THTSeptOct2016screenquality CompleteIssue

CUISINE
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CULTURE
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TheTeaHouseTimes.com
CONNOISSEUR
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CONNECTIONS
September/October 2016
ADVERTISING
Connecting Businesses & Consumers Since 2003
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MISCELLANEOUS
TEA
www.TeaFoodHistory.com
Family Tea Blenders Since 1945
www.VictorianEtc.com
www.BundtsandCrumpetsTea.com
Victorian Era reads, Tea parties, DIY crafts!
www.VictorianHeartShoppe.com
Our Victorian gift center for the gilded age!
READING
www.EarleneGrey.com
ASSOCIATIONS
www.BigelowTea.com
Tea & Food Programs and Workshops
Mobile loose leaf tea boutique.
www.DoehiTea.com
Delivering the finest teas from around the world.
www.GoldenTLeaf.com
Award Winning Tea Estate and Company
Tea Poetry and presentations. Unexpected fun!
www.Tea.ca
Tea Association of Canada
www.JamesNorwoodPratt.com
www.GreenhalghTea.com
Select single estate tea & blends, accessories.
James Norwood Pratt - tea expertise and books.
www.TeaUSA.org
Tea Association of the USA
www.SerendipiTea.com
www.TheLeaseCoach.com
Highest quality loose leaf teas & tisanes
SHOWS/EVENTS
Healthy, tasty fruit, tea & herbal infusions.
Help for Signing a Commercial Lease/Renewal.
CONNECTIONS
www.TeaBureau.com
Tea Business Directory, News, Speakers Bureau
www.TeaSpeakersBureau.com
Find Speakers and Tea Specialists or Get Listed
www.CharlestonSchoolofProtocol.com
Seminars, consulting services, etiquette, protocol
www.CulinaryTeaCourse.com
www.SVTea.com
www.CoffeeFest.com
Quality Teas and Tisanes Since 1929
Trade show: find coffee, tea, and education
www.CoffeeAndTeaFestival.com
Open to the public! Shop, taste, learn.
www.WorldTeaExpo.com
EDUCATION
www.SolleInfusions.com
www.Tea-For-All.com
Explore Tea-For-All™ & discover your “TEA”
www.TeaNTeas.com
Trade show: tea, accessories, and education
Teas-Tisanes-Herbs-Spices-direct from source
Find a calendar of events and programs via
TheTeaHouseTimes.com website
B2B bulk with gorgeous retail packaging
www.TheTasteofTea.com
TEA ROOMS
Tea Education with a Culinary Focus.
www.CustomTrainingSite.com
Tea Education for Your Workforce, Your Way
www.STITea.org
Specialty Tea Institute - Education/Certification
www.TeaCourse.com
24/7 Online Continuing Education in Tea
www.TeaCourseFastTrack.com
Hawaii
Tea at 1024, Honolulu, HI
808-521-9596 ~ www.teaat1024.net
Massachusetts
The Tea Leaf, Waltham, MA
781-891-1900 ~ www.thetealeaf.us
New Jersey
High SocieTea House, Wayne, NJ
www.TheTeaSpot.com
Philanthropic whole leaf Tea Company
www.ZhenTea.ca
Tea and tea culture with honesty & integrity
TEA NECESSITIES
www.RosesandTeacups.com
Teaware, Tea Gifts & Favors, Tea Necessities
www.VictorianHouseScones.com
Tea education & tasting/cupping - 4 hours
973-696-8327~www.HighSocieTeaNJ.com
Scone Mixes - Mix, Freeze, Bake with Ease
www.TeaEtiquetteCertified.com
Pennsylvania
Orchard Tea Room at the Rose Hip Barn,
Great Food Deserves Great Tea & Accessories
Tea Etiquette Certification - online program
Thornton, PA ~ 610-800-9597
www.enchantmentforyourtable.com
Find more education via
Associations and Shows/Events.
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Washington
The Blend Cafe, Olympia, WA
www.SetToATea.com
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
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TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 2 | September/October 2016
Copyright 2003-2016
The Tea House Times™
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@Work - Tea Business p. 4
@Play - Tea Enjoyment p. 5
Cuisine - Recipes for Tea or with Tea p. 6
Occasion - Gatherings, tea events, parties p. 7
Culture - Tea around the world p. 8
Etiquette - Manners & International p. 9
Red Hat Society - p. 10-11
Travel p. 12-13
Feature Story p. 14
Poetry p. 15
Connoisseur p. 16-17
Advertising p. 2, 18-20
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T E A Inside:
Image: onatallia/Shutterstock.com
The Tea House Times, LLC
2 Main Street #1049
Sparta, NJ 07871
(973) 551-9161
www.TheTeaHouseTimes.com
[email protected]
ISSN 1547-4453
Since 2003
Cover: Chursina Viktoriia/Shutterstock.com
CONTENTS
Gail Gastelu, Owner & Publisher
Contributors: Proper thanks and credit
is given to all contributors within.
Greetings from The TEA House Times!
I’m raising my cuppa to all moms and dads who made
it through a busy summer of activities with little ones...
or as in my case, adult age children, “visiting” from college. It’s been a great, very busy summer full of family
activities, summertime enjoyment and lots of refreshing, tall glasses of iced tea.
Right now, we are working on some new projects while
keeping our regularly scheduled publication of The Tea
House Times and weekly news on track as well.
SALUTATIONS
No sooner will hubby and I return to an empty nest and
I will be off again to speak and exhibit at Coffee Fest in
Anaheim, Sept 30-Oct 2. My team will work hard and
make time to visit Mickey Mouse the day after. I do
hope to see you there! Find details on the back cover.
This issue delivers some wonderful, fresh food ideas
and more ways to socialize over tea. Enjoy the cooler
days to come. Back to (tea) school!
This September I will celebrate one of those huge milestone birthdays (Let’s not talk about it, OK?) Suffice
to say, I’ll be reduating and if you don’t know what
that means, then it’s time to find out what the Red Hat
Society is all about!
I’m certainly not quite ready to retire but definitely beginning to better appreciate life, living, love, laughter.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 3 | September/October 2016
All the best,
Gail
Gastelu
@WORK
A message from . . .
A message from . . .
Marketing and innovation in the industry continue to
drive U.S. tea consumption.
Continued from July/August issue.
• Millennials, more so than older generations, are seeking innovation and variety when it comes to current tea
offerings. Start-up companies addressing this desire are
pouring into the marketplace.
• The emergence of new categories of tea products, including tea-infused waters, tea energy drinks, tea-based
ice cream and other foods fortified with tea, continue to
drive interest in tea.
• Single Serve Cups are now estimated to be ~ 13% of the
Traditional Tea Category.
• Consumers want to know more about origin, types of
tea, tea garden names, flavor description, etc., and tea
shops and online vendors provide this to their customers.
• Tea continues to move beyond the traditional coffee &
tea aisle. Standalone specialty tea and coffee shops, along
with increased shelf space in supermarkets being dedicated to tea, has driven consumer accessibility.
• New versions of tea-infused alcoholic beverage specialties, such as microbrews and cocktails that incorporate tea, have opened an entirely new, young market.
Innovation in packaging, form and product continue to
excite the customer. These new offerings, underpinned by
a great tasting, healthful product, means that tea will continue to grow in the U.S. Exciting times, indeed, for those
of us in tea!
Learn more at TeaUSA.org
Peter F. Goggi, President
Tea Association of
the U.S.A., Inc.
TeaUSA.org
Nielson recently conducted studies on tea drinkers, millennials, and the Canadian tea market. The research came
up with some interesting data. Now, more than ever before, consumers prefer to sample their tea before buying
it. Also, while other generation cohorts still prefer their
black tea, millennials’ preferences are shifting towards
specialty tea! Not only are millennials changing the
preferences of the market, their buying power is growing, so they’re also changing the distribution of retail
spending in the market as well. Millennials make up a
quarter of Canadians, (or roughly nine million people,)
so in five years, millennials will account for a third of all
retail spending in North America. It doesn’t look like the
specialty tea market is slowing down any time soon, so
companies are really trying to jump on the trend.
With so many tea companies introducing new flavours
and teas, and with the tea market expanding exponentially, retailers must refresh their tea section yearly to keep
up with what’s working and what’s new. Studies show
that consumers are less worried about the price of tea
and more about the type of tea! The most important attribute that consumers look for when picking tea is the type
of tea, and then after that the most important attributes,
in order, are flavour, brand and finally, price. Despite the
fact that price is the least important attribute, consumers
still want to get the best value for their tea.
--The Tea Association of Canada is happy to announce
that TAC Tea Sommelier® courses will now be available
at Niagara College! The first round of courses will be
TEA101 (Sept 12-Oct 3,) and TEA 102 (Sept 12-Oct 24.)
To register, go to www.Tea.ca
Louise Roberge, MBA, CAE
Certified TAC TEA
SOMMELIER® Professional
President, Tea Association of
Canada - Tea.ca
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 4 | September/October 2016
@PLAY
Afternoon Tea at
The Lowell, NY
See page 14.
Southern Seasons
by Linda J. Hawkins
Heart to Heart Publishing
Jane Austen’s
Black Tea Blend
The delicate prose of Jane Austen’s novels is evoked in this Simpson & Vail blend that combines black tea, spearmint, lavender
flowers and vanilla flavor. SVTea.com
BACK TO -TEA- SCHOOL
PAGE 16
Reading the Tea Leaves*
What’s Trending in Tea Business?
Keep on top of tea industry news to stay in the know!
Latest news via TheTeaHouseTimes.com
#DrinkTea
DrinkTeaCampaign.com
Socialize with us!
OUR NEWS:
~ Featured Interview with Gail Gastelu by Specialty Tea
Institute
TEA SCOOP:
~Find monthly news summaries at
http://teascoop.theteahousetimes.com
TEA BLOGS:
~ Find guest blog posts at
http://teablogs.theteahousetimes.com
INDUSTRY HEADLINES:
~ Coffee Fest Introduces New Food Integration Lab Workshops
~ UK Celebrated Sixth Afternoon Tea Week in August 2016
To learn tea leaf reading methods, find
videos on YouTube or read more at TeaCourse.com Here are a few fun interpretations of symbols to add to your list:
*If you are reading this issue digitally, mouse over
the news and click to be directed to further reading.
Visit http://teanews.theteahousetimes.com to find all recent news
and sign up for our weekly eNews.
Apples - Commercial success, long life.
Elephant - Health and happiness.
Harp - Happy marriage.
Scissors - Disputes. Separation.
Look for The Tea House Times on
Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest.
On Twitter, find us @TeaCourse
Reading the Tea Leaves For Fun!
Learn to read the tea leaves! Part 6
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 5 | September/October 2016
CUISINE
Berry Luscious Cake*
A colorful dish for Labor Day. Garnish with mint leaves.
1 pound cake: bake, cool, cut into small one to two inch
cubes (may substitute angel food cake).
Fresh fruit
Cream Cheese Mix:
1 box vanilla instant pudding
(sugar free for a lighter serving)
3 c. cold milk
8 oz. cream cheese (soften to room temperature)
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring
½ c. powdered sugar or ¼ c. Stevia
Cream Cheese Mix: Mix first two ingredients, add last
three, and blend until creamy and smooth. TIP: For a richer
taste, when adding cold milk, use 1 ½ cups evaporated milk
and 1 ½ cups of 2% milk.
ASSEMBLY: Layer the fresh fruit and cream cheese mixture. Top with Cool Whip.
Simple and Berry Luscious indeed!
Southern Iced Tea*
2 qt. pitcher
1 family size tea bag (if you like extra strong, 2 bags)
1 cup sugar
or (1/2 c. Stevia or 5 packs Sweet & Low, for diabetics)
Place tea bags into pot. Add 2 cups water, bring to boil, turn
off and allow to steep 3 minutes. Discard bags, pour sugar in
with hot tea, and stir until dissolved. Place 2 cups cold water
into pitcher, add hot tea mixture. After pouring hot tea into
glass pitcher (observe note below), then finish filling pitcher
with cold water.
Blueberry Spinach Salad*
1 lb. spinach torn in pieces (washed thoroughly)
1 c. fresh blueberries
4 oz. blue cheese (crumbled)
½ c. toasted pecans
Dressing:
3 Tbsp. blueberry vinegar (see recipe below)
¼ c. olive oil
1 tsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. honey
Layer salad ingredients on each serving plate. Using a whisk
beat all dressing ingredients together. Drizzle over each salad just before serving.
Blueberry Vinegar
1 c. fresh blueberries
2 c. white vinegar
2 Tbsp. sugar
Place one cup fresh blueberries in a sterilized 1-quart glass
jar. Combine 2 cups white vinegar and 2 Tbsp. sugar in a
non-aluminum saucepan over high heat. Cover and bring to
a boil. Remove from heat, and pour vinegar mixture over
blueberries. Cover and let stand at room temperature for
three days. Strain blueberry mixture through several layers
of damp cheesecloth into decorative jars. Discard the blueberries. Seal the jars with a cork or other airtight lid.
Yields 2 cups.
NOTE: When pouring any hot food or drink into a pitcher or
bowl, stand a metal spoon into container first to absorb heat,
this helps to prevent breakage.
*Used by Permission of Heart to Heart Publishing
Taken from: Southern Seasons by Linda J. Hawkins ©2014 See book cover image on page 5.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 6 | September/October 2016
Shop Local, Eat Local, Entertain
OCCASION
by Kim Hendrickson
Summer is the cornucopia of produce, wherever you live.
The entire Eat Local movement has made it possible to find almost anything at a local farmer’s
market or a short distance from your home.
Let’s use color and what is available to you locally as the impetus for your next party. Maybe
some of these ideas will help you put your next gathering together in a colorful-local fashion!
• Make a bean or hummus dip using veggies instead
of crackers. Spread the dip in a rectangular baking pan
and insert alternating rows of carrots, celery, and radish halves, etc., to evoke the appearance of rows of
vegetables in a garden. Keep some of the tops on the
veggies for authenticity.
• Serve your iced tea in hollowed-out green/red/orange
or yellow pepper cups and make sure you serve US
grown tea.
• Buy an assortment of beautiful veggies and fruit to
pile into a wicker cornucopia to keep with the theme
as a centerpiece.
• Let what fruit and veggies are on sale determine your
main side dish and dessert.
• Make a cold soup; serve in hollowed out cantaloupe
halves.
• Buy your grass-fed burger meat from a local source.
The same source will provide you with the best heavy
cream ever to whip for a berry dessert!
• Local breweries are popping up all over; bring some
special brew to the party.
• Fresh herbs -- mint, dill, rosemary, thyme, lavender
-- randomly stuffed into a small glass make beautiful
personal place setting decorations and place cards.
Stick name labels on each one to organize your crowd
at mealtime.
• There are going to be some items that cannot be
sourced locally and that is fine. Turn that information
into a game for the crowd to guess which foods came
from your “backyard” or within the US.
• Aluminum pie tins make unusual and sturdy disposable (and recyclable) plates; rolls of brown paper towels randomly placed come in handy as napkins, and the
white butcher paper used in restaurants makes an easy
tablecloth, especially at clean-up time.
And don’t forget to be grateful for our Earth’s bounty.
Kim Hendrickson, author of the Tastefully Small cookbook series, has been teaching for
nearly twenty years. A regular instructor at the John C. Campbell Folk School, she is a frequent speaker at culinary events throughout the U.S. She has catered for The Travel Channel’s Bizarre Food Show, the New York Metropolitan Opera, the Penguin Repertory Theater and TV’s “Slangman”, David Burke. Kim’s book, “Finger Sandwiches”, is the only
one of its kind, dedicated exclusively to a celebration of unique and flavorful tea sandwiches, and her “Savory Bites” and “Dessert Canapes” books help round out the Tastefully Small series to make any gathering both fun and delicious. Please visit SalviaPress.com
See also: http://kim.theteahousetimes.com
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 7 | September/October 2016
CULTURE
United or Divided?
by Gail Henderson
We live in a divided world. We are facing the clash
of global ideologies, the Brexit fallout, even warring
campaign signs on our lawns urging us to Dump Hillary or Dump Trump. Perhaps it is time to parody an
old Coke jingle: “I’d like to buy the world a cup…
and keep it company.” Better yet, we could actually
promote unity in our own little corner of the world
with tea. Much is known about the production, preparation, and marketing of tea, but perhaps its relational
value will be the aspect that will ultimately change the
world.
Something relational happens when two people share
a cup (or a glass) of tea. There’s a built-in civility and
respect, a bonding, a shared experience that can help us
discover commonalities and ultimately friendship. Any
world traveler has experienced this bonding over sharing another countryman’s tea. But for years I have noted this cultural phenomenon at home as well as abroad.
I have knocked on doors of multi-national neighbors
who do not know me but immediately fling wide their
front doors as well as their kitchen cabinets to share tea
from their home countries. They have given “hospitalitea” a whole new meaning for me. And tea has become
the doorway to friendship allowing dialogues about
family, politics and religion.
Tea cannot be underestimated as a friendship tool and is
a universal language we can all speak. We can use hospitality to meet and introduce international neighbors
(host an international tea tasting party), or foster unity
between Dems, Republicans, and Independents (share
neighborhood concerns/solutions/disaster plans over
tea) or befriend new neighbors by inviting them over
for a casual cuppa or by delivering a welcome basket.
During this US election season and season of world
change, let us not simply drink tea. Let us use it to bring
change.
In the words of a famous Beatles song. . .
Let’s “Come together…over tea.”
Photo credit: Southern Seasons. See book on pages 5 & 6.
Gail Henderson connects people through her business - Love Your Neighborhood.
She lives in Palmetto, Florida. Gail makes memories with her grandchildren and helps
others make memories by giving away tea resources and information. Visit her website to
learn more: LoveYourNeighborhood.com Or call 813-928-1166 for information and help.
Photo credits: Martha DeWeese
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 8 | September/October 2016
ETIQUETTE
Your Manners Matter® Minute with Cynthia Grosso
Etiquette Tip:
International Protocol:
Sportsmanship:
The Meaning of the Word
U.S. and International Anthems
On the heels of the 2016 Olympics and as we head
into fall for a new sports season, a few thoughts as we
enter into our own sports arena….
Most of us like to watch or play at least one sport.
This is evident as sports in America have become big
business. A lot of us even equate athletes to heroes…
But have we really thought about what sportsmanship really means?
The term sportsmanship is another term for good
manners in the arena.
In any sport, the most appreciated players are the
ones who play by the rules, are gracious winners or
losers, use their voice to speak positively and have a
humility about themselves.
For it is not just the physical ability that separates the
attractive athletes from other athletes, it is a respect
for themselves and others that sets them apart from
the crowd.
You are hosting an international event and the anthems of the United States as well as other countries
will be played. Do you know how to do this to show
respect to all present?
If you are at an international corporate event and the
anthem of another country is to be played, allow it to
be played first and the national anthem of the United
States to be played after that.
If there are several countries at an international corporate event, play the anthems in alphabetical order
with the United States played last. Ex. In order: China, Spain, Venezuela then the United States.
Whether you recite the Pledge and the Anthem or just
the Anthem, do the same for all countries involved.
In showing respect for your guests in this manner,
you are showing respect for them and their countries.
Editor’s note: Alongside the multi-cultural experience of tea, many tea lovers travel the world - to tea growing
countries and to those places where tea is experienced in special ways. Updates to this wonderful feature page
for manners, etiquette, and international protocol will help you in every situation around the world. Enjoy!
Contact: (843) 207-1025
charlestonschoolofprotocol.com
Cynthia Grosso is Founder of The Charleston
School of Protocol and Etiquette. The Charleston
School of Protocol and Etiquette specializes
in helping people handle life’s events and
changes with style, polish and confidence.
They offer seminars and consulting services in
professionalism excellence and medical/dental
office protocol.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 9 | September/October 2016
Red Hat Society
3
1 2
The Elements of a Perfect
Summer Tea Party
Company
Food
Tea
First things first… let’s talk
about the food! The Red
Hat Society’s motto is “Eat
Dessert First,” and the
perfect RHS inspired tea
party, should have plenty
of sweet treats to enjoy.
Red velvet cupcakes, red
currant scones, strawberry
cream cheese sandwiches,
fresh strawberries,
cherries and raspberries,
and lavender macarons
perfectly fit our regalia
colors.
Fruit infused iced teas like
Martha Stewart’s Strawberry
Basil Iced Tea, or the vibrant
hibiscus tea, are cool and
refreshing on a hot summer
day. However, if you would
like to stick with more
traditional blends, a rooibos
tea (also known as the red
tea), is a wonderful option,
and it offers a wide range of
health benefits. The rooibos
tea is a caffeine-free blend.
It’s an anti-inflammatory, and
it can help with hypertension,
stress, cardiovascular health
and much more. This reminds
us of another great RHS
saying: A healthy Hatter is a
happy Hatter.
The most important
element of a Red Hat
Society Summer Tea party
is: several amazing friends
to share the afternoon
with. We believe wholeheartedly in the power of
surrounding yourself with
amazing women who will
support you in all of your
endeavors. No tea party
would be complete without
several friends to share
some great memories and
laughter with.
If you are looking for some friends to share a cup of tea with, we invite you to become a Member
of the Red Hat Society. We are can’t wait to meet you.
Learn more about the Red Hat Society at:
RedHatSociety.com
1-866-FUN-AT-50
TOLL-FREE IN THE U.S.
1-714-738-0001
INTERNATIONAL
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 10 | September/October 2016
Meet Us in
The Big Apple!
The location of our 2017 International Convention has been announced, and it’s
New York City, New York! This coming February, more than 1,000 Hatters will
paint the town red (and purple) as we celebrate Fun and Friendship in the largest
gathering of Hatters of the year. We have coordinated some spectacular tours,
shows and events that pay homage to the “City That Never Sleeps.”
This week in New York is also special because we’ll be sharing it with the
world’s most impressive designers as they all converge in New York for
Fashion Week! Trust us, you’ve never experienced New York like this!
If you are interested in learning more about the Red Hat Society’s
“Hats in the City” 2017 International Convention, visit
RedHatSociety.com.
Official Red Hat Society International Conventions are open exclusively to Members of the Red Hat
Society. For each convention, Hatquarters coordinates a plethora of activities at exceptionally low rates.
And there’s no safer way to travel than with a group of women who care about each other.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 11 | September/October 2016
TRAVEL
Tea and Scones in Astoria
by Barb Tuson
What to See & Do in Astoria:
Astoria Ale Trail
Behind the Scenes at Fort Stevens
Tillamook Cheese Factory tour and tasting
Tillamook Air Museum
Lewis & Clark National Historic Park
The 164 step cast iron staircase
of Astoria Column
Columbia River Maritime Museum
panoramic views of Astoria and the Columbia River
where he could keep an eye on the local ship traffic.
The property encompasses a full city block. The 11,600
square foot mansion features elegant woodwork, stained
glass windows and an in-laid hardwood floor. In 1934 Flavel’s great granddaughter gave the property to the city in
memory of her family and it was deeded to Clatsop County with the understanding that it would be kept in good repair and used for public purposes. Eventually, in 1951, the
County transferred full ownership to the Historical Society.
On a recent trip to Alaska our ship docked in Astoria,
Oregon. One of the excursions offered by NCL was
tea and scones at The Flavel House Museum. We ventured back into a bygone era with a visit to the stately
Flavel House Museum. This lovely Queen Ann home
was built in 1885 for Captain George Flavel, Astoria’s
first millionaire as well as being pilot on the Columbia
River. It is one of the best-preserved examples of Queen
Anne architecture in the Northwest and is listed on the
National Register of Historic Places. The mansion boasts
a decorative, three story octagon tower, balconies and verandas. The three story tower provided the Captain with
The members of the Clatsop County Historical Society
hosted our tour and tea. There is a special blend of tea
created especially for the Flavel House Museum by Rick
Murray of the Astoria Coffee Company. He would only
tell me that it is a blend of three teas—a Ceylon, an orange
pekoe, and a long leaf Yunnan. It was a delightful blend
and we enjoyed it with many home made sweets and savories along with scones. All were made and served by
the ladies of the Historical Society. The historical society opens the mansion to the public for tea and scones
the Saturday before Mother’s Day and A Tea and Plum
Pudding event for two weeks at Christmas. Other than
that you can tour the mansion daily but you can only
have tea and scones with a ship sponsored excursion.
We thoroughly enjoyed our tea and scone adventure and
would highly recommend it.
Barb Tuson is owner of Tea Time Travels. Previous owner of SBS Teas, after she sold that business, she and her husband decided it was time to travel the world so they became travel agents
and named their travel agency Tea Time Travels because they wanted to travel and drink tea all
around the world. See TeaTimeTravels.globaltravel.com if you need help with your travels and
sampling tea all around the world.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 12 | September/October 2016
TRAVEL
Featured Inn
Brannan Cottage Inn
109 Wappo Avenue
Calistoga, CA 94515
707-942-4200
Website: www.brannancottageinn.com
Visitors flock to Napa Valley for world-class food &
wine, stunning scenery and warm hospitality. Repeat
guests know that this region’s greatest luxury is about
making memories; celebrating unhurried moments with
family and friends. With this generous spirit in mind,
Calistoga’s Brannan Cottage Inn offers Afternoon Tea
as a classic way to reconnect between wine tastings.
This special, added guest amenity by Kathleen Bakula
of Mobili-Tea is a charming mashup of Victorian tradition meets relaxed Napa Valley style, served in this
uniquely historic spot built in 1860.
A longtime tea aficionado and Napa Valley resident,
Bakula is a key member of Brannan Cottage Inn’s hospitality team. She chose to launch her by appointment,
mobile tea service in the Napa Valley with Brannan
Cottage Inn as it provided the ideal setting of days gone
by when one could sit down to afternoon tea in a leisurely country atmosphere, as Calistoga’s founder and
the Inn’s namesake Sam Brannan and his guests may
have done on this very spot.
Using delectable local ingredients, vintage linens and
china to create an intimate experience, Bakula’s Afternoon Tea is served in the garden, under the canopy of
the Inn’s 300 year old Siberian Elm tree, or in the cozy
parlor of this recently restored architectural gem.
Pictured: Kathleen Bakula - Afternoon Tea at Brannan
Cottage Inn: a civilized way to take an intimate break
To inquire about Brannan Cottage Inn’s Afternoon Tea
service for your upcoming stay, contact Kathleen Bakula, [email protected], or call 707942-4200.
Through our partnership with Select Registry, its member properties are featured in every issue of The Tea House Times. All
member properties receive a digital subscription and may also offer it as an amenity to guests. Our mission is to help readers
find more places to travel to and enjoy tea time. Select Registry is a portfolio of more than 320 premier inns, bed and breakfasts
and boutique hotels throughout North America. Each property must pass an unannounced, rigorous, 200-point quality assurance inspection to earn and maintain its membership in Select Registry. No other organization goes to such lengths to ensure
that travelers receive exceptional service, unique and authentic lodging, and an unforgettable experience. We are pleased to
introduce you to many wonderful inns that offer tea service in their own special way. Learn more and visit all Select Registry
properties at www.selectregistry.com.
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 13 | September/October 2016
FEATURE
Afternoon Tea at The Lowell, NYC
By Gail Gastelu, The Tea House Times
It was a beautiful summer day. . . ah yes . . . the day that
I spent a leisurely afternoon with a wonderful friend
and business colleague enjoying afternoon tea at the
very elegant and refined Pembroke Room inside The
Lowell (a hotel) in New York City.
To quote The Lowell website, “Nestled in a serene setting on the second floor, The Pembroke Room is one
of New York City’s best kept secrets and is favored by
those that meet for power breakfast, as well as weekend
brunch, afternoon tea, pre theater dinner and cocktails.”
Perfectly stated!
At present, dining hours for The Pembroke Room are:
Monday through Friday
Breakfast- 7:00AM to 10:30AM
Afternoon Tea- 2:00PM to 6:00PM
Pre-Theatre Dinner- 5:00PM to 7:00PM
Saturday and Sunday
Breakfast- 7:00AM to 11:30AM
With five opportunities to enjoy afternoon tea each
week, Monday through Friday, who wouldn’t want to
indulge along with an overnight stay perhaps? Step inside The Lowell, take the old-fashioned elevator to the
second floor and enter the most elegant, peaceful room,
The Pembroke Room, where you will most certainly
forget you are in the middle of New York City and all
of its hustle and bustle.
The Pembroke Room is very elegantly appointed with
cozy tables and chairs and some comfortable corner
couches which add just the right ambiance to afternoon
tea. The afternoon tea menu is available for viewing at
the hotel website and includes a great variety of specialty teas, black teas, green teas, scented or flavored
teas, along with herbal or fruit infusions too. I chose
their signature tea, Blue Garden; a black tea blend including cornflower petals, rhubarb and wild strawberry,
to lend a fruity note to the infusion.
Afternoon Tea menu selections include a Classic Tea
with choice of three teas, finger sandwiches, scones,
and sweets or a Royal Tea including all of the above
plus one glass of Brut, Port, or Sherry for $10 more.
The Classic Tea is priced at $65 per person plus tax and
gratuity. Was it worth it? A resounding y-e-s! It is likely
the most delightful afternoon tea experience at a hotel
that I have had in quite some time and I cannot wait to
go back.
Visit The Lowell website for more details about afternoon tea: lowellhotel.com/dining/the-pembroke-room/
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 14 | September/October 2016
nd
a
s
g
n
Musi nts for
e
m
i
t
..
sen
.
e
m
i
tea t
FRIENDSHIP, love and piety, ought to
be handled with a sort of mysterious
secrecy; they ought to be spoken of only in
the rare moments of perfect confidence.
~Novalis.
LET thy name
Dwell ever in my heart and on my lips,
Theme of my lyre and burden of my song.
~Ovid.
AND the finest fellow of all would be the
one who could be glad to have lived because the world was chiefly miserable, and
his life had come to help some one who
needed it.
~Eliot.
HAVE love; not love alone for one,
But man as man thy brother call,
And scatter like the circling sun
Thy charities on all.
~Schiller.
Earlene
Grey
POETRY
Drawing the
Qualities of a Woman
If you want to get the
Best from a woman,
Treat her as you would
Treat fine tea.
House her well.
Appreciate her delicate properties.
Put her to your lips often and
Savor her enhancing qualities.
Earlene Grey ~ ©2005
IT is by loving, and not by being loved,
that one can come nearest to the soul of another. Where two love, it is the loving of
each other, and not the being loved by each
other, that originates, perfects, and assures
their blessedness.
~MacDonald.
I WEIGH my friend’s affection with mine
own.
~Shakespeare.
Susan Patterson who on occasion writes under the name of
Earlene Grey, is the author of two books of tea poetry, Musings
With a Cuppa-The Poetry of Tea and Heart to Heart-Considered
Sentiments for Teatime. She has also published a book of memoirs, Tom and Irma-Chronicles of the 1950’s. Her latest book, Unnoticed Moments, is a collection of contemporary poetry. Ms. Patterson posts a weekly poetry blog, The Causerie, and is a weekly
guest on an international podcast from England. Please visit www.
EarleneGrey.com to schedule appearances and to purchase books.
See also: http://susan.theteahousetimes.com
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 15 | September/October 2016
CONNOISSEUR
Back to Tea School
What do you think of when contemplating tea and continuing your studies toward greater understanding and appreciation of the leaf? It’s back-to-school time for the youngsters
and back to tea school for the rest of us.
Have you heard the term Tea Master? Historically, it is not
inaccurate to call figures like Lu Yu and Sen no Rikyu “Tea
Masters.” To speak of any contemporary as a “Tea Master”
is rankest presumption, however, except for the 20 or so revered professionals in charge of judging Fujian’s oolong tea
quality. It is a term to use ironically or avoid altogether for
fear of hubris.
Lu Yu was a complex author and sage (715-803) who lived
in Tang Dynasty China and wrote the world’s first “Book
of Tea,” the Cha Jing (circa 780 CE), which made Lu Yu a
celebrity in his own lifetime as patron saint of tea or “Tea
Immortal,” as he is now considered. It is a comprehensive
work on every aspect of tea growing, manufacturing, preparing, serving, drinking, and appreciating. “The effect of tea
is cooling and it is most suitable as a beverage. It is especially fitting for persons of self-restraint and inner worth.”
Tea merchants had porcelain statues made of Lu Yu to which
they prayed that the tea crops might be large and sell well.
When business was bad, they would sometimes pour a kettleful of boiling water over the unoffending image.
Find more of JNP’s work at TeaCourse.com
Where learning never ends.
Ask
Norwood
Image: Tarzhanova/Shutterstock.com
James Norwood Pratt
Sen no Rikyu was the primary creator and greatest exponent
of cha-no-yu, the Japanese Tea Ceremony. A Zen saint of
sorts and a tea martyr, Sen no Rikyu (1522-1591) spread the
doctrine of wabi or “simple and natural,” which spilled out
of his teacup into every aspect of Japanese life. His chado
or “way of tea” has been preserved by his descendants for
over 400 years and today’s Urasenke Foundation is headed
by a 16th generation heir, whose father Sen Soshitsu XV, had
spread Urasenke practice worldwide. See also Omote Senke
and wabi-sabi, defined below.
Omote Senke, Japan’s oldest tea school, reputedly with some
three million Japanese students and practitioners, traces its
origins to cha-no-yu founder Sen no Rikyu. The Urasenke School is a collateral or cadet branch of Rikyu’s family
which has carried cha-no-yu outside Japan throughout the
world. “Senke” seems to mean “courtyard,” with “Omote”
and “Ura” denoting the outer and inner courtyards of the
Kyoto palace where the branches of the family have lived
over the generations since Rikyu’s death in 1591.
Wabi-sabi. Japanese. Literally, “cold and withered.” An esthetic ideal involving deliberate simplicity in decoration, behavior and daily life. Wabi is one of the principles on which
Sen no Rikyu based cha-no-yu. Zen inspired, it became a
cultural ideal for Japanese architecture and everything else.
James Norwood Pratt
is acknowledged as America’s Tea Sage.
He is an award winning author and authority on tea.
Please visit
JamesNorwoodPratt.com for Norwood’s schedule of
appearances and to purchase his books.
**Do you have input or a question for Norwood?
Send your question to [email protected]
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 16 | September/October 2016
CONNOISSEUR
GABA Tea
Linda Villano
by Linda Villano, SerendipiTea
The most abundant amino acid in
our bodies, l-glutamine is regularly
converted to glutamic acid (not to
be confused with monosodium glutamate) then to Gamma Amino Butyric Acid (GABA). One of the main
neurotransmitters for the Central
Nervous System, GABA is present in
every individual’s brain. It assists in
preventing anxiety and stress related
messages from reaching the motor
centers of the brain, instilling the
body with stability and calm, tranquility rather than stress and anxiety.
A visit to the health food store or vitamin shop will present a myriad of
GABA supplements and popping
a supplement is convenient but the
medical community is not in agreement on efficacy. It’s advisable to get
your GABA the old-fashioned way,
by ingesting foods high in complex
carbohydrates and glutamine, the basic “ingredients” for GABA production.
Bananas, broccoli, tomatoes, fava beans,
sunflower seeds, shrimp, certain mushrooms,
sprouted quinoa and fermented foods such as
kimchi, kefir, yogurt and even some cheeses
are excellent choices which after consumption lead to the natural production of GABA
in our brains.
The good news is that GABA is naturally occurring in tea (Camellia sinensis)
and Japanese scientists discovered that when tea is processed in nitrogen rich
environments, GABA is significantly enhanced.
Researchers in Japan searching for natural ways to preserve different types of
food, including tea, experimented with nitrogen which is often used to preserve
consumables since bacteria and fungi can’t exist in a nitrogen atmosphere.
Credit is given to Dr. Tsushida Tojiro for discovering, in 1987, that when freshly
picked tea leaves are exposed to anaerobic conditions (meaning without oxygen) the glutamic acid in the leaves is converted into GABA and processing the
leaves in a nitrogen-rich atmosphere results in significantly higher concentrations of GABA. Further study revealed increased levels of glutamic acid in tea
leaves that were shaded for 10-15 days before picking which, in turn, leads to
even higher concentrations of GABA.
Today, true GABA tea, green, oolong and even black, is made in Japan and
Taiwan.
Learn more about this topic, processing, standards, and health tips and/or warnings at http://www.teacourse.com
GABA Oolong
Photo Credit: SerendipiTea.com
This topic is continued in greater detail including additional resources and information at TeaCourse.com
Linda Villano is
Co-Founder/President of SerendipiTea.
The NY-Based Importer/Manufacturer est.
in 1995, specializes in Premium Tea &
Tisane and Small Batch Blends.
SerendipiTea.com
See also http://linda.theteahousetimes.com
TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 17 | September/October 2016
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TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 18 | September/October 2016
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TheTeaHouseTimes.com | 20 | September/October 2016