who arrived in an even sturdier cardboard box with lots of sturdy packing material around it. Seems that the folks at Louisville Stoneware not only put quality and attention into their stonewares but also in assuring they are shipped in a way that survives the slings and arrows of harried and hurried delivery personnel.

I must confess that “Bruno” is almost too attractive to use.

This latest member of our tea steeping arsenal received a formal welcome from Little Yellow Teapot and even had a party thrown in his honor. Details on the Little Yellow Teapot’s blog.

“Bruno” from Louisville Stoneware is greeted by Little Yellow Teapot.

Visit their company website.

See also: Louisville Stoneware