The phenomenon of paddock to plate is continuing to build in Australia as we live more mindfully and sustainably. Being more aware of where our food is grown, by whom and the story behind the farmers and producers of our commodities is one way to be more proactive about food ecology and ethical values on… Continue reading Tea… from the farm to the cup
The simple act of putting the kettle on to make tea has been written about, quoted, and even sung about millions of times and yet remains a highly significant and worthwhile task. We do it naturally at the pauses during the day, to comfort others, on waking, when we come in from the garden or… Continue reading Put the Kettle On…
Many of us have enjoyed the Regency splendour of shows like Bridgerton with the elaborate tea settings in glorious palaces and stately homes lately. Together with popular shows, The Crown, Sanditon, Downtown Abby, or The Queen and Pride Prejudice have given rise to increased interest in many of our everyday objects; tea sets, vintage delicate… Continue reading You can never have too many teapots..
We can never hope to attain the perfection and beauty of blue china aptly expressed by Oscar Wilde. He said he found it harder and harder to live up to his blue china in the abovementioned sentiment, and I wholeheartedly agree. Blue and White are unequalled; fresh and bright, charming and delightful, elegant and forever… Continue reading “I find it harder and harder every day to live up to my blue china”.
Is there anything more invigorating, comforting and refreshing first thing in the morning than a hot cup of Tea? The quote above says it all. Do I wake to drink Tea, or does Tea wake me up? There is a fine line between the two at times, and like coffee drinkers, tea drinkers love the… Continue reading I don’t drink tea to wake up. I wake up to drink tea.
It is heartening to realise that there are millions of people throughout history that were as fussy, and demanding in their tea drinking habits as I am. Not only in the past but now in the modern contemporary world of art, music, film and literature, ardent tea drinkers abound. Who would have thought Mick Jagger,… Continue reading “Who would not spout the family teapot in order to talk with Keats for an hour about poetry, or with Jane Austen about the art of fiction?”
There is a fine line at present in these surreal times of keeping abreast of the current situation, monitoring our own risk and navigating lockdowns with a degree of happiness or normality. Being positive, talking of happier times, and our daily rituals and habits are very important. A ritual is defined as "an internally motivated… Continue reading “Come, let us have some tea and continue to talk about happy things.”
The timeless warming sound of a kettle boiling is always heartening and sings with a promise of our favourite beverage. At your place, no matter whether you like to use a stovetop or an electric kettle, or you prefer the features of an iconic Alessi or Le Creuset kettle, a smart kettle that keeps the… Continue reading “Remember the tea kettle, although it is up to its neck in hot water it keeps on singing.”
The design and aesthetics of everyday objects has always been fascinating to me. It is no wonder that I enjoy collecting cups and saucers; the endless array of designs, decorative styles, embellishments, colours and shapes. Whether vintage from fifty years ago when it was common to collect the 'best set of china' and later pass… Continue reading “The Mere Chink of Cups and Saucers Tunes the Mind to Happy Repose”
What exactly is Earl Grey Tea? Earl grey is a flavoured Tea scented from the oil in the rind of Bergamot oranges, that grow along the coast of Italy and the south of France. Adding the oil from the orange rind to black tea gives the tea an aromatic, zesty flavour that, according to Twinings,… Continue reading “Earl Grey is really more of a ‘Sense and Sensibility’ kind of tea”
I like to live with the philosophy of "my door is always open" attitude and there is nothing I like more than to cook for loved ones - family and friends. Sharing a meal around the table or a tea is a joy and I always like to use my fine China collection at every… Continue reading “Come and share a pot of tea. My home is warm and my friendship is free”
Is it scone as in stone or scone as in gone?Jam then cream, or cream then jam? Do you put your milk in first or last? The Duchess of Cambridge, seen here looking so elegant sipping her Tea, made me wonder about the old fashioned etiquette of tea drinking. What are the modern customs and… Continue reading Not Everyone’s Cup of Tea
My mother used to have a day now and then where she would stay inside, read books, drink tea and, because her hands were rarely idle, do knitting or handiwork all day. These occasional days she called 'a nightie day', meaning she stayed in her nightie all day. Rather than a common habit, 'nightie days'… Continue reading “Rainy days should be spent at home with a cup of tea and a good book.”
What is the perfect cup of Tea? tea noun ( tee) an aromatic beverage prepared from tea leaves by infusion with boiling water. Can diminish your troubles,calm your nerves and revive your brain cells. Tea is best made with fresh, good-quality tea leaves in a pre-warmed teapot of your choice with boiling water and served… Continue reading “Nobody can teach you how to make the perfect cup of tea. It just happens over time. Wearing cashmere helps, of course”.
We are all being urged to stay home across New South Wales and Victoria, so this week in a clearing out frenzy I pulled out a tea set I had bought in the 1980s. The set is comprised of four cups and saucers, creamer, sugar bowl, a large Teapot and also two well-loved large breakfast… Continue reading Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!
Well designed objects fulfil our desire for art and beauty and are a natural source of pleasure every time we use them. A ubiquitous Teapot is an object that is not only practical in providing a way to serve Tea but can also be a source of memories, a promise of an interlude, a symbol… Continue reading The very sight of a teapot puts a smile on the face of most people.
Although the much-loved song from A Sound of Music says 'Tea with Jam and Bread', Tea is terrific just on its own or with piping hot scones fresh from the oven, a teacake or other morning tea treat. Our universal yet varied customs, traditions and habits of drinking Tea are often titles, and lyrics in… Continue reading ‘Tea – a drink with jam and bread’
From the beginning of Tea two thousand years ago to when Tea first arrived in England in 1657, Tea has become the second most popular drink after water around the world. The tea beverage has motivated writers and poets who, throughout the centuries, have expressed their adoration and passion for drinking Tea. In their writings,… Continue reading “What better way to suggest friendliness and to create it- than a cup of Tea?”
Water and tea are my favourite beverages, and as Lily Bollinger quoted above, I also like my Champagne. There are health benefits for us to enjoy in drinking all of them. How about you?Water is a healthy beverage, and we could not live long without it. Tea is, after all, mostly water with a refreshing… Continue reading “You were my cup of Tea but I drink Champagne now”
Teacups have been collected for as long as people have enjoyed Tea. Beginning in China during the eighth century where Tea was served in small porcelain or stoneware bowls. Over the centuries Teacups have been made from various materials; clay, glass, porcelain, bone china, earthenware ceramic, glass, tin, plastics, paper and pottery. Burn the candles;… Continue reading Life’s Short Use the Fine China!
“The Servant Girl” Emil Brack, 1860-1920 How do you like your Tea, made in a Teapot or with a teabag? A cup or a mug? Do you fancy a glass, china, earthenware or ceramic cup? Green or Black Tea, oolong or china Tea, White Tea or herbal, there are many considerations. One thing for sure… Continue reading Time for Tea?
A Little Tea and Gossip by Robert Payton Reid Tea drinking has come a long way since Victorian and Edwardian England's stuffy drawing rooms. Today we make our own rituals and trends of Tea from fruit, flower and herbal infusions, individual private tea blends to Japanese Tea ceremonies and Matcha green, White and Pu-erh Teas.… Continue reading Love and Scandal are the Best Sweeteners of Tea.
Our long days of self-isolation and being confined to our homes for all but essentials, provide an opportunity for us to think about what we value most in our lives. A chance to reflect on priorities and spend more time doing the things we love. But when we consider how small after all the cup… Continue reading “The spirit of the tea beverage is one of peace, comfort, and refinement.”
Teapots are fascinating. I have a nice collection of them that I use often depending on my mood, the guests or the Tea event. My troupe of Teapots include; an Italian Spode, Robur silver, and bright yellow breakfast Teapot. A 1980's Laura Ashley fine teapot, Aladdin's lamp shaped Teapot, and a dainty white Coalport countryware… Continue reading “Every Teapot Has a Soul”
As we move towards a more sustainable way of living, there is a growing trend towards seeking a fair trade, plant-based, gluten-free, lactose and sugar-free beverage that also contains antioxidants. What better drink is there that covers all these criteria than TEA? A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.”Mary Lou heiss… Continue reading “Tea is the Elixir of Life.”
“In Ireland, you go to someone's house, and she asks you if you want a cup of tea. You say no, thank you, you're really just fine. She asks if you're sure. You say of course you're sure, really, you don't need a thing. Except they pronounce it ting. You don't need a ting. Well, she says then,… Continue reading Tea and a Chat
What is a Teapot? Ti/pot, a noun describing a pot with a handle, spout, and lid, in which tea is brewed and from which it is poured. Definition - "A teapot is a simple vessel that we fill with hot water to steep tea leaves in for a refreshing beverage". Teapots are short, often wide… Continue reading Home is Where Your Teapots Are
Evidently George Orwell the famous English critic, writer and essayist loved a cup of Tea as much as any of us. In his essay 'A Nice Cup of Tea' he is quite adamant about the proper way to make tea. First published in the Evening Standard in 1946, he writes about the correct way to… Continue reading George Orwell Musing on Tea
Tea is not only for dainty ladies in Edwardian houses to enjoy an afternoon respite with their contemporaries over tea and cake. There are more rural, masculine traditions associated with Tea. Boiling the 'Billy' for a campsite brew of tea is as Australian as the cork hat to keep the flies away. Legends and yarns… Continue reading Boil the Billy Mate!
Under certain circumstances there are few hours in life more agreeable than the hour dedicated to the ceremony known as afternoon tea.Henry James It was a close friend of Queen Victoria's, Anna Russell, the 7th Duchess of Bedford with whom we are indebted, for starting the tradition we know and love today called Afternoon Tea.… Continue reading Tea in The Afternoon
The best place to enjoy a cup of tea is often at home because so many cafes today do not serve 'proper tea' We have become accustomed to a tea bag popped into a cup or a pot of hot water and a lonely teabag on the side, unfortunately. Given the emphasis on specialist baristas,… Continue reading “The Perfect Temperature for Tea is Two Degrees Hotter than Just Right”.
Don't you just love the pretty colours and designs of special cups and saucers we see at High Teas? These are called trios; a cup, saucer and plate or a duo if there is no plate. Picture a cozy fireside in winter, the laughter of friends, a crisp white table cloth spread over a coffee… Continue reading A Sip Of The Past
The ancient Chinese proverb above encapsulates the sentiment I felt in lockdown last year on a ship heading for Italy at the height of the pandemic. Without warning, the Captain sent us to our cabins, and we did not come out for more than a week. Apart from the fear of the unknown situation and… Continue reading “Better to be deprived of food for three days, than tea for one”
Elevenses, morning tea, chai, char, te, teh, tae, thee, or te all are words around the globe that describe taking Tea. A pleasurable pause in life for a liquid refreshment we most commonly call morning or afternoon tea. Legends tell us that Tea began in China in 2737 BC, the Chinese emperor Shen Nung was… Continue reading Taking Tea
Tea lovers are notoriously pedantic about their tea-drinking habits, and I know this because I am one of them. As obsessive tea drinkers our customs, rituals and tea habits are likely to be annoying to others. Although it is human nature to create habits and both coffee and tea drinkers consider their daily rituals as… Continue reading “A simple cup of tea is far from a simple matter.”
“Some days 'staying put' might feel the same as Going Nowhere. Make a cup of tea, and wait for that feeling to pass.”Vivian Swift I love my cups of tea but recently I was forced to spend a week with no tea at all, locked inside a very small room due to the worldwide pandemic.… Continue reading “But, indeed I would rather have nothing but tea”
There is something very appealing about an assortment of Blue and White China. No matter if it is new or old, English, Italian, Chinese or Dutch, it all goes together beautifully in an eclectic, timeless collection. Blue and white porcelain in a home create an everlasting, classic quality perfect for any country styled afternoon or… Continue reading Blue and White Charm
Sydney, including the Blue Mountains, has a wealth of beautiful High Tea venues. Over time I have enjoyed High Tea at many of Sydney's best and they have been magnificent and memorable afternoons. Today my recommendations include, The Gunners Barracks, Lilianfels Resort and Spa and The Langham Hotel. As time goes by, I will add… Continue reading High Tea in Sydney
The daily ritual of making Tea is a worldwide phenomenon. I'm sure that any tea drinker could share many beautiful stories of the unique ways they enjoy their Tea. How they serve, offer and have Tea prepared for them. My husband regularly makes me Tea when I'm out in the garden, making tea first thing… Continue reading The Ritual Of Tea
“The daintiness and yet elegance of a china teacup focuses one to be gentle, to think warmly, and to feel close.” Who doesn't want to pretend to be Lady Mary from Downton Abbey for an afternoon and sip tea in an elegant setting with your closest girlfriends? Clink glasses, sip champagne and enjoy deliciously dainty… Continue reading High Tea
The Silver Teapot 